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

The Connected Discourses of the Buddha
The Great Book,
Chapter I (45): Connected Discourses on the Path
1: Ignorance

Sutta 9

Sūka Suttaɱ

The Spike

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.
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[1][pts] Thus have I heard.

"Bhikkhus, suppose a spike of rice or a spike of barley were wrongly directed and were pressed upon by the hand or the foot.

That it could pierce the hand or the foot and draw blood: this is impossible.

For what reason?

Because the spike is wrongly directed.

So too, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu with a wrongly directed view, with a wrongly directed development of the path, could pierce ignorance, arouse true knowledge, and realize Nibbāna this is impossible.

For what reason?|| ||

Because his view is wrongly directed.|| ||

"Bhikkhus, suppose a spike of rice or a spike of barley were rightly directed and were pressed upon by the hand or the foot.|| ||

That it could pierce the hand or the foot and draw blood: this is possible.|| ||

For what reason?|| ||

Because the spike is rightly directed.|| ||

So too, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu with a rightly directed view, with a rightly directed development of the path, could pierce ignorance, arouse true knowledge, and realize Nibbāna: this is possible.|| ||

For what reason?|| ||

Because his view is rightly directed.|| ||

"And how does a bhikkhu do so?|| ||

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.|| ||

He develops ... right concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.|| ||

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu with a rightly directed view, with a rightly directed development of the path, pierces ignorance, arouses true knowledge, and realizes Nibbāna."