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Linked Discourses · SN 22.97

  • Linked Discourses 22.97Saṁyutta Nikāya 22.97
  • 10. Flowers10. Pupphavagga

A FingernailNakhasikhāsutta

At Sāvatthī.Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha:Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, is there any form at all that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever?“atthi nu kho, bhante, kiñci rūpaṁ yaṁ rūpaṁ niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati? Is there any feeling …Atthi nu kho, bhante, kāci vedanā yā vedanā niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati? perception …Atthi nu kho, bhante, kāci saññā …pe… choices …keci saṅkhārā, ye saṅkhārā niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassanti? consciousness at all that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever?”Atthi nu kho, bhante, kiñci viññāṇaṁ, yaṁ viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassatī”ti?

“Mendicant, there is no form at all that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever.“Natthi kho, bhikkhu, kiñci rūpaṁ, yaṁ rūpaṁ niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati. There’s no feeling …Natthi kho, bhikkhu, kāci vedanā … perception …kāci saññā … choices …keci saṅkhārā …pe… consciousness at all that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever.”kiñci viññāṇaṁ, yaṁ viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassatī”ti.

Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt on his fingernail, said to that mendicant:Atha kho bhagavā parittaṁ nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsuṁ āropetvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

“There’s not even this much of any form that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever.“ettakampi kho, bhikkhu, rūpaṁ natthi niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati. If there were, this living of the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering would not be found.Ettakañcepi, bhikkhu, rūpaṁ abhavissa niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ, nayidaṁ brahmacariyavāso paññāyetha sammā dukkhakkhayāya. But since there isn’t, this living of the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering is found.Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhu, ettakampi rūpaṁ natthi niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ, tasmā brahmacariyavāso paññāyati sammā dukkhakkhayāya”.

There’s not even this much of any feeling …Ettakāpi kho, bhikkhu, vedanā natthi niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati.

perception …Ettakāpi kho, bhikkhu, saññā natthi …pe…

choices …ettakāpi kho, bhikkhu, saṅkhārā natthi niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassanti.

consciousness that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last forever and ever.Ettakampi kho, bhikkhu, viññāṇaṁ natthi niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ sassatisamaṁ tatheva ṭhassati. If there were, this living of the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering would not be found.Ettakampi kho, bhikkhu, viññāṇaṁ abhavissa niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ, na yidaṁ brahmacariyavāso paññāyetha sammā dukkhakkhayāya. But since there isn’t, this living of the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering is found.Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhu, ettakampi viññāṇaṁ natthi niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ, tasmā brahmacariyavāso paññāyati sammā dukkhakkhayāya.

What do you think, mendicant?Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, bhikkhu, Is form permanent or impermanent?”rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Impermanent, sir.”“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.

“Is feeling …“Vedanā … perception …saññā … choices …saṅkhārā … consciousness permanent or impermanent?”viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?

“Impermanent, sir.” …“Aniccaṁ, bhante” …pe…

“So you should truly see …“tasmātiha …pe… Seeing this …evaṁ passaṁ …pe… They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātī”ti.

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. SN 22.98 Plain Version 0.82near 0.1Linked Discourses 22.98 10. Flowers Plain Version At Sāvatthī. Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha: “Sir, is there any form at all that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will last for…
  2. SN 22.96 A Lump of Cow Dung 0.76near 0.1Linked Discourses 22.96 10. Flowers A Lump of Cow Dung At Sāvatthī. Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha: “Sir, is there any form at all that’s permanent, everlasting, eternal, imperishable, and will las…
  3. SN 22.152 This is My Self 0.60near 5.2choices … consciousness permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, sir.” “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?” “Suffering, sir.” “But by not grasping what’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, would…
  4. SN 18.12–20 The Nine Discourses on Sights, Etc. 0.59near 5.2Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, sir.” … “Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”…
  5. SN 24.1 Winds 0.58near 5.2Is form permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, sir.” “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?” “Suffering, sir.” “But by not grasping what’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, would the view arise:…
  6. SN 22.80 Beggars 0.57near 5.2There are these two views. Views favoring existence and views favoring nonexistence. A learned noble disciple reflects on this: ‘Is there anything in the world that I could grasp without fault?’ They understand: ‘There’s…
  7. SN 22.79 Bitable 0.55near 5.2In the past I was also bitten by consciousness just like now. If I were to look forward to enjoying consciousness in the future, I’d be bitten by consciousness in the future just as I am today.’ Reflecting like this they…