Saṃyutta Nikāya
3. Khandha Vagga
22. Khandha Saṃyutta
6. Upāya Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
3. The Book Called the Khandhā-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the Elements of Sensory Existence and other Subjects
22. Kindred Sayings on Elements
6. On Attachment
Sutta 53
Upaya Suttaṃ
Attachment[1]
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1-2][wrrn][than][olds][bodh] Thus have I heard:—
The Exalted One was staying at Sāvatthī.
The Exalted One said:
"Attachment, brethren, is bondage;
aloofness is freedom.
By attachment to body, brethren,
consciousness,
if it get a standing,
may persist.
With body for its object,
with body for its platform,
seeking means of enjoyment,
it may come by growth,
increase,
abundance.[2]
With the activities for its object,
with the activities for its platform,
seeking a means of enjoyment,
it may come by growth,
increase,
abundance.
Were a man, brethren, to declare thus:
'Apart from body,
apart from feeling,
apart from perception,
apart from the [46] activities,
I will show forth the coming or the going
or the decease or the rebirth of consciousness,
or the growth or the increase
or the abundance of consciousness' -
to do that were impossible.
If lust for body, brethren,
is abandoned by a brother,
by that abandonment of lust
its foothold is cut off.[3]
Thereby there is no platform for consciousness.
If lust for feeling, brethren,
is abandoned by a brother,
by that abandonment of lust
its foothold is cut off.
Thereby there is no platform for consciousness.
If lust for perception, brethren, is abandoned by a brother,
by that abandonment of lust
its foothold is cut off.
Thereby there is no platform for consciousness.
If lust for the activities, brethren, is abandoned by a brother,
by that abandonment of lust
its foothold is cut off.
Thereby there is no platform for consciousness.
So also, brethren, if lust for the consciousness-element be abandoned by a brother,
by that abandonment of lust
its foothold is cut off.
Thereby there is no platform for consciousness.
Without that platform
consciousness has no growth,
it generates no action[4] and is freed:
by freedom it is steady:[5]
by its steadiness it is happy:
owing to happiness it is not troubled.
Being untroubled,
of itself it becomes utterly well,
so that it knows:
'Destroyed is rebirth,
lived is the righteous life,
done is the task,
for life in these conditions there is no hereafter.'"
[1] Cf. Warren, p 162. Upayo (text reads upāyo). Comy., 'by way of craving, views, conceit, it is subject to the five factors.'
[2] Cf. Dialog. iii, 220 and n. for a somewhat similar paragraph. Comy., 'activity-consciousness, arousing action, by its ability to induce rebirth, would experience growth, etc.'
[3] Vocchijjat'ārammaṇaṃ Comy., 'By absence of the ability to induce rebirth its support is severed.'
[4] Cf. S. ii, 82 (saṇkhāraṃ abhisankharoti). Comy. reading anabhisankhacca, 'generates (no conception).'
[5] Cf. S. ii, 65. In this connexion ṭhito is not 'fixed on an object' but 'calmed' or 'steadfast.' (Or 'he,' or 'one' is steady.)
