Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

Ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā kosambiyaṃ viharati sīsapāvane. Atha kho bhagavā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahetvā bhikkhū āmantesi– “taṃ kiṃ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṃ nu kho bahutaraṃ– yāni vā mayā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni yadidaṃ upari sīsapāvane”ti?

Once the Bhagavā was staying in the Sīsapa forest at Kosambi. Then and there the Bhagavā, taking up a few Sīsapa leaves with his hand he addressed the Bhikkhus.

“What do you think, Bhikkhus, which are more numerous, the few Sīsapa leaves in my hand or those in the Sīsapa forest above?”

“Appamattakāni, bhante, bhagavatā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni; atha kho etāneva bahutarāni yadidaṃ upari sīsapāvane”ti.

“The leaves in the hand of the Bhagavā are limited in number, Bhante, those in the forest above are far more numerous.”

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, etadeva bahutaraṃ yaṃ vo mayā abhiññāya anakkhātaṃ.

Kasmā cetaṃ, bhikkhave, mayā anakkhātaṃ?

Na hetaṃ, bhikkhave, atthasaṃhitaṃ nādibrahmacariyakaṃ na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṃvattati;

tasmā taṃ mayā anakkhātaṃ”.

“Similarly, in the same way, Bhikkhus, what is known through my special knowledge but I have not declared to you is far more numerous. And why haven’t I declared it?

“Because it is not connected with the goal, does not affect the holy life, and does not lead to weariness of the world, to dispassion, to cessation, to tranquillity, to universal knowledge, to full enlightenment, to nibbāna. That is why I have not declared it.

“Kiñca, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṃ? ‘Idaṃ dukkhan’ti, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṃ, ‘ayaṃ dukkhasamudayo’ti mayā akkhātaṃ, ‘ayaṃ dukkhanirodho’ti mayā akkhātaṃ, ‘ayaṃ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti mayā akkhātaṃ”.

“And what have I taught?

“I have taught: ‘This is suffering’ I have taught: ‘This is the origination of suffering.’ I have taught: ‘This is the eradication of suffering.’ I have taught: ‘This is the path leading to the eradication of suffering’.

“Kasmā cetaṃ, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṃ? Etañhi, bhikkhave, atthasaṃhitaṃ etaṃ ādibrahmacariyakaṃ etaṃ nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati;

tasmā taṃ mayā akkhātaṃ.

“And why have I taught this? Because it is connected with the goal, supports the holy life, and does lead to weariness of the world, to dispassion, to cessation, to tranquillity, to special knowledge, to full enlightenment, to nibbāna. That is why I have declared it!

“Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṃ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṃ dukkhasamudayo’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṃ dukkhanirodho’ti yogo karaṇīyo, ‘ayaṃ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.

“Therefore I emphasise, Bhikkhus, make it your obligation to practice: ‘This is suffering’. Make it your obligation to practice: ‘This is the origination of suffering’. Make it your obligation to practice: ‘This is the eradication of suffering’. Make it your obligation to practice: ‘This is the path leading to the eradication of suffering’.”