Saṁyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṁyutta
2. Pāsāda-Kampana Vagga

Sutta 15

Brāhmaṇa Suttaṁ

Brahmin Uṇṇābha

Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds

 

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[1][pts][than] I Hear Tell:

Once upon a time the Elder Ānanda,
Kosambī residing,
Ghosita Park.

There then the Brahmin Uṇṇābha
approached the Elder Ānanda.

Having drawn near the Elder Ānanda
he exchanged with him friendly greetings.

Having exchanged friendly greetings
he took a seat to one side.

Seated to one side then,
the Brahmin Uṇṇābha said this to the Elder Ānanda:

"For what purpose then, good Ānanda,
does the shaman Gotama teach the Godly life?"

"It is for the letting go of wishing,^[1] Brahmin,
that the Lucky Man teaches the Godly life."

"Is there then, good Ānanda,
a way,
a path to follow
to attain the letting go of wishing?"

"There is, Brahmin,
such a way,
such a path to follow
to attain the letting go of wishing."

"What then, good Ānanda,
is that way,
that path to follow
to attain the letting go of wishing?"^[2]

"Here Brahmin, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,

develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.

This is that way,
this is that path to follow
to attain the letting go of wishing."

"Such being the case, Ānanda,
then this is an ending
having no end
for to say that wishing could
by wishing be dropped
is not a wise position."

"Well then Brahmin,
I will put questions to you about this —
as you see fit,
so you should make response.

What think you, Brahmin,
earlier was there wishing involved
at the thought:
'I will go to the park'?

And then later,
after having got to the park,
was not that wish dissolved?"

"Thus it was, goodman."

"Earlier was there energy involved
at the thought:
'I will go to the park'?

And then later,
after having got to the park,
was not that energy dissolved?"

"Thus it was, goodman."

"Earlier was there heart for it involved
at the thought:
'I will go to the park'?

And then later,
after having got to the park,
was not that heart dissolved?"

"Thus it was, goodman."

"Earlier was there investigation involved
at the thought:
'I will go to the park'?

And then later,
after having got to the park,
was not that investigating dissolved?"

"Thus it was, goodman."^[3]

"Even such is the case, Brahmin,
of that Arahant
who has destroyed the corrupting influences,
who is unoccupied,
duty's doing done,
load laid down,
his own good gained,
yokes to living thoroughly broken,
by highest answer-knowledge freed.

That earlier wish he had
for the attaining of arahantship;
after attaining arahantship,
that wish was dissolved.

That earlier energy he had
for the attaining of arahantship;
after attaining arahantship,
that energy was dissolved.

That earlier heart for it he had
for the attaining of arahantship;
after attaining arahantship,
that heart for it was dissolved.

That earlier investigating he did
for the attaining of arahantship;
after attaining arahantship,
that investigating was dissolved.

So then what think you, Brahmin,
such being the case,
is this an ending
having an end or no?"

"Indeed goodman Ānanda,
such is an ending
having an end
not no ending.

Superbly done, good Ānanda!

Superbly done, good Ānanda!

It is as though, good Ānanda,
that which was upside-down were set right-side up,
the covered were uncovered,
the lost were told the way,
an oil-lamp were brought into the darkness
so that those with eyes in their heads could see shapes.

Thus thusly the Elder Ānanda has shown Dhamma
with not simply one exposition.

I go to Gotama for refuge
and to the Dhamma
and to the Order of Beggars.

Having been given life this day,
remember me, Venerable Ānanda
as a follower who has taken refuge."

 

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^[1] Chando. Wishing, desire, wanting, including wanting sense pleasures, wanting to avoid pain, even wanting to do good. A synonym for taṇhā, hunger/thirst. The source of pain. Knowledge of this is the knowledge of the Second Truth of the Magga.

^[2] This statement again says that in effect the four power-paths are the equivalent of the Aristocratic Multi-Dimensional Way. See: SN 5.51.2 for a similar statement.

^[3] This whole sequence is awkward in English. Was there desire involved in the thought you had of going to the park? Was there energy involved in doing it? Was there the will or intent to do it? There is a distinction made in this system between the wish to do a thing and the will or intent to do it. You can want to eat a huge meal but knowing the consequences in heartburn (so to speak), you can have no will to do it. And was there know-how involved? Piecing together in mind the steps needed to be taken to accomplish the deed.