Saṃyutta Nikāya
3. Khandha Vagga
22. Khandha Saṃyutta
12. Dhamma-Kathika Vagga
Sutta 122
Sīla Suttaṃ
The Fruit of Studious Etiological[1] Examination
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time the ancient Sāriputta
and the ancient Mahā-Koṭṭhita,
Benares revisiting,
Deer Park, Isipatane.
There then the ancient Mahā-Koṭṭhita,
arising towards evening from his seclusion
approached the ancient Sāriputta and drew near.
Having drawn near
he exchanged friendly greetings.
Having exchanged friendly greetings,
he took a seat to one side.
Seated to one side, then,
the ancient Mahā-Koṭṭhita said this
to the ancient Sāriputta:
"By the ethically observant beggar, friend Sāriputta,
of what things should the etiology
be given studious examination?"
"By the ethically observant beggar, friend Koṭṭhita,
the instability of,
the pain of,
the disease of,
the tumor of,
the sting of,
the abyss of,
the affliction of,
the 'otherness' of,
the chronic disease of,
the emptiness of,
the not-selfness of
the five fuel-stockpiles
should the etiology be given studious examination.
What five?
These:
The form-fuel-stockpile,
the sense-experience-fuel-stockpile,
the perception-fuel-stockpile,
the own-making-fuel-stockpile,
the consciousness-fuel-stockpile.
By the ethically observant beggar, friend Koṭṭhita,
the instability of,
the pain of,
the disease of,
the tumor of,
the sting of,
the abyss of,
the affliction of,
the 'otherness' of,
the chronic disease of,
the emptiness of,
the not-selfness of
these five fuel-stockpiles
should the etiology be given studious examination.
Taking such a stand, friend,
it may be seen that
the ethically observant beggar,
studiously examining the etiology of
the instability,
the pain,
the disease,
the tumor,
the sting,
the abyss,
the affliction,
the 'otherness',
the chronic disease,
the emptiness,
the not-selfness
of these five fuel-stockpiles
will be able to realize
the fruit of Stream-entry."
"By the Stream-winner, friend Sāriputta,
of what things should the etiology
be given studious examination?"
"By the Stream-winner, friend Koṭṭhita,
the instability of,
the pain of,
the disease of,
the tumor of,
the sting of,
the abyss of,
the affliction of,
the 'otherness' of,
the chronic disease of,
the emptiness of,
the not-selfness of
the five fuel-stockpiles
should the etiology be given studious examination.
What five?
These:
The form-fuel-stockpile,
the sense-experience-fuel-stockpile,
the perception-fuel-stockpile,
the own-making-fuel-stockpile,
the consciousness-fuel-stockpile.
By the Stream-winner, friend Koṭṭhita,
the instability of,
the pain of,
the disease of,
the tumor of,
the sting of,
the abyss of,
the affliction of,
the 'otherness' of,
the chronic disease of,
the emptiness of,
the not-selfness of
these five fuel-stockpiles
should the etiology be given studious examination.
Taking such a stand, friend,
it may be seen that
the Stream-winner,
studiously examining the etiology of
the instability,
the pain,
the disease,
the tumor,
the sting,
the abyss,
the affliction,
the 'otherness',
the chronic disease,
the emptiness,
the not-selfness
of these five fuel-stockpiles
will be able to realize
the fruit of Once-returning."
"By the Once-returner, friend Sāriputta,
of what things should the etiology
be given studious examination?"
"By the Once-returner, friend Koṭṭhita,
the instability of,
the pain of,
the disease of,
the tumor of,
the sting of,
the abyss of,
the affliction of,
the 'otherness' of,
the chronic disease of,
the emptiness of,
the not-selfness of
the five fuel-stockpiles
should the etiology be given studious examination.
What five?
These:
The form-fuel-stockpile,
the sense-experience-fuel-stockpile,
the perception-fuel-stockpile,
the own-making-fuel-stockpile,
the consciousness-fuel-stockpile.
By the Once-returner, friend Koṭṭhita,
the instability of,
the pain of,
the disease of,
the tumor of,
the sting of,
the abyss of,
the affliction of,
the 'otherness' of,
the chronic disease of,
the emptiness of,
the not-selfness of
these five fuel-stockpiles
should the etiology be given studious examination.
Taking such a stand, friend,
it may be seen that
the Once-returner,
studiously examining the etiology of
the instability,
the pain,
the disease,
the tumor,
the sting,
the abyss,
the affliction,
the 'otherness',
the chronic disease,
the emptiness,
the not-selfness
of these five fuel-stockpiles
will be able to realize
the fruit of Non-returning."
"By the Non-returner, friend Sāriputta,
of what things should the etiology
be given studious examination?"
"By the Non-returner, friend Koṭṭhita,
the instability of,
the pain of,
the disease of,
the tumor of,
the sting of,
the abyss of,
the affliction of,
the 'otherness' of,
the chronic disease of,
the emptiness of,
the not-selfness of
the five fuel-stockpiles
should the etiology be given studious examination.
What five?
These:
The form-fuel-stockpile,
the sense-experience-fuel-stockpile,
the perception-fuel-stockpile,
the own-making-fuel-stockpile,
the consciousness-fuel-stockpile.
By the Non-returner, friend Koṭṭhita,
the instability of,
the pain of,
the disease of,
the tumor of,
the sting of,
the abyss of,
the affliction of,
the 'otherness' of,
the chronic disease of,
the emptiness of,
the not-selfness of
these five fuel-stockpiles
should the etiology be given studious examination.
Taking such a stand, friend,
it may be seen that
the Non-returner,
studiously examining the etiology of
the instability,
the pain,
the disease,
the tumor,
the sting,
the abyss,
the affliction,
the 'otherness',
the chronic disease,
the emptiness,
the not-selfness
of these five fuel-stockpiles
will be able to realize
the fruit of Arahantship."
"By the Arahant, friend Sāriputta,
of what things should the etiology
be given studious examination?"
"By the Arahant, friend Koṭṭhita,
the instability of,
the pain of,
the disease of,
the tumor of,
the sting of,
the abyss of,
the affliction of,
the 'otherness' of,
the chronic disease of,
the emptiness of,
the not-selfness of
the five fuel-stockpiles
should the etiology be given studious examination.
It is not, friend, that the Arahant has more to do,
or to bring about,
but these things,
developed,
made a big thing
conduce to pleasant living in this seen thing
and minding self-awareness."
[1] Yoniso mananasikaro. Womb-mind-study. Etiology: The investigation of the source, driving-force and development of a thing.
