Saṁyutta Nikaya
Nidāna Vagga
14. Dhatu Saṁyutta

Sutta 34

Dukkha [Dukkhalakkhaṇa] Suttaṁ

Pain

 

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THUS have I heard.

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta Grove, the Anāthapiṇḍika Park.

Then the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:

"Brethren."

"Yes, lord," replied those brethren to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"If this earth-element, brethren,
were entirely painful,
beset with pain,
immersed in pain,
not immersed in happiness,
beings would not be lusting after the earth-element.

But inasmuch as this earth-element, brethren,
is pleasant,
beset with pleasure,
immersed in [116] pleasure,
not in pain,
therefore it is
that beings get lusting after the earth-element.

"If this water-element, brethren,
were entirely painful,
beset with pain,
immersed in pain,
not immersed in happiness,
beings would not be lusting after the water-element.

But inasmuch as this water-element, brethren,
is pleasant,
beset with pleasure,
immersed in pleasure,
not in pain,
therefore it is
that beings get lusting after the water-element.

"If this heat-element, brethren,
were entirely painful,
beset with pain,
immersed in pain,
not immersed in happiness,
beings would not be lusting after the heat-element.

But inasmuch as this heat-element, brethren,
is pleasant,
beset with pleasure,
immersed in pleasure,
not in pain,
therefore it is
that beings get lusting after the heat-element.

"If this air-element, brethren,
were entirely painful,
beset with pain,
immersed in pain,
not immersed in happiness,
beings would not be lusting after the air-element.

But inasmuch as this air-element, brethren,
is pleasant,
beset with pleasure,
immersed in pleasure,
not in pain,
therefore it is
that beings get lusting after the air-element.

 

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If this earth-element, brethren,
were entirely pleasant,
beset with pleasure,
immersed in pleasure,
not immersed in pain,
beings would not be repelled by the earth-element.

But inasmuch as the earth-element
is painful,
is beset with pain,
immersed in pain,
not immersed in pleasure,
therefore it is that beings are repelled by the earth-element.

If this water-element, brethren,
were entirely pleasant,
beset with pleasure,
immersed in pleasure,
not immersed in pain,
beings would not be repelled by the water-element.

But inasmuch as the water-element
is painful,
is beset with pain,
immersed in pain,
not immersed in pleasure,
therefore it is that beings are repelled by the water-element.

If this heat-element, brethren,
were entirely pleasant,
beset with pleasure,
immersed in pleasure,
not immersed in pain,
beings would not be repelled by the heat-element.

But inasmuch as the heat-element
is painful,
is beset with pain,
immersed in pain,
not immersed in pleasure,
therefore it is that beings are repelled by the heat-element.

If this air-element, brethren,
were entirely pleasant,
beset with pleasure,
immersed in pleasure,
not immersed in pain,
beings would not be repelled by the air-element.

But inasmuch as the air-element
is painful,
is beset with pain,
immersed in pain,
not immersed in pleasure,
therefore it is that beings are repelled by the air-element.