SN 43.12

Asaṅkhatasutta

“Asaṅkhatañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi asaṅkhatagāmiñca maggaṁ. Taṁ suṇātha. Katamañca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhataṁ? Yo, bhikkhave, rāgakkhayo dosakkhayo mohakkhayo— idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhataṁ. Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Samatho. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo. Iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṁ vo mayā asaṅkhataṁ, desito asaṅkhatagāmimaggo. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, satthārā karaṇīyaṁ sāvakānaṁ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya, kataṁ vo taṁ mayā. Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha; mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanīti.

The Unconditioned

“Mendicants, I will teach you the unconditioned and the path that leads to the unconditioned. Listen … And what is the unconditioned? The ending of greed, hate, and delusion. This is called the unconditioned. And what is the path that leads to the unconditioned? Serenity. This is called the path that leads to the unconditioned. So, mendicants, I’ve taught you the unconditioned and the path that leads to the unconditioned. Out of sympathy, I’ve done what a teacher should do who wants what’s best for their disciples. Here are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice absorption, mendicants! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later! This is my instruction to you.”

Asaṅkhatañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi asaṅkhatagāmiñca maggaṁ. Taṁ suṇātha. Katamañca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhataṁ? Yo, bhikkhave, rāgakkhayo dosakkhayo mohakkhayo— idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhataṁ. Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Vipassanā. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo. Iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṁ vo mayā asaṅkhataṁ …pe… ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanīti.

“Mendicants, I will teach you the unconditioned and the path that leads to the unconditioned. Listen … And what is the unconditioned? The ending of greed, hate, and delusion. This is called the unconditioned. And what is the path that leads to the unconditioned? Discernment. This is called the path that leads to the unconditioned. …”

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Savitakko savicāro samādhi. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Avitakko vicāramatto samādhi. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Avitakko avicāro samādhi. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe….

“And what is the path that leads to the unconditioned? Immersion with placing the mind and keeping it connected. … Immersion without placing the mind, merely keeping it connected. … Immersion without placing the mind or keeping it connected. …

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Suññato samādhi. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Animitto samādhi. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Appaṇihito samādhi. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe….

Emptiness immersion. … Signless immersion. … Undirected immersion. …

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati …pe… ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu citte cittānupassī viharati …pe… ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati …pe… ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe….

A mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. … A mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of feelings … A mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the mind … A mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of principles …

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe….

A mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise. … A mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities are given up. … A mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that skillful qualities arise. … A mendicant generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fully developed. …

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu chandasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vīriyasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cittasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vīmaṁsasamādhipadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ iddhipādaṁ bhāveti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe….

A mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort. … A mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy … immersion due to mental development … immersion due to inquiry, and active effort. …

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhindriyaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vīriyindriyaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe… ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satindriyaṁ bhāveti …pe… ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu samādhindriyaṁ bhāveti …pe… ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paññindriyaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe….

A mendicant develops the faculty of faith, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. … A mendicant develops the faculty of energy … mindfulness … immersion … wisdom, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. …

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhābalaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe… ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vīriyabalaṁ bhāveti …pe… ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satibalaṁ bhāveti …pe… ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu samādhibalaṁ bhāveti …pe… ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paññābalaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe….

A mendicant develops the power of faith … energy … mindfulness … immersion … wisdom, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. …

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe… ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… vīriyasambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… pītisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… passaddhisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… samādhisambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgaṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe….

A mendicant develops the awakening factor of mindfulness … investigation of principles … energy … rapture … tranquility … immersion … equanimity, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. …

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo …pe… katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammāsaṅkappaṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāvācaṁ bhāveti …pe… sammākammantaṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāājīvaṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāvāyāmaṁ bhāveti …pe… sammāsatiṁ bhāveti …pe… asaṅkhatañca vo, bhikkhave, desessāmi asaṅkhatagāmiñca maggaṁ. Taṁ suṇātha. Katamañca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhataṁ …pe…? Katamo ca, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, asaṅkhatagāmimaggo. Iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṁ vo mayā asaṅkhataṁ, desito asaṅkhatagāmimaggo. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, satthārā karaṇīyaṁ sāvakānaṁ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya, kataṁ vo taṁ mayā. Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha; mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.

A mendicant develops right view … right purpose … right speech … right action … right livelihood … right effort … right mindfulness … right immersion, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. This is called the path that leads to the unconditioned. So, mendicants, I’ve taught you the unconditioned and the path that leads to the unconditioned. Out of sympathy, I’ve done what a teacher should do who wants what’s best for their disciples. Here are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice absorption, mendicants! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later! This is my instruction to you.”