Saṁyutta Nikāya:
III. Khandha Vagga:
22: Khandha Saṁyutta
2.1. Upāya Vagga

III: The Book Called The Khandhā-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings
on the Elements of Sensory Existence
and Other Subjects
XXII: Kindred Sayings on Elements (Khandhā)

2.1: On Attachment

Sutta 53

Upaya Suttaṁ

Attachment¹

 

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[53] [45]

Thus have I heard:—

The Exalted One was staying at Sāvatthī.

The Exalted One said:

"Attachment, brethren, is bondage;
aloofness is freedom.

By attachment to body, brethren,
consciousness,
if it get a standing,
may persist.

With body for its object,
with body for its platform,
seeking means of enjoyment,
it may come by growth,
increase,
abundance.²

With the activities for its object,
with the activities for its platform,
seeking a means of enjoyment,
it may come by growth,
increase,
abundance.

Were a man, brethren, to declare thus:

"Apart from body,
apart from feeling,
apart from perception,
apart from the [46] activities,
I will show forth the coming or the going
or the decease or the rebirth of consciousness,
or the growth or the increase
or the abundance of consciousness" -
to do that were impossible.

If lust for body, brethren,
is abandoned by a brother,
by that abandonment of lust
its foothold is cut off.³

Thereby there is no platform for consciousness.

If lust for feeling, brethren,
is abandoned by a brother,
by that abandonment of lust
its foothold is cut off.

Thereby there is no platform for consciousness.

If lust for perception, brethren, is abandoned by a brother,
by that abandonment of lust
its foothold is cut off.

Thereby there is no platform for consciousness.

If lust for the activities, brethren, is abandoned by a brother,
by that abandonment of lust
its foothold is cut off.

Thereby there is no platform for consciousness.

So also, brethren, if lust for the consciousness-element be abandoned by a brother,
by that abandonment of lust
its foothold is cut off.

Thereby there is no platform for consciousness.

Without that platform
consciousness has no growth,
it generates no action⁴ and is freed:
by freedom it is steady:⁵
by its steadiness it is happy:
owing to happiness it is not troubled.

Being untroubled,
of itself it becomes utterly well,
so that it knows:

"Destroyed is rebirth,
lived is the righteous life,
done is the task,
for life in these conditions there is no hereafter."'

 

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¹ Cf. Warren, p 162. Upayo (text reads upāyo). Comy., 'by way of craving, views, conceit, it is subject to the five factors.'

² Cf. Dialog. iii, 220 and n. for a somewhat similar paragraph. Comy., 'activity-consciousness, arousing action, by its ability to induce rebirth, would experience growth, etc.'

³ Vocchijjat'ārammaṇaṁ Comy., 'By absence of the ability to induce rebirth its support is severed.'

⁴ Cf. S. ii, 82 (sankhāraṁ abhisankharoti). Comy. reading anabhisankhacca, 'generates (no conception).'

⁵ Cf. S. ii, 65. In this connexion ṭhito is not 'fixed on an object' but 'calmed' or 'steadfast.' (Or 'he,' or 'one' is steady.)