Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
35. Saḷāyatana Saṃyutta
§ IV: Paññāsaka Catuttha
4. Āsīvisa Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
4. The Book Called the Saḷāyatana-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the 'Six-Fold Sphere' of Sense and Other Subjects
35. Kindred Sayings the Sixfold Sphere of Sense
§ IV: The 'Fourth Fifty' Suttas
4. The Chapter on the Snake
Sutta 201
Dutiya Dāru-k-Khandh'Opama Suttaṃ
The Log of Wood (ii)
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One was staying at Kimbilā,[1]
on the bank of the river Ganges.
Now the Exalted One saw a great log
being carried down Ganges' stream,
and on seeing it
he called to the Brethren, saying:
"Brethren, do ye see yonder great log
being carried down Granges' stream?"
"Yes, lord."
"Now, Brethren, if the log does not ground
on this bank
or the further bank,
does not sink in mid-stream,
does not stick fast on a shoal,
does not fall into human or non-human bands,
is not caught in a whirlpool,
does not rot inwardly, -
that log, Brethren,
will float down to ocean,
will slide down to ocean,
will tend towards ocean.
And why?
Because, Brethren, Ganges' stream
floats down to ocean,
slides down to ocean,
tends towards ocean.
In like manner, Brethren,
if ye do not ground
on this shore
or that shore,
if ye sink not in mid-stream,
if ye stick not fast on a shoal,
if ye fall not into hands human or non-human,
if ye be not caught in a whirlpool,
if ye rot not inwardly, -
then, Brethren,
ye shall float down to Nibbāna
ye shall slide down to Nibbāna,
ye shall tend towards Nibbāna.
Because, Brethren, perfect view
floats towards Nibbāna,
slides towards Nibbāna,
tends towards Nibbāna.
§
[116] At these words
the venerable Kimbila said to the Exalted One: -
"What, lord, is 'this bank'?
What is 'the other bank'?
What is 'sinking in mid-stream'?
What is 'sticking fast on a shoal'?
What is 'falling into hands human or nonhuman'?
What is 'being caught in a whirlpool'?
What is 'rotting inwardly'?"
■
"'This bank,' Kimbila,
is a name for the sixfold personal sense-sphere.
'That bank,' Kimbila,
is a name for the external sixfold sense-sphere.
'Sinking in mid-stream,' Kimbila,
is a name for the lure and lust.
And what, Kimbila, is 'being caught by humans'?
In this matter, brother,
a householder lives in society,
rejoices with them that rejoice,
sorrows with them that sorrow,
takes pleasure with them that take pleasure,
suffers with them that suffer,
makes a link with
all manner of business that befalls.
This, Kimbila, is
'being caught by humans.'
And what, Kimbila, is 'being caught by non-humans'?
In this matter, Kimbila,
such and such an one lives the righteous life
with the wish to be reborn in the company of some class of devas,
with the thought:
'May I,
by virtue
or practice
or by some austerity
or by righteous living,
become a deva
or one of the devas.'
This, Kimbila, is
'being caught by non-humans.'
'Being caught in a whirlpool,' Kimbila,
is a name for the pleasure of the five senses.
And what, brother, is 'rotting inwardly'?
Herein, Kimbila, a brother is guilty of some foul offence, of such a nature that no pardon thereof is declared[2].
That is 'rotting inwardly.'"
[1] Cf. S. v, 323, where the brother Kimbila (Brethren, 105, 125) lives in the village of this name, in the Bamboo Grove.
[2] Vuṭṭhānaṇ (rehabilitation after unfrocking). Here txt omits na, which is clearly needed and is read by two MSS. Cf. Vin. ii, 7; Asḷ. 399.
