Aṇguttara Nikāya
IX. Navaka Nipāta
II. Sīhanāda Vagga
The Book of Nines
Sutta 14
Samiddhi Suttaṃ
Samiddhi
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
[1][than][pts][upal] I Hear Tell:
Once upon a time, Bhagava, Sāvatthi-town revisiting.
There then the Ancient Samiddhi approached the Ancient Sāriputto and drew near.
Having drawn near he exchanged greetings together with the Ancient Sāriputto.
Having exchanged greetings and shared friendly talk he took a seat to one side.
Then, seated together there, the Ancient Sāriputto said this to the Ancient Samiddhi:
"What basis is there, Samiddhi,
for the coming of principled-thoughts to a man?"[1]
"Named shape is the basis, bhante.
"But then, Samiddhi,
from whence get they diversity?"
"Through data,[2] bhante.
"But then, Samiddhi,
what is their origin?"
"They originate with touch, bhante.
"But then, Samiddhi,
to what are they joined?"
"They are joined to sensation, bhante.
"But then, Samiddhi,
what is at the interface?"
"Serenity is at the interface, bhante.
"But then, Samiddhi,
what rules them?"
"Memory rules them, bhante.
"But then, Samiddhi,
what is their uttermost?"
"Wisdom is their uttermost, bhante.
"But then, Samiddhi,
what is their essence?"
"Freedom is their essence, bhante.
"But then, Samiddhi,
what is their culmination?"
"They culminate in the deathless, bhante.
§
"'What basis is there, Samiddhi,
for the coming of principled-thoughts to a man?'
It is this you were asked.
'Named shape is the basis, bhante.'
was what you said.
'But then, Samiddhi,
from whence get they diversity?'
It is this you were asked.
'Through data, bhante'
was what you said.
'But then, Samiddhi,
what is their origin?'
It is this you were asked.
'They originate with touch, bhante'
was what you said.
'But then, Samiddhi,
to what are they joined?'
It is this you were asked.
'They are joined to sensation, bhante.'
was what you said.
'But then, Samiddhi,
what is at their interface?'
It is this you were asked.
'Serenity is at their interface, bhante'
was what you said.
'But then, Samiddhi,
what rules them?'
It is this you were asked.
'Memory rules them, bhante'
was what you said.
'But then, Samiddhi,
what is their uttermost?'
It is this you were asked.
'Wisdom is their uttermost, bhante'
was what you said.
'But then, Samiddhi,
what is their essence?'
It is this you were asked.
'Freedom is their essence, bhante'
was what you said.
'But then, Samiddhi,
what is their culmination?'
It is this you were asked.
'They culminate in the deathless, bhante'
was what you said.
Well done, Well done, Samiddhi!
well indeed, Samiddhi,
have you answered the questions asked!
But don't let it go to your head!"
[1] Saṇkappa-vitakkā. Why 'principled-thought' and not just 'thought'? Because there is such a thing as unprincipled thought and this is a lesson as to how to use thoughts and principles to work one's way to freedom.
[2] Dhātu. The basic information of perception. The data we get to work with. The six: solidity, liquidity, light/heat, motion, space and consciousness.
