Several MendicantsSambahulabhikkhusutta

Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha … and asked him,Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “Sir, sometimes wanderers of other religions ask us:“idha no, bhante, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā amhe evaṁ pucchanti: ‘Reverends, what’s the goal of leading the spiritual life under the ascetic Gotama?’‘kimatthiyaṁ, āvuso, samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti? We answer them like this:Evaṁ puṭṭhā mayaṁ, bhante, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākaroma: ‘The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand suffering.’‘dukkhassa kho, āvuso, pariññatthaṁ bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti.

Answering this way, we trust that we repeat what the Buddha has said, and don’t misrepresent him with an untruth. We trust our explanation is in line with the teaching, and that there are no legitimate grounds for rebuttal or criticism.”Kacci mayaṁ, bhante, evaṁ puṭṭhā evaṁ byākaramānā vuttavādino ceva bhagavato homa, na ca bhagavantaṁ abhūtena abbhācikkhāma, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākaroma, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānuvādo gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgacchatī”ti?

“Indeed, in answering this way you repeat what I’ve said, and don’t misrepresent me with an untruth. Your explanation is in line with the teaching, and there are no legitimate grounds for rebuttal or criticism.“Taggha tumhe, bhikkhave, evaṁ puṭṭhā evaṁ byākaramānā vuttavādino ceva me hotha, na ca maṁ abhūtena abbhācikkhatha, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākarotha, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānuvādo gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgacchati. For the goal of leading the spiritual life under me is to completely understand suffering.Dukkhassa hi, bhikkhave, pariññatthaṁ mayi brahmacariyaṁ vussati.

If wanderers of other religions were to ask you:Sace pana vo, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘Reverends, what is that suffering?’‘katamaṁ pana taṁ, āvuso, dukkhaṁ, yassa pariññāya samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti? You should answer them:Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha: ‘Reverends, the eye is suffering. The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this.‘cakkhu kho, āvuso, dukkhaṁ, tassa pariññāya bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussati. Sights … Eye consciousness … Eye contact …Rūpā …pe… The pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on eye contact is also suffering.yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tampi dukkhaṁ. The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this.Tassa pariññāya bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussati …pe…

Ear … Nose … Tongue … Body … Mind …mano dukkho …pe… The pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on mind contact is also suffering.yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tampi dukkhaṁ. The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this.Tassa pariññāya bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussati.

This is that suffering. The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this.’Idaṁ kho taṁ, āvuso, dukkhaṁ, tassa pariññāya bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti. When questioned by wanderers of other religions, that’s how you should answer them.”Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyāthā”ti.