TheravādaMN 1HOLYMAP · SACRED TEXTS
Sutta PiṭakaMN 1

Sutta Piṭaka

MN 1

Mūlapariyāyasutta

1
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

The Root of All Things

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Ukkaṭṭhā in the Subhaga Forest at the root of a magnificent sal tree. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

2
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

“Mendicants, I will teach you the explanation of the root of all things. Listen and apply your minds well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

“Take an unlearned ordinary person who has not seen the noble ones, and is neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the noble ones. They’ve not seen true persons, and are neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the true persons. They perceive earth as earth. Having perceived earth as earth, they conceive it to be earth, they conceive it in earth, they conceive it as earth, they conceive that ‘earth is mine’, they approve earth. Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive water as water. Having perceived water as water, they conceive it to be water … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

5
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive fire as fire. Having perceived fire as fire, they conceive it to be fire … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive air as air. Having perceived air as air, they conceive it to be air … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive creatures as creatures. Having perceived creatures as creatures, they conceive them to be creatures … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive gods as gods. Having perceived gods as gods, they conceive them to be gods … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive the Progenitor as the Progenitor. Having perceived the Progenitor as the Progenitor, they conceive him to be the Progenitor … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive the Divinity as the Divinity. Having perceived the Divinity as the Divinity, they conceive him to be the Divinity … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

11
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive those of sublime luminosity as those of sublime luminosity. Having perceived those of sublime luminosity as those of sublime luminosity, they conceive them to be those of sublime luminosity … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive those of universal beauty as those of universal beauty. But then they conceive them to be those of universal beauty … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive those of abundant fruit as those of abundant fruit. Having perceived those of abundant fruit as those of abundant fruit, they conceive them to be those of abundant fruit … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

14
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive the Vanquisher as the Vanquisher. Having perceived the Vanquisher as the Vanquisher, they conceive him to be the Vanquisher … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

15
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive the dimension of infinite space as the dimension of infinite space. Having perceived the dimension of infinite space as the dimension of infinite space, they conceive it to be the dimension of infinite space … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive the dimension of infinite consciousness as the dimension of infinite consciousness. Having perceived the dimension of infinite consciousness as the dimension of infinite consciousness, they conceive it to be the dimension of infinite consciousness … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

17
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive the dimension of nothingness as the dimension of nothingness. Having perceived the dimension of nothingness as the dimension of nothingness, they conceive it to be the dimension of nothingness … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

18
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception as the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. Having perceived the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception as the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, they conceive it to be the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive the seen as the seen. Having perceived the seen as the seen, they conceive it to be the seen … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive the heard as the heard. Having perceived the heard as the heard, they conceive it to be the heard … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive the thought as the thought. Having perceived the thought as the thought, they conceive it to be the thought … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive the known as the known. Having perceived the known as the known, they conceive it to be the known … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive oneness as oneness. Having perceived oneness as oneness, they conceive it to be oneness … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive diversity as diversity. Having perceived diversity as diversity, they conceive it to be diversity … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive all as all. Having perceived all as all, they conceive it to be all … Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They perceive extinguishment as extinguishment. Having perceived extinguishment as extinguishment, they conceive it to be extinguishment, they conceive it in extinguishment, they conceive it as extinguishment, they conceive that ‘extinguishment is mine’, they approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because they haven’t completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

A mendicant who is a trainee, who hasn’t achieved their heart’s desire, but lives aspiring to the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, let them not conceive it to be earth, let them not conceive it in earth, let them not conceive it as earth, let them not conceive that ‘earth is mine’, let them not approve earth. Why is that? So that they may completely understand it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They directly know water …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

fire …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

air …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

creatures …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

gods …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Progenitor …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Divinity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of sublime luminosity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those replete with glory …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of abundant fruit …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Vanquisher …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite space …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite consciousness …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of nothingness …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the seen …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the heard …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the thought …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the known …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

oneness …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

diversity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

all …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They directly know extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, let them not conceive it to be extinguishment, let them not conceive it in extinguishment, let them not conceive it as extinguishment, let them not conceive that ‘extinguishment is mine’, let them not approve extinguishment. Why is that? So that they may completely understand it, I say.

51
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

A mendicant who is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, they do not conceive it to be earth, they do not conceive it in earth, they do not conceive it as earth, they do not conceive that ‘earth is mine’, they do not approve earth. Why is that? Because they have completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They directly know water …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

fire …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

air …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

creatures …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

gods …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Progenitor …

58
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Divinity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of sublime luminosity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those replete with glory …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of abundant fruit …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Vanquisher …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite space …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite consciousness …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of nothingness …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the seen …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the heard …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the thought …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the known …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

oneness …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

diversity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

all …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They directly know extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, they do not conceive it to be extinguishment, they do not conceive it in extinguishment, they do not conceive it as extinguishment, they do not conceive that ‘extinguishment is mine’, they do not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because they have completely understood it, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

A mendicant who is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, they do not conceive it to be earth, they do not conceive it in earth, they do not conceive it as earth, they do not conceive that ‘earth is mine’, they do not approve earth. Why is that? Because they’re free of greed due to the ending of greed.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They directly know water …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

fire …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

air …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

creatures …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

gods …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Progenitor …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Divinity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of sublime luminosity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those replete with glory …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of abundant fruit …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Vanquisher …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite space …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite consciousness …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of nothingness …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception …

91
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the seen …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the heard …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the thought …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the known …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

oneness …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

diversity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

all …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They directly know extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, they do not conceive it to be extinguishment, they do not conceive it in extinguishment, they do not conceive it as extinguishment, they do not conceive that ‘extinguishment is mine’, they do not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because they’re free of greed due to the ending of greed.

99
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

A mendicant who is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, they do not conceive it to be earth, they do not conceive it in earth, they do not conceive it as earth, they do not conceive that ‘earth is mine’, they do not approve earth. Why is that? Because they’re free of hate due to the ending of hate.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They directly know water …

101
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

fire …

102
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

air …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

creatures …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

gods …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Progenitor …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Divinity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of sublime luminosity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those replete with glory …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of abundant fruit …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Vanquisher …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite space …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite consciousness …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of nothingness …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the seen …

116
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the heard …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the thought …

118
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the known …

119
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

oneness …

120
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

diversity …

121
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

all …

122
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They directly know extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, they do not conceive it to be extinguishment, they do not conceive it in extinguishment, they do not conceive it as extinguishment, they do not conceive that ‘extinguishment is mine’, they do not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because they’re free of hate due to the ending of hate.

123
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

A mendicant who is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, they do not conceive it to be earth, they do not conceive it in earth, they do not conceive it as earth, they do not conceive that ‘earth is mine’, they do not approve earth. Why is that? Because they’re free of delusion due to the ending of delusion.

124
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They directly know water …

125
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

fire …

126
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

air …

127
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

creatures …

128
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

gods …

129
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Progenitor …

130
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Divinity …

131
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of sublime luminosity …

132
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those replete with glory …

133
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of abundant fruit …

134
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Vanquisher …

135
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite space …

136
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite consciousness …

137
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of nothingness …

138
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception …

139
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the seen …

140
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the heard …

141
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the thought …

142
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the known …

143
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

oneness …

144
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

diversity …

145
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

all …

146
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

They directly know extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, they do not conceive it to be extinguishment, they do not conceive it in extinguishment, they do not conceive it as extinguishment, they do not conceive that ‘extinguishment is mine’, they do not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because they’re free of delusion due to the ending of delusion.

147
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, he does not conceive it to be earth, he does not conceive it in earth, he does not conceive it as earth, he does not conceive that ‘earth is mine’, he does not approve earth. Why is that? Because the Realized One has completely understood it to the end, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

He directly knows water …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

fire …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

air …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

creatures …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

gods …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Progenitor …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Divinity …

155
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of sublime luminosity …

156
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those replete with glory …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of abundant fruit …

158
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Vanquisher …

159
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite space …

160
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite consciousness …

161
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of nothingness …

162
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception …

163
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the seen …

164
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the heard …

165
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the thought …

166
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the known …

167
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

oneness …

168
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

diversity …

169
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

all …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

He directly knows extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, he does not conceive it to be extinguishment, he does not conceive it in extinguishment, he does not conceive it as extinguishment, he does not conceive that ‘extinguishment is mine’, he does not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because the Realized One has completely understood it to the end, I say.

171
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, he does not conceive it to be earth, he does not conceive it in earth, he does not conceive it as earth, he does not conceive that ‘earth is mine’, he does not approve earth. Why is that? Because he has understood that approval is the root of suffering, and that rebirth comes from continued existence; whoever has come to be gets old and dies. That’s why the Realized One—with the ending, fading away, cessation, giving up, and letting go of all cravings—has awakened to the supreme perfect awakening, I say.

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

He directly knows water …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

fire …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

air …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

creatures …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

gods …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Progenitor …

178
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Divinity …

179
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of sublime luminosity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those replete with glory …

181
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

those of abundant fruit …

182
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the Vanquisher …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite space …

184
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of infinite consciousness …

185
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of nothingness …

186
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception …

187
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the seen …

188
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the heard …

189
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the thought …

190
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

the known …

191
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

oneness …

192
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

diversity …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

all …

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English · Bhikkhu Sujato

He directly knows extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, he does not conceive it to be extinguishment, he does not conceive it in extinguishment, he does not conceive it as extinguishment, he does not conceive that ‘extinguishment is mine’, he does not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because he has understood that approval is the root of suffering, and that rebirth comes from continued existence; whoever has come to be gets old and dies. That’s why the Realized One—with the ending, fading away, cessation, giving up, and letting go of all cravings—has awakened to the supreme perfect Awakening, I say.” That is what the Buddha said. But the mendicants did not approve what the Buddha said.

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Pāli text: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka Buddhavasse 2500 (M.L. Maniratana Bunnag Dhamma Society Fund), as published by SuttaCentral. Public domain. · Source ↗

Pāli text: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka, via SuttaCentral. Public domain.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato. SuttaCentral, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). · Source ↗

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato (SuttaCentral), dedicated to the public domain via CC0. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

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