Sutta Piṭaka
Cūḷasāropamasutta
Cūḷasāropamasutta
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
The Shorter Simile of the Heartwood
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Atha kho piṅgalakoccho brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho piṅgalakoccho brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “yeme, bho gotama, samaṇabrāhmaṇā saṅghino gaṇino gaṇācariyā ñātā yasassino titthakarā sādhusammatā, bahujanassa, seyyathidaṁ—pūraṇo kassapo, makkhali gosālo, ajito kesakambalo, pakudho kaccāyano, sañcayo belaṭṭhaputto, nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto, sabbete sakāya paṭiññāya abbhaññaṁsu sabbeva nābbhaññaṁsu, udāhu ekacce abbhaññaṁsu ekacce nābbhaññaṁsū”ti? “Alaṁ, brāhmaṇa, tiṭṭhatetaṁ— sabbete sakāya paṭiññāya abbhaññaṁsu sabbeva nābbhaññaṁsu, udāhu ekacce abbhaññaṁsu ekacce nābbhaññaṁsūti. Dhammaṁ te, brāhmaṇa, desessāmi, taṁ suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi, bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bho”ti kho piṅgalakoccho brāhmaṇo bhagavato paccassosi. Bhagavā etadavoca:
Then the brahmin Piṅgalakoccha went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: “Worthy Gotama, there are those ascetics and brahmins who lead an order and a community, and tutor a community. They’re well-known and famous religious founders, deemed holy by many people. Namely: Pūraṇa Kassapa, the bamboo-staffed ascetic Gosāla, Ajita of the hair blanket, Pakudha Kaccāyana, Sañjaya Belaṭṭhiputta, and the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan. According to their own claims, did all of them have direct knowledge, or none of them, or only some?” “Enough, brahmin, let this be: ‘According to their own claims, did all of them have direct knowledge, or none of them, or only some?’ I will teach you the Dhamma. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, worthy sir,” Piṅgalakoccha replied. The Buddha said this:
“Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ atikkamma papaṭikaṁ, sākhāpalāsaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ, na aññāsi phegguṁ, na aññāsi tacaṁ, na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ. Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ atikkamma papaṭikaṁ, sākhāpalāsaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno. Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.
“Suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But, passing over the heartwood, softwood, bark, and shoots, he’d cut off the branches and leaves and leave imagining they were heartwood. If a person with clear eyes saw him they’d say: ‘This gentleman doesn’t know what heartwood, softwood, bark, shoots, or branches and leaves are. That’s why he passed them over, cut off the branches and leaves, and left imagining they were heartwood. Whatever he needs to make from heartwood, he won’t succeed.’
Seyyathāpi vā pana, brāhmaṇa, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ, papaṭikaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ, na aññāsi phegguṁ, na aññāsi tacaṁ, na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ. Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ papaṭikaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno. Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.
Suppose there was another person in need of heartwood … he’d cut off the shoots and leave imagining they were heartwood …
Seyyathāpi vā pana, brāhmaṇa, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ, tacaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ, na aññāsi phegguṁ, na aññāsi tacaṁ, na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ. Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ, tacaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno. Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.
Suppose there was another person in need of heartwood … he’d cut off the bark and leave imagining it was heartwood …
Seyyathāpi vā pana, brāhmaṇa, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ, phegguṁ chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti maññamāno. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘na vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso aññāsi sāraṁ, na aññāsi phegguṁ, na aññāsi tacaṁ, na aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, na aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ. Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ, phegguṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti maññamāno. Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissatī’ti.
Suppose there was another person in need of heartwood … he’d cut out the softwood and leave imagining it was heartwood …
Seyyathāpi vā pana, brāhmaṇa, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato sāraññeva chetvā ādāya pakkameyya ‘sāran’ti jānamāno. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso disvā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘aññāsi vatāyaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāraṁ, aññāsi phegguṁ, aññāsi tacaṁ, aññāsi papaṭikaṁ, aññāsi sākhāpalāsaṁ. Tathā hayaṁ bhavaṁ puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato sāraññeva chetvā ādāya pakkanto “sāran”ti jānamāno. Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ anubhavissatī’ti.
Suppose there was another person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. He’d cut out just the heartwood and leave knowing it was heartwood. If a person with clear eyes saw him they’d say: ‘This gentleman knows what heartwood, softwood, bark, shoots, or branches and leaves are. That’s why he cut out just the heartwood and left knowing it was heartwood. Whatever he needs to make from heartwood, he will succeed.’
Evameva kho, brāhmaṇa, idhekacco puggalo saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti: ‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto, appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti. So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti. So tena lābhasakkārasilokena attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tena lābhasakkārasilokena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti: ‘ahamasmi lābhasakkārasilokavā, ime panaññe bhikkhū appaññātā appesakkhā’ti. Lābhasakkārasilokena ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya na chandaṁ janeti, na vāyamati, olīnavuttiko ca hoti sāthaliko. Seyyathāpi so, brāhmaṇa, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ atikkamma papaṭikaṁ, sākhāpalāsaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto ‘sāran’ti maññamāno. Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissati. Tathūpamāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.
In the same way, take a certain individual who goes forth from the lay life to homelessness, thinking: ‘I’m swamped by rebirth, old age, and death; by sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. I’m swamped by suffering, mired in suffering. Hopefully I can make an end to this entire mass of suffering.’ When they’ve gone forth they generate possessions, honor, and popularity. They’re happy with that, and they’ve got all they wished for. And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that: ‘I’m the one with possessions, honor, and popularity. These other mendicants are obscure and insignificant.’ They become lazy and slack on account of their possessions, honor, and popularity, not generating enthusiasm or trying to realize those things that are better and finer. … They’re like the individual who mistakes branches and leaves for heartwood, I say.
Idha pana, brāhmaṇa, ekacco puggalo saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti: ‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto, appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti. So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti. So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Lābhasakkārasilokena ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, anolīnavuttiko ca hoti asāthaliko. So sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti. So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti, paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tāya sīlasampadāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti: ‘ahamasmi sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, ime panaññe bhikkhū dussīlā pāpadhammā’ti. Sīlasampadāya ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya na chandaṁ janeti, na vāyamati, olīnavuttiko ca hoti sāthaliko. Seyyathāpi so, brāhmaṇa, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ atikkamma tacaṁ, papaṭikaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto ‘sāran’ti maññamāno. Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ, tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissati. Tathūpamāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.
Next, take an individual who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness … When they’ve gone forth they generate possessions, honor, and popularity. They’re not happy with that, and haven’t got all they wished for. They don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. They don’t become lazy and slack regarding their possessions, honor, and popularity, but generate enthusiasm and try to realize those things that are better and finer. They achieve accomplishment in ethics. They’re happy with that, and they’ve got all they wished for. And they glorify themselves and put others down on account of that: ‘I’m the one who is ethical, of good character. These other mendicants are unethical, of bad character.’ They become lazy and slack regarding their accomplishment in ethics, not generating enthusiasm or trying to realize those things that are better and finer. … They’re like the individual who mistakes shoots for heartwood, I say.
Idha pana, brāhmaṇa, ekacco puggalo saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti: ‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto, appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti. So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti. So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti, na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Lābhasakkārasilokena ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, anolīnavuttiko ca hoti asāthaliko. So sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti. So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Sīlasampadāya ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, anolīnavuttiko ca hoti asāthaliko. So samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti. So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti, paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tāya samādhisampadāya attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti: ‘ahamasmi samāhito ekaggacitto, ime panaññe bhikkhū asamāhitā vibbhantacittā’ti. Samādhisampadāya ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca, tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya na chandaṁ janeti, na vāyamati, olīnavuttiko ca hoti sāthaliko. Seyyathāpi so, brāhmaṇa, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ atikkamma phegguṁ, tacaṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto ‘sāran’ti maññamāno. Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissati. Tathūpamāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.
Next, take an individual who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness … They achieve accomplishment in ethics … and immersion. … They become lazy and slack regarding their accomplishment in immersion, not generating enthusiasm or trying to realize those things that are better and finer. … They’re like the individual who mistakes bark for heartwood, I say.
Idha pana, brāhmaṇa, ekacco puggalo saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti: ‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena …pe… antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti. So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti. So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Lābhasakkārasilokena ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, anolīnavuttiko ca hoti asāthaliko. So sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti. So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Sīlasampadāya ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, anolīnavuttiko ca hoti asāthaliko. So samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti. So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tāya samādhisampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Samādhisampadāya ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, anolīnavuttiko ca hoti asāthaliko. So ñāṇadassanaṁ ārādheti. So tena ñāṇadassanena attamano hoti, paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tena ñāṇadassanena attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti: ‘ahamasmi jānaṁ passaṁ viharāmi, ime panaññe bhikkhū ajānaṁ apassaṁ viharantī’ti. Ñāṇadassanena ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya na chandaṁ janeti, na vāyamati, olīnavuttiko ca hoti sāthaliko. Seyyathāpi so, brāhmaṇa, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva sāraṁ, phegguṁ chetvā ādāya pakkanto ‘sāran’ti maññamāno. Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ nānubhavissati. Tathūpamāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.
Next, take an individual who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness … They achieve accomplishment in ethics … immersion … and knowledge and vision. They become lazy and slack regarding their knowledge and vision, not generating enthusiasm or trying to realize those things that are better and finer. … They’re like the individual who mistakes softwood for heartwood, I say.
Idha pana, brāhmaṇa, ekacco puggalo saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti: ‘otiṇṇomhi jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto, appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti. So evaṁ pabbajito samāno lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti. So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti, na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Lābhasakkārasilokena ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, anolīnavuttiko ca hoti asāthaliko. So sīlasampadaṁ ārādheti. So tāya sīlasampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tāya sīlasampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Sīlasampadāya ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, anolīnavuttiko ca hoti asāthaliko. So samādhisampadaṁ ārādheti. So tāya samādhisampadāya attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tāya samādhisampadāya na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Samādhisampadāya ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, anolīnavuttiko ca hoti asāthaliko. So ñāṇadassanaṁ ārādheti. So tena ñāṇadassanena attamano hoti, no ca kho paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. So tena ñāṇadassanena na attānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. Ñāṇadassanena ca ye aññe dhammā uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca tesaṁ dhammānaṁ sacchikiriyāya chandaṁ janeti, vāyamati, anolīnavuttiko ca hoti asāthaliko. Katame ca, brāhmaṇa, dhammā ñāṇadassanena uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca?
Next, take an individual who has gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, thinking: ‘I’m swamped by rebirth, old age, and death; by sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. I’m swamped by suffering, mired in suffering. Hopefully I can find an end to this entire mass of suffering.’ When they’ve gone forth they generate possessions, honor, and popularity. They’re not happy with that, and haven’t got all they wished for. They don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. They don’t become lazy and slack on account of their possessions, honor, and popularity, but generate enthusiasm and try to realize those things that are better and finer. They become accomplished in ethics. They’re happy with that, but they haven’t got all they wished for. They don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. They don’t become lazy and slack regarding their accomplishment in ethics, but generate enthusiasm and try to realize those things that are better and finer. They become accomplished in immersion. They’re happy with that, but they haven’t got all they wished for. They don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. They don’t become lazy and slack regarding their accomplishment in immersion, but generate enthusiasm and try to realize those things that are better and finer. They achieve knowledge and vision. They’re happy with that, but they haven’t got all they wished for. They don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. They don’t become lazy and slack regarding their knowledge and vision, but generate enthusiasm and try to realize those things that are better and finer. And what are those things that are better and finer than knowledge and vision?
Idha, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammo ñāṇadassanena uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca.
Take a mendicant who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. This is something better and finer than knowledge and vision.
Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammo ñāṇadassanena uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca.
Furthermore, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a mendicant enters and remains in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. This too is something better and finer than knowledge and vision.
Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati, sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammo ñāṇadassanena uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca.
Furthermore, with the fading away of rapture, a mendicant enters and remains in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’ This too is something better and finer than knowledge and vision.
Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammo ñāṇadassanena uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca.
Furthermore, with the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, a mendicant enters and remains in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. This too is something better and finer than knowledge and vision.
Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammo ñāṇadassanena uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca.
Furthermore, a mendicant, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. This too is something better and finer than knowledge and vision.
Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammo ñāṇadassanena uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca.
Furthermore, a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness. This too is something better and finer than knowledge and vision.
Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammo ñāṇadassanena uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca.
Furthermore, a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, enters and remains in the dimension of nothingness. This too is something better and finer than knowledge and vision.
Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammo ñāṇadassanena uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca.
Furthermore, take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, enters and remains in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. This too is something better and finer than knowledge and vision.
Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, bhikkhu sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati, paññāya cassa disvā āsavā parikkhīṇā honti. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammo ñāṇadassanena uttaritaro ca paṇītataro ca. Ime kho, brāhmaṇa, dhammā ñāṇadassanena uttaritarā ca paṇītatarā ca.
Furthermore, take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, their defilements come to an end. This too is something better and finer than knowledge and vision. These are the things that are better and finer than knowledge and vision.
Seyyathāpi so, brāhmaṇa, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato sāraṁyeva chetvā ādāya pakkanto ‘sāran’ti jānamāno. Yañcassa sārena sārakaraṇīyaṁ tañcassa atthaṁ anubhavissati. Tathūpamāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.
Suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. He’d cut out just the heartwood and leave knowing it was heartwood. Whatever he needs to make from heartwood, he will succeed. That’s what this individual is like, I say.
Iti kho, brāhmaṇa, nayidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ lābhasakkārasilokānisaṁsaṁ, na sīlasampadānisaṁsaṁ, na samādhisampadānisaṁsaṁ, na ñāṇadassanānisaṁsaṁ. Yā ca kho ayaṁ, brāhmaṇa, akuppā cetovimutti— etadatthamidaṁ, brāhmaṇa, brahmacariyaṁ, etaṁ sāraṁ etaṁ pariyosānan”ti.
And so, brahmin, this spiritual life is not lived for the sake of possessions, honor, and popularity, or for accomplishment in ethics, or for accomplishment in immersion, or for knowledge and vision. It is this unshakable freedom of heart that is the goal of the spiritual life, the core and the final end.”
Evaṁ vutte, piṅgalakoccho brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
When he had spoken, the brahmin Piṅgalakoccha said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”