SN.18.12–20. Rūpādisuttanavaka ("The Nine Discourses on Sights, Etc.")

Saṁyutta Nikāya ("The Linked Discourses")

At Sāvatthī.

“What do you think, Rāhula? Are sights permanent or impermanent?”

“Impermanent, sir.” … “… sounds … smells … tastes … touches … thoughts …”

“… eye consciousness … ear consciousness … nose consciousness … tongue consciousness … body consciousness … mind consciousness …”

“… eye contact … ear contact … nose contact … tongue contact … body contact … mind contact …”

“… feeling born of eye contact … feeling born of ear contact … feeling born of nose contact … feeling born of tongue contact … feeling born of body contact … feeling born of mind contact …”

“… perception of sights … perception of sounds … perception of smells … perception of tastes … perception of touches … perception of thoughts …”

“… intention regarding sights … intention regarding sounds … intention regarding smells … intention regarding tastes … intention regarding touches … intention regarding thoughts …”

“… craving for sights … craving for sounds … craving for smells … craving for tastes … craving for touches … craving for thoughts …”

“… the earth element … the water element … the fire element … the air element … the space element … the consciousness element …”

“… form … feeling … perception … choices … Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is no return to any state of existence.’”



Subscribe to The Empty Robot

Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox



Spread the word: