Aṅguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XVIII: Sañcetaniya Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter XVIII: Intentional
Sutta 175
Upavāna Suttaɱ
Upavāna[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] Now the venerable Upavaṇa came to visit the venerable Sāriputta.
On coming to him
he greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and courtesies,
sat down at one side.
So seated the venerable Upavaṇa the Great
said this to the venerable Sāriputta:
"Pray, Sāriputta, your reverence,
is there any end-maker[2] by knowledge?"
"Not in this case, your reverence."
"Then, your reverence,
is there any end-maker by conduct?"
"Not in this case, your reverence."
"Then, your reverence,
is there any end-maker by knowledge-and-conduct?"
"Not in this case, your reverence."
"What, then, your reverence,
is there any end-maker
by any other way
than knowledge-and-conduct?"
"Not in this case, your reverence."
§
"Sāriputta, your reverence, when asked:
'Is there any end-maker by knowledge'
You reply:
'Not in this case, your reverence.'
When asked:
'Then, your reverence,
is there any end-maker by conduct?'
You reply:
'Not in this case, your reverence.'
When asked:
'Then is there any end-maker
by knowledge-and-conduct?'
You reply:
'Not in this case, your reverence.'
When asked:
'What, then, your reverence,
is there any end-maker
by any other way
than knowledge-and-conduct?'
You reply:
'Not in this case, your reverence.'
In what way then, your reverence,
is there an end-maker?
§
"Your reverence,
if there were an end-maker by knowledge,
he would still be an end-maker with grasping (for another [170] existence).[3]
If, your reverence,
there were an end-maker by conduct,
he would still be an end-maker with grasping
If, your reverence,
there were an end-maker by knowledge-and-conduct,
he would still be an end-maker with grasping.
If, your reverence,
there were an end-maker
by any other way
than by knowledge-and-conduct,
then the ordinary man[4] would be an end-maker.
Now, your reverence,
the ordinary man,
living apart from knowledge-and-conduct,
being unversed in conduct,
knows not,
sees not
things as they really are.
But if he be practised in conduct,
he knows,
he sees
things as they really are.
So knowing,
so seeing,
he is an end-maker."
[1] At S. i, 174 he waits on the Master and cures his sickness. At S. ii, 41 he is taught about Ill; at S. iv, 41 about the practical use of Dhamma. At S. v, 75 Sāriputta teaches him the Seven Limbs of Wisdom as conducive to a happy life. At A. iii, 195 the Master teaches him how the God-life may be attractive. Cf. Pss. Br. CLIII.
[2] Acc. to Comy. 'of the round of Ill.'
[3] Sa-upādāno = sa-gahaṇo hutvā. Comy.
[4] Puthujjano.
