Saɱyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
12. Nidāna Saɱyutta
4. Kaḷara-Khattiya Vagga
Sutta 38
Paṭhama Cetanā Suttaɱ
Intention
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons
Translator's Introduction
This discourse describes the link between fabrications and consciousness in dependent co-arising, and shows how intention and underlying obsessions — with ignorance of the four noble truths being the basis for all obsessions — play a role in constituting awareness of the present moment.
[1][pts][bodh] Staying near Sāvatthī ... (the Blessed One said,) "Monks, what one intends, what one arranges, and what one obsesses about:[1]
This is a support for the stationing of consciousness.
There being a support, there is a landing of consciousness.
When that consciousness lands and grows, there is the production of renewed becoming in the future.
When there is the production of renewed becoming in the future, there is future birth, aging-and-death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair.
Such is the origination of this entire mass of suffering and stress.
"If one doesn't intend and doesn't arrange, but one still obsesses (about something), this is a support for the stationing of consciousness.
There being a support, there is a landing of consciousness.
When that consciousness lands and grows, there is the production of renewed becoming in the future.
When there is the production of renewed becoming in the future, there is future birth, aging-and-death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair.
Such (too) is the origination of this entire mass of suffering and stress.
"But when one doesn't intend, arrange, or obsess (about anything), there is no support for the stationing of consciousness.
There being no support, there is no landing of consciousness.
When that consciousness doesn't land and grow, there is no production of renewed becoming in the future.
When there is no production of renewed becoming in the future, there is no future birth, aging-and-death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, or despair.
Such is the cessation of this entire mass of suffering and stress."
[1] The seven obsessions are: the obsession of sensual passion, the obsession of resistance, the obsession of views, the obsession of uncertainty, the obsession of conceit, the obsession of passion for becoming, and the obsession of ignorance. See AN VII.12.
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