The Scope of DefinitionNiruttipathasutta

At Sāvatthī.Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Mendicants, there are these three scopes of definition, labeling, and description. They’re uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now, nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them.“Tayome, bhikkhave, niruttipathā adhivacanapathā paññattipathā asaṅkiṇṇā asaṅkiṇṇapubbā, na saṅkīyanti, na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhā samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi. What three?Katame tayo? When form has passed, ceased, and perished, its designation, label, and description is ‘was’.Yaṁ, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ atītaṁ niruddhaṁ vipariṇataṁ ‘ahosī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘ahosī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘ahosī’ti tassa paññatti; It’s not ‘is’ or ‘will be’.na tassa saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘bhavissatī’ti.

When feeling …Yā vedanā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā ‘ahosī’ti tassā saṅkhā, ‘ahosī’ti tassā samaññā, ‘ahosī’ti tassā paññatti;

perception …Yā saññā …

choices …ye saṅkhārā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā ‘ahesun’ti tesaṁ saṅkhā, ‘ahesun’ti tesaṁ samaññā, ‘ahesun’ti tesaṁ paññatti;

consciousness has passed, ceased, and perished, its designation, label, and description is ‘was’.Yaṁ viññāṇaṁ atītaṁ niruddhaṁ vipariṇataṁ, ‘ahosī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘ahosī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘ahosī’ti tassa paññatti; It’s not ‘is’ or ‘will be’.na tassa saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘bhavissatī’ti.

When form is not yet born, and has not yet appeared, its designation, label, and description is ‘will be’.Yaṁ, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ ajātaṁ apātubhūtaṁ, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa paññatti; It’s not ‘is’ or ‘was’.na tassa saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘ahosī’ti.

When feeling …Yā vedanā ajātā apātubhūtā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassā saṅkhā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassā samaññā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassā paññatti;

perception …Yā saññā …

choices …ye saṅkhārā ajātā apātubhūtā, ‘bhavissantī’ti tesaṁ saṅkhā, ‘bhavissantī’ti tesaṁ samaññā, ‘bhavissantī’ti tesaṁ paññatti;

consciousness is not yet born, and has not yet appeared, its designation, label, and description is ‘will be’.Yaṁ viññāṇaṁ ajātaṁ apātubhūtaṁ, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa paññatti; It’s not ‘is’ or ‘was’.na tassa saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘ahosī’ti.

When form has been born, and has appeared, its designation, label, and description is ‘is’.Yaṁ, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ jātaṁ pātubhūtaṁ, ‘atthī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘atthī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘atthī’ti tassa paññatti; It’s not ‘was’ or ‘will be’.na tassa saṅkhā ‘ahosī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘bhavissatī’ti.

When feeling …Yā vedanā jātā pātubhūtā, ‘atthī’ti tassā saṅkhā, ‘atthī’ti tassā samaññā, ‘atthī’ti tassā paññatti;

perception …Yā saññā …

choices …ye saṅkhārā jātā pātubhūtā, ‘atthī’ti tesaṁ saṅkhā, ‘atthī’ti tesaṁ samaññā, ‘atthī’ti tesaṁ paññatti;

consciousness has been born, and has appeared, its designation, label, and description is ‘is’.Yaṁ viññāṇaṁ jātaṁ pātubhūtaṁ, ‘atthī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘atthī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘atthī’ti tassa paññatti; It’s not ‘was’ or ‘will be’.na tassa saṅkhā ‘ahosī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘bhavissatī’ti.

These are the three scopes of definition, labeling, and description. They’re uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now, nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them.Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo niruttipathā adhivacanapathā paññattipathā asaṅkiṇṇā asaṅkiṇṇapubbā, na saṅkīyanti, na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhā samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.

Even those who were loud and bold advocates of the doctrines of no-cause, inaction, and nihilism, didn’t imagine that these three scopes of definition should be criticized or rejected.Yepi te, bhikkhave, ahesuṁ ukkalā vassabhaññā ahetukavādā akiriyavādā natthikavādā, tepime tayo niruttipathe adhivacanapathe paññattipathe na garahitabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ amaññiṁsu. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu? For fear of being blamed, attacked, provoked, and faulted.”Nindāghaṭṭanabyārosaupārambhabhayā”ti.