Saɱyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
46. Bojjhanga Saɱyutta
3. Udāyi Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
46. Kindred Sayings on the Limbs of Wisdom
3. Udāyi
Sutta 26
Khaya Suttaɱ
Destruction
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"The way, monks,
and the practice leading thereto
which conduces to the destruction of craving, -
do ye cultivate that way and practice.
And what is the way, monks,
what the practice
that so conduces?
It is the seven limbs of wisdom.
What seven?
The limb of wisdom that is mindfulness,
the limb of wisdom that is Norm investigation,
the limb of wisdom that is energy,
the limb of wisdom that is zest,
the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity,
the limb of wisdom that is concentration,
the limb of wisdom that is equinimity.
§
At these words the venerable Udāyī[1] said to the Exalted One:
"Pray, lord, how are the seven limbs of wisdom cultivated?
How, if made much of,
do they conduce to the destruction of craving?"
"Herein, Udayi, a monk cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is mindfulness,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence.
As he cultivates the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence
craving is abandoned.
By the abandoning of craving
action (that is rooted in craving) is abandoned.
By the abandoning
of action (rooted in craving)
Ill is abandoned.
■
He cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is investigation of the Norm,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence.
As he cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is investigation of the Norm,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence
craving is abandoned.
By the abandoning of craving
action (that is rooted in craving) is abandoned.
By the abandoning
of action (rooted in craving)
Ill is abandoned.
■
He cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is energy,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence.
As he cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is energy,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence
craving is abandoned.
By the abandoning of craving
action (that is rooted in craving) is abandoned.
By the abandoning
of action (rooted in craving)
Ill is abandoned.
■
He cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is zest,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence.
As he cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is zest,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence
craving is abandoned.
By the abandoning of craving
action (that is rooted in craving) is abandoned.
By the abandoning
of action (rooted in craving)
Ill is abandoned.
■
He cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is tranquillity,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence.
As he cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is tranquillity,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence
craving is abandoned.
By the abandoning of craving
action (that is rooted in craving) is abandoned.
By the abandoning
of action (rooted in craving)
Ill is abandoned.
■
He cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is concentration,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence.
As he cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is concentration,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence
craving is abandoned.
By the abandoning of craving
action (that is rooted in craving) is abandoned.
By the abandoning
of action (rooted in craving)
Ill is abandoned.
■
[73] He cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is equanimity,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence.
As he cultivates the limb of wisdom
that is equanimity,
which is based on seclusion,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender;
which is far-spreading,
lofty,
boundless,
free of malevolence
craving is abandoned.
By the abandoning of craving
action (that is rooted in craving)
is abandoned.
By the abandoning
of action (rooted in craving)
Ill is abandoned.
Thus, Udāyī, by the destruction of craving
(comes) destruction of action (rooted in craving).[2] By destruction of action comes destruction of ill."
[1] Cf. K.S. iv, 77 f. and n. Comy. imagines the Buddha to think: This Udāyī, is good at drawing conclusions (anusandhi-kusalo).
The 'doctrine of the deed' is the view that kamma is a fact. The view that there is no action necessary to become free from pain is the doctrine of 'non-action'. To free one's self from pain it is necessary to act in a way which ends kamma which is the intentional action of not acting in response to taṇhā. It is kamma which ends kamma and thus is not 'non-action.' The Pali here says: 'Taṇhāya pahānā kammam pahīyati. Kammassa pahānā dukkham pahīyati. 'Letting go Thirst, kamma is let go. Kamma having been let go, pain is let go.' The qualification 'rooted in craving' is unnecessary and misleading: letting go thirst, all kamma is let go.
— p.p.
[2] Words in brackets expess Comy.'s def. of kamma. To say that action as such should be abandoned would be contrary to the Buddha's 'doctrine of the deed.'
