Saṁyutta Nikāya,
V: Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saṁyutta
I. Samādhi Vaggo

Part V: The Great Chapter
56: Kindred Sayings about the Truths
I. Concentration

Sutta 7

Vitakkā Suttaṁ

Thoughts

 

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[354]

Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

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

The Exalted One said:

"Monks, think not evil,
unprofitable thoughts,
such as:
thoughts of lust,
thoughts of hatred,
thoughts of delusion.¹

Why do I say so?

Because, monks,
these thoughts are not concerned with profit,
they are not the rudiments of the holy life,
they conduce not to revulsion,
to dispassion,
to cessation,
to tranquillity,
to full understanding,
to the perfect wisdom,
they conduce not to Nibbāna.

When ye do think, monks,
ye should think thus:

'This is ill.

This is the arising of ill.

This is the ceasing of ill.

This is the practice
that leads to the ceasing of ill.'

Why do I say this?

Because, monks,
these thoughts are concerned with profit,
they are rudiments of the holy life,
they conduce to revulsion,
to dispassion,
to cessation,
to tranquillity,
to full understanding,
to the perfect wisdom,
they conduce to Nibbāna.

Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:

'This is ill.'

'This is the arising of ill.'

'This is the ceasing of ill.'

'This is the practice
that leads to the ceasing of ill.'"

 

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¹ Quoted at Mil. Panh., 379.