Saɱyutta Nikāya:
III. Khandha Vagga:
22: Khandha Saɱyutta
4. Natumhāka Vagga
The Connected Discourses of the Buddha
Part II.
The Book of the Aggregates Khandha-Vagga
22. Connected Discourses on the Aggregates
IV. Not Yours
Sutta 36
Dutiya Bhikkhu Suttaɱ
A Certain Bhikkhu 2
Translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Copyright Bhikkhu Bodhi 2000, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, 2000)
This selection from The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Saɱyutta Nikāya by Bhikkhu Bodhi is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/connected-discourses-buddha.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available
at http://www.wisdompubs.org/terms-use.
Then a certain bhikkhu approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said to him:
"Venerable sir, it would be good if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief, so that, having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute."
"Bhikkhu, if one has an underlying tendency towards something, then one is measured in accordance with it; if one is measured in accordance with something, then one is reckoned in terms of it.
If one does not have an underlying tendency towards something, then one is not measured in accordance with it; if one is not measured in accordance with something, then one is not reckoned in terms of it."
"Understood, Blessed One!
Understood, Fortunate One."
"In what way, bhikkhu, do you understand in detail the meaning of what was stated by me in brief?"
"If, venerable sir, one has an underlying tendency towards form, then one is measured in accordance with it; if one is measured in accordance with it, then one is reckoned in terms of it.
If one has an underlying tendency towards feeling ... towards perception ... towards volitional formations ... towards consciousness, then one is measured in accordance with it; if one is measured in accordance with it, then one is reckoned in terms of it.
"If, venerable sir, one does not have an underlying tendency towards form, then one is not measured in accordance with it; [37] if one is not measured in accordance with it, then one is not reckoned in terms of it.
If one does not have an underlying tendency towards feeling ... towards perception ... towards volitional formations ... towards consciousness, then one is not measured in accordance with it; if one is not measured in accordance with it, then one is not reckoned in terms of it.
"It is in such a way, venerable sir, that I understand in detail the meaning of what was stated by the Blessed One in brief."
"Good, good, bhikkhu!
It is good that you understand in detail the meaning of what was stated by me in brief.
If, bhikkhu, one has an underlying tendency towards form ... (as above in full) ... then one is not reckoned in terms of it.
It is in such a way that the meaning of what was stated by me in brief should be understood in detail."
Then that bhikkhu, having delighted and rejoiced in the Blessed One's words, rose from his seat ...
And that bhikkhu became one of the arahants.
