Minowani's Writings

on what the Buddha taught

Aṅguttara Nikāya
Chakkanipātapāḷi
Dutiyapaṇṇāsakaṃ
Mahāvaggo
Nibbedhikasuttaṃ
AN6.63

'I shall point out to you, almsmen, a penetrative exposition on an exposition of principles. Therefor listen, pay attention well, I shall speak'. 'So, venerable', those almsmen then replied to the exalted one. The exalted one said this:

'And what is that, almsmen, penetrative exposition on the exposition of principles?

Lusts, almsmen, should be known. Of lusts the situation for arising should be known, of lusts the difference should be known, of lusts the ripening should be known. The cessation of lusts should be known. The way leading to the cessation of lusts should be known.

Feelings, almsmen, should be known. Of feelings the situation for arising should be known, of feelings the difference should be known, of feelings the ripening should be known. The cessation of feelings should be known. The way leading to the cessation of feelings should be known.

Perceptions, almsmen, should be known. Of perceptions the situation for arising should be known, of perceptions the difference should be known, of perceptions the ripening should be known. The cessation of perceptions should be known. The way leading to the cessation of perceptions should be known.

Drains, almsmen, should be known. Of drains the situation for arising should be known, of drains the difference should be known, of drains the ripening should be known. The cessation of drains should be known. The way leading to the cessation of drains should be known.

Action, almsmen, should be known. Of actions the situation for arising should be known, of actions the difference should be known, of actions the ripening should be known. The cessation of action should be known. The way leading to the cessation of action should be known.

Suffering, almsmen, should be known. Of suffering the situation for arising should be known, of suffering the difference should be known, of suffering the ripening should be known. The cessation of suffering should be known. The way leading to the cessation of suffering should be known.'

'Lusts, almsmen, should be known. Of lusts the situation for arising should be known, of lusts the difference should be known, of lusts the ripening should be known. The cessation of lusts should be known. The way leading to the cessation of lusts should be known', now thus this yet was said:

'And what was this said depending on? These five, almsmen, strings to lust: Forms to be cognized by eye, wished for, lovable, charming, dear forms to be dyed connected with lusts; Sounds to be cognized by ear... Scents to be cognized by nose... Tastes to be cognized by tongue... Tangibles to be cognized by body, wished for, lovable, charming, dear forms to be dyed connected with lusts. But even now, almsmen, these are not the lusts, in the discipline for nobleness they are called this name 'strings to lust'.

Passional attitude is mans' lust.
Not these are the lusts, what are the colourings in the world.
Passional attitude is mans' lust.
The colourings they stand in the world just so,
but here the firm they discipline desire.

And what is, almsmen, of lusts the situation for arising? Touch is, almsmen, of lusts the situation for arising. And what is, almsmen of lusts the difference? Another is, almsmen, lust upon forms, another is lust upon sounds, another is lust upon scents, another is lust upon tastes, another is lust upon tangibles. This is called, almsmen, of lusts the difference. And what is, almsmen, of lusts the ripening? What now, almsmen, lusting like this, like that, a being produces or a share in merit, or a share in demerit. This is called, almsmen, of lusts the ripening. And what is, almsmen, the cessation of lusts? Cessation of touch is, almsmen, the cessation of lusts. Just this noble eightfold path leading to the cessation of lusts is the way, viz. right view, right attitude, right speech, right doing, right way of life, right effort, right recollection, right concentration, from which, almsmen, a disciple for nobleness: Thus knows lusts. Thus knows of lusts the situation for arising, thus knows of lusts the difference, thus knows of lusts the ripening. Thus knows the cessation of lusts. Thus knows the way leading to the cessation of lusts. He knows that the penetrative divine life is the cessation of lusts. 'Lusts, almsmen, should be known ... pe ... The way leading to the cessation of lusts should be known', therefor thus what was said, depending on this here it was said.'

'Feelings, almsmen, should be known ... pe ... The way leading to the cessation of feelings should be known', now thus this yet was said:

'And what is this said depending on? These three, almsmen, feelings: happy feelings, sufferable feelings, neither happy nor sufferable feelings. And what is, almsmen, of feelings the situation for arising? Touch is, almsmen, of feelings the situation for arising. And what is, almsmen of feelings the difference? It is, almsmen, happy feeling of the flesh, it is happy feeling not of the flesh, it is sufferable feeling of the flesh, it is sufferable feeling not of the flesh, it is neither happy nor sufferable feeling of the flesh, it is neither happy nor sufferable feeling not of the flesh. This is called, almsmen, of feelings the difference. And what is, almsmen, of feelings the ripening? What now is, almsmen, being felt like this, like that, a being produces or a share in merit, or a share in demerit. This is called, almsmen, the ripening of feelings. And what is, almsmen, the cessation of feelings? Cessation of touch is, almsmen, the cessation of feelings. Just this noble eightfold path leading to the cessation of feelings is the way, viz. right view ... pe ... right concentration, from where now, almsmen, a disciple for nobleness: Thus knows feelings. Thus knows of feelings the situation for arising, thus knows of feelings the difference, thus knows of feelings the ripening. Thus knows the cessation of feelings. Thus knows the way leading to the cessation of feelings. He knows that the penetrative divine life is the cessation of feelings. 'Feelings, almsman, should be known ... pe ... The way leading to the cessation of feelings should be known', therefor thus what was said, depending on this here it was said.'

'Perceptions, almsmen, should be known ... pe ... The way leading to the cessation of perceptions should be known', now thus this yet was said:

'And what depending on was it said? These six, almsmen, perceptions: perception of forms, perception of sounds, perception of scents, perception of tastes, perception of tangibles, perception of principles. And what is, almsmen, of perceptions the situation for arising? Touch is, almsmen, of perceptions the situation for arising. And what is, almsmen, of perceptions the difference? Another is, almsmen, perceptions upon forms, another is perceptions upon sounds, another is perceptions upon scents, another is perceptions upon tastes, another is perceptions upon tangibles, another is perceptions upon principles. This is called, almsmen, of perceptions the difference. And what is, almsmen, of perceptions the ripening? Fully ripening in expression is, almsmen, perception I say. In whatever way one perceives, like that one expresses: 'Thus I perceived'. This is called, almsmen, of perception the ripening. And what is, almsmen, the cessation of perceptions? Cessation of touch is, almsmen, the cessation of perceptions. Just this noble eightfold path leading to the cessation of feelings is the way, viz. right view ... pe ... right concentration, from where now, almsmen, the disciple for nobleness: Thus knows perception. Thus knows of perceptions the situation for arising, thus knows of perceptions the difference, thus knows of perceptions the ripening. Thus knows the cessation of perceptions. Thus knows the way leading to the cessation of perceptions. He knows that the penetrative divine life is the cessation of perceptions. 'Perceptions, almsman, should be known ... pe ... The way leading to the cessation of perceptions should be known', therefor thus what was said, depending on this here it was said.'

'Drains, almsmen, should be known ... pe ... The way leading to the cessation of drains should be known' was said, now thus this yet was said:

'And what depending on was it said? These three, almsmen, drains: the drain of lust, the drain of existence, the drain of not-knowing [1]. And what is, almsmen, of drains the situation for arising? Not-knowing is, almsmen, of drains the situation for arising. And what is, almsmen, of drains the difference? It is the drain that led one to go to hell, it is the drain that led one to go to the animal domain, it is the drain that led one to go to the realm of ghosts, it is the drain that led one to go to the world of humans, it is the drain that led one to go to the world of deities. This is called, almsmen, of drains the difference. And what is, almsmen, of drains the ripening? What now, almsmen, is coming from not-knowing, like this, like that, a being produces or a share in merit, or a share in demerit. This is called, almsmen, of drains the ripening. And what is, almsmen, the cessation of drains? Cessation of not-knowing is, almsmen, the cessation of drains. Just this noble eightfold path is the way leading to the cessation of drains, viz. right view ... pe ... right concentration, from where now, almsmen, the disciple for nobleness: Thus knows drains. Thus knows of drains the situation for arising, thus knows of drains the difference, thus knows of drains the ripening. Thus knows the cessation of drains. Thus knows the way leading to the cessation of drains. He knows that the penetrative divine life is the cessation of drains. 'Drains, almsman, should be known ... pe ... The way leading to the cessation of drains should be known', therefor thus what was said, depending on this here it was said.'

'Action, almsmen, should be known ... pe ... The way leading to the cessation of actions should be known' was said, now thus this yet was said:

'And what depending on was it said? Intentionally is, almsmen, action I say. Intending the action, one does by body, by speech, by intellect. And what is, almsmen, of actions the situation for arising? Touch is, almsmen, of actions the situation of arising. And what is, almsmen, of actions the difference? It is, almsmen, action to be felt in hell, it is action to be felt in the animal domain, it is action to be felt in the ghost realm it is action to be felt in the human world, it is action to be felt in the deity world. This is called, almsmen, of actions the difference. And what is, almsmen, of actions the ripening? In three ways is, almsmen, of actions the ripening I say. Just seen in principle, in the rise, or in the follow up, or in the departure [2]. This is called, almsmen, of actions the ripening. And what is, almsmen, the cessation of actions? Cessation of not-knowing is, almsmen, the cessation of actions. Just this noble eightfold path is the way leading to the cessation of actions, viz. right view ... pe ... right concentration, from where now, almsmen, the disciple for nobleness: Thus knows actions. Thus knows of actions the arising, thus knows of actions the difference, thus knows of actions the ripening. Thus knows the cessation of actions. Thus knows the way leading to the cessation of actions. He knows that the penetrative divine life is the cessation of actions. 'Actions, almsman, should be known ... pe ... The way leading to the cessation of actions should be known', therefor thus what was said, depending on this here it was said.'

'Suffering, almsmen, should be known. Of suffering the situation for arising should be known, of suffering the difference should be known, of suffering the ripening should be known. The cessation of suffering should be known. The way leading to the cessation of suffering should be known', now thus this yet was said:

'And what was this said depending on? Also birth is sufferable, also oldness is sufferable, also sickness is sufferable, also death is sufferable, also grief, lamentation, suffering, distress, unrest are sufferable, also wishing what one not acquires that also is sufferable [3]. In short, the five masses with grasping are sufferable. And what is, almsmen, of suffering the situation for arising? Longing is, almsmen, of suffering the situation for arising. And what is, almsmen, of suffering the difference? It is, almsmen, extreme suffering, it is little suffering; it is slow in fading, it is quick in fading. This is called, almsmen, of suffering the difference. And what is, almsmen, of suffering the ripening? Here, almsmen, where someone overwhelmed by suffering, with the mind exhausted, grieves, distresses, laments, beats the chest, bewails, gets into confusion, or where yet overwhelmed by suffering, with the mind exhausted, gets into a quest outside: 'Who knows a verse or two for this suffering's cessation?' Fully ripening in confusion, a cartload is, almsmen, suffering I say, or fully ripening in quest. This is called, almsmen, of suffering the ripening. And what is, almsmen, the cessation of suffering? Cessation of longing is, almsmen, the cessation of suffering. Just this noble eightfold path leading to the cessation of suffering is the way, viz. right view, right attitude, right speech, right doing, right way of life, right effort, right recollection, right concentration, from which, almsmen, a disciple for nobleness: Thus knows suffering. Thus knows of suffering the situation for arising, thus knows of suffering the difference, thus knows of suffering the ripening. Thus knows the cessation of suffering. Thus knows the way leading to the cessation of suffering. He knows that the penetrative divine life is the cessation of suffering. 'Suffering, almsmen, should be known. Of suffering the situation for arising should be known, of suffering the difference should be known, of suffering the ripening should be known. The cessation of suffering should be known. The way leading to the cessation of suffering should be known', therefor thus what was said, depending on this here it was said.'

'Now this it is, almsmen, a penetrative exposition on an exposition of principles.'


N o t e s

  1. A drain (āsava) drains, and leads to a lower destination.
  2. Diṭṭheva dhamme upapajje vā apare vā pariyāye. With the previous 'of actions the difference' in mind, ripening is in principle seen: In the rise (at a destination; e.g. born in the human-world, country, family), In the follow up (at that destination; given the same circumstances beings don't need to evolve the same), In the departure (from that destination; some die very old of which some say they must have been doing something good in a previous life; it is this kind of ripening what is then looked at).
  3. Because the universals such as birth, etc. are reliable to suffering, thus sufferable, suffering should be known.