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Linked Discourses · SN 35.236

  • Linked Discourses 35.236Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.236
  • 18. The Ocean18. Samuddavagga

The Simile of Hands and Feet (1st)Paṭhamahatthapādopamasutta

“Mendicants, when there are hands, picking up and putting down are found.“Hatthesu, bhikkhave, sati ādānanikkhepanaṁ paññāyati; When there are feet, coming and going are found.pādesu sati abhikkamapaṭikkamo paññāyati; When there are joints, contracting and extending are found.pabbesu sati samiñjanapasāraṇaṁ paññāyati; When there’s a belly, hunger and thirst are found.kucchismiṁ sati jighacchā pipāsā paññāyati.

In the same way, when there’s an eye, pleasure and pain arise internally conditioned by eye contact.Evameva kho, bhikkhave, cakkhusmiṁ sati cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe… When there’s an ear … nose … tongue … body …jivhāya sati jivhāsamphassapaccayā uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe… mind, pleasure and pain arise internally conditioned by mind contact.manasmiṁ sati manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe….

When there are no hands, picking up and putting down aren’t found.Hatthesu, bhikkhave, asati ādānanikkhepanaṁ na paññāyati; When there are no feet, coming and going aren’t found.pādesu asati abhikkamapaṭikkamo na paññāyati; When there are no joints, contracting and extending aren’t found.pabbesu asati samiñjanapasāraṇaṁ na paññāyati; When there’s no belly, hunger and thirst aren’t found.kucchismiṁ asati jighacchā pipāsā na paññāyati.

In the same way, when there’s no eye, pleasure and pain don’t arise internally conditioned by eye contact.Evameva kho, bhikkhave, cakkhusmiṁ asati cakkhusamphassapaccayā nuppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhaṁ …pe… When there’s no ear … nose … tongue … body …jivhāya asati jivhāsamphassapaccayā nuppajjati …pe… mind, pleasure and pain don’t arise internally conditioned by mind contact.”manasmiṁ asati manosamphassapaccayā nuppajjati ajjhattaṁ sukhaṁ dukkhan”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 35.237 The Simile of Hands and Feet (2nd) 0.95near 0.1Linked Discourses 35.237 18. The Ocean The Simile of Hands and Feet (2nd) “Mendicants, when there are hands, there’s picking up and putting down. When there are feet, there’s coming and going. When there are joints, ther…