Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
45. Magga Saṃyutta
1. Avijjā Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
45. Kindred Sayings on the Way
1. On Ignorance

Sutta 9

Sūka Suttaṃ

Bearded Wheat^[1]

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved

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[9]

[1][bodh] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Suppose, monks, the spike of bearded wheat
or bearded barley
be wrongly aimed,^[2]
when pressed by hand or foot
will it pierce^[3] hand or foot,
will it draw blood?

It cannot be so.

Why not?

Because the spike is wrongly aimed.

■

Just so, monks, it cannot be
that the monk whose view is wrongly aimed,
whose way-culture is wrongly aimed,
can pierce through ignorance,
draw knowledge
and realize Nibbāna.

Why not?

Because his view is wrongly aimed.

■

[10] But, monks, suppose that the spike of bearded wheat
or bearded barley
be well aimed.

When pressed by hand or foot,
it is certain^[4] that it will pierce hand or foot
and draw blood.

Why so?

Because, monks, the spike is well aimed.

■

Just so, monks, it is certain
that the monk whose view is well aimed,
whose way-culture is well aimed,
can pierce through ignorance,
draw knowledge,
and realize Nibbāna.

Why so?

Because, monks, of the right aim of his view.

 

§

 

And how does a monk
by well aimed view,
by well aimed way-culture,
so pierce through ignorance,
draw knowledge
and realize Nibbāna?

Herein, monks, he cultivates right view,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.

He cultivates right aim,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.

He cultivates right speech,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.

He cultivates right action,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.

He cultivates right living,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.

He cultivates right effort,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.

He cultivates right mindfulness,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.

He cultivates right concentration,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.

That is how this monk,
by well aimed view,
by well aimed path-culture,
pierces through ignorance,
draws knowledge
and realizes Nibbāna."

 

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^[1] Sūka (text suka throughout). Cf. A. i, 8; Dhp. 311 (kuso yathā duggahīto); KhpA. 86.

^[2] Micchā-panihitaṇ ('so as not to pierce.' Comy.).

^[3] Text here and below bhindissati (v.l. chijjati); but A. and Comys. bhecchati (fut. of bhindati), chijjati, DhpA. checchati.

^[4] Thānaṇ vijjati.