Saṃyutta Nikāya
3. Khandha Vagga
22. Khandha Saṃyutta
5. Atta-Dīpa Vagga
Sutta 48
Khandhā Suttaṃ
The Stockpiles
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Translator's Introduction
The stockpiles are one of the ways in which the Buddha has broken into smaller units everything in existence. The distinction between the stockpiles and the fuel-stockpiles is that the fuel stockpiles are, as the name indicates, stockpiles turned into fuel by the corrupting influences of lust, existence and blindness. In other words they have become the objects of the intent to experience sense-pleasures, existence, or the product of some point of view. The distinction is very clearly drawn in this sutta, but is it correct to draw the conclusion that it is saying that the khandhas exist separately from individuality? Identifying with the khandhas, or one of them, or holding opinions about the self (as per the previous sutta) they are upadana-kkhandha; seen externally, objectively, they are just khandha. When the āsavas (corrupting influences: lust, existence and blindness) have been destroyed in the living Arahant, the khandhas are seen to carry on for the remainder of the lifespan of the being who became arahant. Subsequent to the 'visible' death of the Arahant, the body, sense-experience, perception, own-making and sense-consciousness dhatu break apart, separate off and he makes no further khandhas the object of intent to experience sensory existence and for him without such intent, because he has destroyed the āsavas, do not arise again. So from two perspectives (the living arahant, and the separation from body, etc. of the living being from the khandhas at death) we can see that there is a distinction between khandhas that are fuel and those that are no longer fueled, but we cannot say that there is any sustained or autonomous existence of the khandhas separate from individuality.
[1-2][pts][than][bodh] I Hear Tell:
Once Upon a Time, the Lucky Man,
Sāvatthī-Town,
Anāthapiṇḍika's Park,
came-a revisiting.
There he addressed the beggars:
"Beggars!"
"Bhante!" they responded.
The Lucky Man said this to them:
"I will teach you, beggars,
the five stockpiles,
and the five fuel-stockpiles.
Listen up!
Pay good attention!
I will speak!"
"Even so, Bhante!" said those beggars in response.
Then The Lucky Man said:
"And what, beggars are the five stockpiles?
Whatever is form, beggars,
whether past, future, or present,
internal or external,
gross or subtle,
inferior or exalted
far or near,
this is called 'the form stockpile'
Whatever is sense-experience, beggars,
whether past, future, or present,
internal or external,
gross or subtle,
inferior or exalted
far or near,
this is called 'the sense-experience stockpile'
Whatever is perception, beggars,
whether past, future, or present,
internal or external,
gross or subtle,
inferior or exalted
far or near,
this is called 'the perception stockpile'
Whatever is own-making, beggars,
whether past, future, or present,
internal or external,
gross or subtle,
inferior or exalted
far or near,
this is called 'the own-making stockpile'
Whatever is sense-consciousness, beggars,
whether past, future, or present,
internal or external,
gross or subtle,
inferior or exalted
far or near,
this is called 'the sense-consciousness stockpile'
These are what is called the five stockpiles.
§
And what, beggars are the five fuel-stockpiles?
Whatever is form, beggars,
whether past, future, or present,
internal or external,
gross or subtle,
inferior or exalted
far or near,
that is turned into fuel by the corrupting influences,[1]
this is called 'the form-fuel-stockpile'
Whatever is sense-experience, beggars,
whether past, future, or present,
internal or external,
gross or subtle,
inferior or exalted
far or near,
that is turned into fuel by the corrupting influences,
this is called 'the sense-experience-fuel stockpile'
Whatever is perception, beggars,
whether past, future, or present,
internal or external,
gross or subtle,
inferior or exalted
far or near,
that is turned into fuel by the corrupting influences,
this is called 'the perception-fuel-stockpile'
Whatever is own-making, beggars,
whether past, future, or present,
internal or external,
gross or subtle,
inferior or exalted
far or near,
that is turned into fuel by the corrupting influences,
this is called 'the own-making-fuel-stockpile'
Whatever is sense-consciousness, beggars,
whether past, future, or present,
internal or external,
gross or subtle,
inferior or exalted
far or near,
that is turned into fuel by the corrupting influences,
this is called 'the sense-consciousness-fuel-stockpile'
[1] S'āsava. With'asava. Accompanied by, supported with/by. Lust, existing and blindness.
