Saɱyutta Nikāya
3. Khandha Vagga
22. Khandha Saɱyutta
6. Upāya Vagga
The Connected Discourses of the Buddha
Part II.
The Book of the Aggregates Khandha-Vagga
22. Connected Discourses on the Aggregates
2.1. Engagement
Sutta 60
Mahāli Suttaɱ
Mahāli
Translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Copyright Bhikkhu Bodhi 2000, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, 2000)
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[1][pts][than] Thus have I heard.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Hall with the Peaked Roof.
Then Mahāli the Licchavi approached the Blessed One [69] ... and said to him:
"Venerable sir, Pūraṇa Kassapa speaks thus:
'There is no cause or condition for the defilement of beings; beings are defiled without cause or condition.
There is no cause or condition for the purification of beings; beings are purified without cause or condition.'
What does the Blessed One say about this?"
"There is, Mahāli, a cause and condition for the defilement of beings; beings are defiled with cause and condition.
There is a cause and condition for the purification of beings; beings are purified with cause and condition."
"But, venerable sir, what is the cause and condition for the defilement of beings?
How is it that beings are defiled with cause and condition?"
"If, Mahāli, this form were exclusively suffering, immersed in suffering, steeped in suffering, and if it were not [also] steeped in pleasure, beings would not become enamoured with it.
But because form is pleasurable, immersed in pleasure, steeped in pleasure, and is not steeped [only] in suffering, beings become enamoured with it.
By being enamoured with it, they are captivated by it, and by being captivated by it they are defiled.
This, Mahāli, is a cause and condition for the defilement of beings; it is thus that beings are defiled with cause and condition.
"If, Mahāli, this feeling were exclusively suffering ...
If this perception ... these volitional formations ... [70] ... this consciousness were exclusively suffering ... beings would not become enamoured with it.
But because consciousness is pleasurable ... beings become enamoured with it.
By being enamoured with it, they are captivated by it, and by being captivated by it they are defiled.
This too, Mahāli, is a cause and condition for the defilement of beings; it is thus that beings are defiled with cause and condition."
"But, venerable sir, what is the cause and condition for the purification of beings?
How is it that beings are purified with cause and condition?"
"If, Mahāli, this form were exclusively pleasurable, immersed in pleasure, steeped in pleasure, and if it were not [also] steeped in suffering, beings would not experience revulsion towards it.
But because form is suffering, immersed in suffering, steeped in suffering, and is not steeped [only] in pleasure, beings experience revulsion towards it.
Experiencing revulsion, they become dispassionate, and through dispassion they are purified.
This, Mahāli, is a cause and condition for the purification of beings; it is thus that beings are purified with cause and condition.
"If, Mahāli, this feeling were exclusively pleasurable ...
If this perception ... these volitional formations ... this consciousness were exclusively pleasurable ... beings would not experience revulsion towards it.
But because consciousness is suffering ... beings experience revulsion towards it. Experiencing revulsion, they become dispassionate, and through dispassion they are purified.
[71] This too, Mahāli, is a cause and condition for the purification of beings; it is thus that beings are purified with cause and condition."
