Saṁyutta Nikāya:
IV. Saḷāyatana Vagga
35: Saḷāyatana Saṁyutta
Paññāsako Dutiyo
2. Migajāla Vagga
35: Kindred Sayings the Sixfold Sphere of Sense The 'Second Fifty' Suttas
2. The Chapter on Migajāla
Sutta 73
Tatiya Chaphassāyatana Suttaṁ
Concerning the Sixfold Sphere of Contact (iii)
"Whatsoevered1 brother, Brethren, understands not,
as they really are,
the arising and destruction,
the satisfaction and misery,
and the escape
from the sixfold sphere of contact, -
not lived by such an one
is the righteous life.
Far is he
from this Norm and Discipline."
At these words a certain brother addressed the Exalted One, saying: -
"Herein, lord, I am in despair; -
for I, lord, do not understand these things
as they really are."
Now what think ye, brother?
Is the eye permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Are objects
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is eye-consciousness
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is eye-contact
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
That weal or woe or neutral state experienced, that arises from eye-contact, -
is that permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
§
Now what think ye, brother?
Is the ear permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Are sounds
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is ear-consciousness
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is ear-contact
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
That weal or woe or neutral state experienced, that arises from ear-contact, -
is that permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
§
Now what think ye, brother?
Is the nose permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Are scents
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is nose-consciousness
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is nose-contact
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
That weal or woe or neutral state experienced, that arises from nose-contact, -
is that permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
§
Now what think ye, brother?
Is the tongue permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Are savours
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is tongue-consciousness
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is tongue-contact
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
That weal or woe or neutral state experienced, that arises from tongue-contact, -
is that permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
§
Now what think ye, brother?
Is the body permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Are things tactile
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is body-consciousness
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is body-contact
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
That weal or woe or neutral state experienced, that arises from body-contact, -
is that permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
§
Now what think ye, brother?
Is the mind permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Are mind-states
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is mind-consciousness
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
Is mind-contact
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
■
That weal or woe or neutral state experienced, that arises from mind-contact, -
is that permanent
or impermanent?"
"Impermanent, lord."
"What is impermanent,
is that weal or woe?"
"Woe, lord."
"Now what is impermanent,
woeful,
by nature changeable, -
is it fitting to regard that as:
'This is mine.
This am I.
This is my self?'"
"Surely not, lord."
So seeing, brother, the well-taught Ṭriyan disciple
is repelled by the eye,
is repelled by objects,
is repelled by eye-consciousness,
is repelled by eye-contact,
is repelled by that weal or woe or neutral state experienced,
which arises owing to eye-contact.
So seeing, brother, the well-taught Ṭriyan disciple
is repelled by the ear,
is repelled by sounds,
is repelled by ear-consciousness,
is repelled by ear-contact,
is repelled by that weal or woe or neutral state experienced,
which arises owing to ear-contact.
So seeing, brother, the well-taught Ṭriyan disciple
is repelled by the nose,
is repelled by scents,
is repelled by nose-consciousness,
is repelled by nose-contact,
is repelled by that weal or woe or neutral state experienced,
which arises owing to nose-contact.
So seeing, brother, the well-taught Ṭriyan disciple
is repelled by the tongue,
is repelled by savours,
is repelled by tongue-consciousness,
is repelled by tongue-contact,
is repelled by that weal or woe or neutral state experienced,
which arises owing to tongue-contact.
So seeing, brother, the well-taught Ṭriyan disciple
is repelled by the body,
is repelled by things tactile,
is repelled by body-consciousness,
is repelled by body-contact,
is repelled by that weal or woe or neutral state experienced,
which arises owing to body-contact.
So seeing, brother, the well-taught Ṭriyan disciple
is repelled by the mind,
is repelled by mind-states,
is repelled by mind-consciousness,
is repelled by mind-contact,
is repelled by that weal or woe or neutral state experienced,
which arises owing to mind-contact.
Being repelled by these,
he lusts not for them.
Not lusting he is set free.
In this freedom
comes insight
that it is a being free.
Thus he realizes:
'Rebirth is destroyed,
lived is the righteous life,
done is the task.
For life in these conditions
there is no hereafter.'"
ed1 This sutta has no nidana.