Tree >> Sutta Piṭaka >> Saṃyutta Nikāya >> Satipaṭṭhāna Saṃyutta
SN 46.55 (S v 121)
Saṅgārava Sutta
{excerpt}
— A question from Saṅgārava —
A
beautiful series of similes to explain how the five nīvaraṇas affect
the purity of the mind and its ability to perceive the reality as it is.
On
one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Savatthi, in Jeta’s Grove,
Anathapindika’s monastery.{n} Then Saṅgārava the brahman approached the
Blessed One and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him.
After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one
side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One:
–
Why is it, good Gotama, how does it come about that sometimes sacred
words I have long studied are not clear to me, not to mention those I
have not studied? And how is it too that sometimes other sacred words
that I have not so studied are clear to me, not to mention those I have
studied?
–
Well, Brahman, when a man dwells with his heart possessed and
overwhelmed by sense-desires, and does not know, as it really is, the
way of escape from sense-desires that have arisen, then he cannot know
or see, as it really is, what is to his own profit, nor can he know and
see what is to the profit of others, or of both himself and others. Then
even sacred words he has long studied are not clear to him, not to
mention those he has not studied.
Imagine,
Brahman, a bowl of water mixed with lac, turmeric, dark green or
crimson dye. If a man with good eyesight were to look at the reflection
of his own face in it, he would not know or see it as it really was. In
the same way, Brahman, when a man dwells with his heart possessed and
overwhelmed by sense-desires, and does not know, as it really is, the
way of escape from sense-desires that have arisen, then he cannot know
or see, as it really is, what is to his own profit, to the profit of
others, to the profit of both. Then even sacred words he has long
studied are not clear to him, not to mention those he has not studied.
Again,
Brahman, when a man dwells with his heart possessed and overwhelmed by
ill-will, and does not know, as it really is, the way of escape from
ill-will that have arisen, then he cannot know or see, as it really is,
what is to his own profit, nor can he know and see what is to the profit
of others, or of both himself and others. Then even sacred words he has
long studied are not clear to him, not to mention those he has not
studied.
Imagine
a bowl of water, heated on a fire, boiling up and bubbling over. If a
man with good eyesight were to look at the reflection of his own face in
it, he would not know or see it as it really was. In the same way,
Brahman, when a man dwells with his heart possessed and overwhelmed by
ill-will, and does not know, as it really is, the way of escape from
ill-will that have arisen, then he cannot know or see, as it really is,
what is to his own profit, nor can he know and see what is to the profit
of others, or of both himself and others. Then even sacred words he has
long studied are not clear to him, not to mention those he has not
studied.
Again,
Brahman, when a man dwells with his heart possessed and overwhelmed by
sloth-and-torpor, and does not know, as it really is, the way of escape
from sloth-and-torpor that have arisen, then he cannot know or see, as
it really is, what is to his own profit, nor can he know and see what is
to the profit of others, or of both himself and others. Then even
sacred words he has long studied are not clear to him, not to mention
those he has not studied.
Imagine
a bowl of water covered over with slimy moss and water-plants. If a man
with good eyesight were to look at the reflection of his own face in
it, he would not know or see it as it really was. In the same way,
Brahman, when a man dwells with his heart possessed and overwhelmed by
sloth-and-torpor, and does not know, as it really is, the way of escape
from sloth-and-torpor that have arisen, then he cannot know or see, as
it really is, what is to his own profit, nor can he know and see what is
to the profit of others, or of both himself and others. Then even
sacred words he has long studied are not clear to him, not to mention
those he has not studied.
Again,
Brahman, when a man dwells with his heart possessed and overwhelmed by
worry-and-flurry, and does not know, as it really is, the way of escape
from worry-and-flurry that have arisen, then he cannot know or see, as
it really is, what is to his own profit, nor can he know and see what is
to the profit of others, or of both himself and others. Then even
sacred words he has long studied are not clear to him, not to mention
those he has not studied.
Imagine
a bowl of water ruffled by the wind, so that the water trembled, eddied
and rippled. If a man with good eyesight were to look at the reflection
of his own face in it, he would not know or see it as it really was. In
the same way, Brahman, when a man dwells with his heart possessed and
overwhelmed by worry-and-flurry, and does not know, as it really is, the
way of escape from worry-and-flurry that have arisen, then he cannot
know or see, as it really is, what is to his own profit, nor can he know
and see what is to the profit of others, or of both himself and others.
Then even sacred words he has long studied are not clear to him, not to
mention those he has not studied.
Again,
Brahman, when a man dwells with his heart possessed and overwhelmed by
doubt-and-wavering, and does not know, as it really is, the way of
escape from doubt-and-wavering that have arisen, then he cannot know or
see, as it really is, what is to his own profit, nor can he know and see
what is to the profit of others, or of both himself and others. Then
even sacred words he has long studied are not clear to him, not to
mention those he has not studied.
Imagine
a bowl of water, agitated, stirred up muddied, put in a dark place. If a
man with good eyesight were to look at the reflection of his own face
in it, he would not know or see it as it really was. In the same way,
Brahman, when a man dwells with his heart possessed and overwhelmed by
doubt-and-wavering, and does not know, as it really is, the way of
escape from doubt-and-wavering that have arisen, then he cannot know or
see, as it really is, what is to his own profit, to the profit of
others, to the profit of both. Then even sacred words he has long
studied are not clear to him, not to mention those he has studied.
Ekaṃ
samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
Atha kho saṅgāravo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami. Upasaṅkamitvā
bhagavatā saddhiṃ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṃ kathaṃ sārāṇīyaṃ vītisāretvā
ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho saṅgāravo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṃ
etadavoca:
–
Ko nu kho, bho gotama, hetu, ko paccayo yenekadā dīgharattaṃ
sajjhāyakatāpi mantā nappaṭibhanti, pageva asajjhāyakatā? Ko pana, bho
gotama, hetu, ko paccayo yenekadā dīgharattaṃ asajjhāyakatāpi mantā
paṭibhanti, pageva sajjhāyakatā ti?
–
Yasmiṃ kho, brāhmaṇa, samaye kāmarāgapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati
kāmarāgaparetena, uppannassa ca kāmarāgassa nissaraṇaṃ yathā·bhūtaṃ
nappajānāti, attatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na
passati, paratthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati,
ubhayatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati;
dīgharattaṃ sajjhāyakatāpi mantā nappaṭibhanti, pageva asajjhāyakatā.
Seyyathāpi,
brāhmaṇa, udapatto saṃsaṭṭho lākhāya vā haliddiyā vā nīliyā vā
mañjiṭṭhāya vā. Tattha cakkhumā puriso sakaṃ mukhanimittaṃ
paccavekkhamāno yathā·bhūtaṃ na jāneyya na passeyya. Evameva kho,
brāhmaṇa, yasmiṃ samaye kāmarāgapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati
kāmarāgaparetena, uppannassa ca kāmarāgassa nissaraṇaṃ yathā·bhūtaṃ
nappajānāti, attatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na
passati, paratthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati,
ubhayatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati;
dīgharattaṃ sajjhāyakatāpi mantā nappaṭibhanti, pageva asajjhāyakatā.
Puna
caparaṃ, brāhmaṇa, yasmiṃ samaye byāpādapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati
byāpādaparetena, uppannassa ca byāpādassa nissaraṇaṃ yathā·bhūtaṃ
nappajānāti, attatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na
passati, paratthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati,
ubhayatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati;
dīgharattaṃ sajjhāyakatāpi mantā nappaṭibhanti, pageva asajjhāyakatā.
Seyyathāpi,
brāhmaṇa, udapatto agginā santatto pakkuthito usmudakajāto. Tattha
cakkhumā puriso sakaṃ mukhanimittaṃ paccavekkhamāno yathā·bhūtaṃ na
jāneyya na passeyya. Evameva kho, brāhmaṇa, yasmiṃ samaye
byāpādapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati byāpādaparetena, uppannassa ca
byāpādassa nissaraṇaṃ yathā·bhūtaṃ nappajānāti, attatthampi tasmiṃ
samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati, paratthampi tasmiṃ samaye
yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati, paratthampi tasmiṃ samaye
yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati, ubhayatthampi tasmiṃ samaye
yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati; dīgharattaṃ sajjhāyakatāpi mantā
nappaṭibhanti, pageva asajjhāyakatā.
Puna
caparaṃ, brāhmaṇa, yasmiṃ samaye thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā
viharati thinamiddhaparetena, uppannassa ca thinamiddhassa nissaraṇaṃ
yathā·bhūtaṃ nappajānāti, attatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na
jānāti na passati, paratthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na
passati, ubhayatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati;
dīgharattaṃ sajjhāyakatāpi mantā nappaṭibhanti, pageva asajjhāyakatā.
Seyyathāpi,
brāhmaṇa, udapatto sevālapaṇakapariyonaddho. Tattha cakkhumā puriso
sakaṃ mukhanimittaṃ paccavekkhamāno yathā·bhūtaṃ na jāneyya na passeyya.
Evameva kho, brāhmaṇa, yasmiṃ samaye thinamiddhapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā
viharati thinamiddhaparetena, uppannassa ca thinamiddhassa nissaraṇaṃ
yathā·bhūtaṃ nappajānāti, attatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na
jānāti na passati, paratthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na
passati, ubhayatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati;
dīgharattaṃ sajjhāyakatāpi mantā nappaṭibhanti, pageva asajjhāyakatā.
Puna
caparaṃ, brāhmaṇa, yasmiṃ samaye uddhaccakukkuccapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā
viharati uddhaccakukkuccaparetena, uppannassa ca uddhaccakukkuccassa
nissaraṇaṃ yathā·bhūtaṃ nappajānāti, attatthampi tasmiṃ samaye
yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati, paratthampi tasmiṃ samaye
yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati, ubhayatthampi tasmiṃ samaye
yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati; dīgharattaṃ sajjhāyakatāpi mantā
nappaṭibhanti, pageva asajjhāyakatā.
Seyyathāpi,
brāhmaṇa, udapatto vāterito calito bhanto ūmijāto. Tattha cakkhumā
puriso sakaṃ mukhanimittaṃ paccavekkhamāno yathā·bhūtaṃ na jāneyya na
passeyya. Evameva kho, brāhmaṇa, yasmiṃ samaye
uddhaccakukkuccapariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati uddhaccakukkuccaparetena,
uppannassa ca uddhaccakukkuccassa nissaraṇaṃ yathā·bhūtaṃ nappajānāti,
attatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati, paratthampi
tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati, ubhayatthampi tasmiṃ
samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati; dīgharattaṃ sajjhāyakatāpi
mantā nappaṭibhanti, pageva asajjhāyakatā.
Puna
caparaṃ, brāhmaṇa, yasmiṃ samaye vicikicchāpariyuṭṭhitena cetasā
viharati vicikicchāparetena, uppannāya ca vicikicchāya nissaraṇaṃ
yathā·bhūtaṃ nappajānāti, attatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na
jānāti na passati, paratthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na
passati, ubhayatthampi tasmiṃ samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati;
dīgharattaṃ sajjhāyakatāpi mantā nappaṭibhanti, pageva asajjhāyakatā.
Seyyathāpi,
brāhmaṇa, udapatto āvilo luḷito kalalībhūto andhakāre nikkhitto. Tattha
cakkhumā puriso sakaṃ mukhanimittaṃ paccavekkhamāno yathā·bhūtaṃ na
jāneyya na passeyya. Evameva kho, brāhmaṇa, yasmiṃ samaye
vicikicchāpariyuṭṭhitena cetasā viharati vicikicchāparetena, uppannāya
ca vicikicchāya nissaraṇaṃ yathā·bhūtaṃ nappajānāti, attatthampi tasmiṃ
samaye yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati, paratthampi tasmiṃ samaye
yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati, ubhayatthampi tasmiṃ samaye
yathā·bhūtaṃ na jānāti na passati; dīgharattaṃ sajjhāyakatāpi mantā
nappaṭibhanti, pageva asajjhāyakatā. Ayaṃ kho, brāhmaṇa, hetu ayaṃ
paccayo yenekadā dīgharattaṃ sajjhāyakatāpi mantā nappaṭibhanti, pageva
asajjhāyakatā.