Saṃyutta Nikāya
3. Khandha Vagga
24. Diṭṭhi Saṃyutta
1. Sotāpatti 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
24. Kindred Sayings on Views
1. On Stream-Winning
Sutta 5
N'atthi Suttaṃ
There is Not[1]
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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The Exalted One was once staying near Sāvatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
And there the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:
"Brethren!"
"Master!" responded those brethren.
The Exalted One said:
"There being what, brethren,
by clinging to what,
by depending upon what
does such a view as this arise:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.[2]
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.[3]
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.[4]
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
[167] His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,[5]
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.[6]
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.[7]
Instituted by fools[8]
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not.'?"
"For us, lord, things have the Exalted One as their root
their guide,
their resort.
Well indeed if the meaning of these words
should show itself in the Exalted One."
■
"There being a body, brethren,
by clinging to body,
depending on body,
arises such a view as this:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.
Instituted by fools
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not.'
There being feeling, brethren,
by clinging to feeling,
depending on feeling,
arises such a view as this:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.
Instituted by fools
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not.'
There being perception, brethren,
by clinging to perception,
depending on perception,
arises such a view as this:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.
Instituted by fools
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not.'
There being the activities, brethren,
by clinging to the activities,
depending on the activities,
arises such a view as this:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.
Instituted by fools
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not.'
There being consciousness, brethren,
by clinging to consciousness,
depending on consciousness,
arises such a view as this:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.
Instituted by fools
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not.'
■
As to that, what think ye, brethren?
Is body permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.
Instituted by fools
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not.'"?
"Surely not, lord."
■
"Is feeling permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.
Instituted by fools
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not'?"
"Surely not, lord."
■
"Is perception permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.
Instituted by fools
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not'?"
"Surely not, lord."
■
"Are the activities permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.
Instituted by fools
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not'?"
"Surely not, lord."
■
"Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.
Instituted by fools
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not'?"
"Surely not, lord."
§
"Now what is seen,
heard,
sensed,
known,
reached,
sought [168] after,
thought out by mind, -
is that permanent or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"That which is impermanent,
is it weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
without clinging to that
can such a view as this arise:
'There is no alms-giving,
no sacrifice,
no offering.
There is no fruit,
no result of good or evil deeds.
This world is not, the world beyond is not.
There is no mother or father,
no beings of spontaneous birth.
In the world are no recluses and brahmins
who have won the summit,
who have won perfection,
who of themselves have won and realized
both this world and the world beyond
and proclaim it.
Of the Four Great Elements
is a man composed.
When he makes an end,
his body,
earth to earth,
retumeth,
to earth goes back.
His body,
water to water,
retumeth,
to water goes back.
His body,
fire to fire,
returneth,
to fire goes back.
His body,
air to air,
retumeth,
to air goes back.
His faculties
rejoin the element of space.
Then bearers four,
with him upon the bier as fifth,
take up the dead,
and on the way to the burning-ground
men sound his praises forth.
His bones are bleached
and the funeral offerings turn to ashes.
Instituted by fools
is this alms-giving:
it is empty idle talk
to say there is profit therein:
for fools and wise alike,
when body breaks up,
are cut down and perish.
After death they are not'?"
"Surely not, lord."
"But when in an Ariyan disciple
doubt as to these six points[9] is put away
when for him doubt as to suffering is put away,
doubt as to the arising of suffering,
as to the ceasing of suffering,
as to the way going to the ceasing of suffering is put away, -
then this Ariyan disciple is called:
'Stream-winner,
saved from disaster,
assured,
bound for enlightenment.'"
[1] The annihilationist doctrine of Ajita, of the hair-shirt. Cf. D. i, 55, § 23; M. i, 515; Dialog. i, 73, where the passage comes; and again at S. iv, 348.
[2] Opapātika, unprocreated.
[3] Catu-mmahābhūtiko ayaṃ puruo.
[4] Text has anupagacchati. Comy. reads anuvigacchati.
[5] Text has ayanti; pañcamā purisa. Comy. āsandi pañcamā. So also D. i, 55.
[6] Yāva āḷāhanā padāni (stanzas) paññāpenti. Comy. guṇāguṇa padāni, 'verses about his virtues or vices.'
[7] Bhasmantāhutiyo. Comy. 'and have no further results.'
[8] Cf. Fausb. Ten Jāt. 116, datta-paññattaṇ. Comy. 'Fools give; wise men take.'
Six. The five of the khandhas and the list beginning seen, heard ..."
— p.p.
[9] The six here are also not clearly made out. Comy. is silent.
