Saṃyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
14. Dhātu-Saṃyuttaṃ
I. Nānatta Vagga Paṭhama
1. Ajjhatta-Pañcakaṃ
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
II. The Book Called the Nidāna-Vagga
Containing Kindred sayings on Cause
and Other Subjects
14. The Kindred Sayings on Element
2. Five (Discourses on) External Element
Sutta 10
Dutiya Phassa [No Lābha-Nānatta] Suttaṃ
Contact 2
Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by F. L. Woodward
Abbreviated passages have been expanded or inserted using the translator's terminology.
Originally Published by
The Pali Text Society
Public Domain
[1][bodh][olds] THUS have I heard.
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthi at the Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
And there the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:
"Brethren!"
"Master!" responded those brethren.
The Exalted One said:
2. "Because of the diversity in elements, brethren, arises diversity in perceptions,
because of diversity in perceptions arises diversity in aims,
because of diversity in aims arises diversity in desires,
because of diversity in desires arises diversity in yearnings,
because of diversity in yearnings arises diversity in quests,
because of diversity in quests arises diversity in gains.
3. Diversity in quests does not arise because of diversity in gains,
diversity in yearnings does not arise because of diversity in quests,
diversity in desires does not arise because of diversity in yearnings,
diversity in aims does not arise because of diversity in desires,
diversity in perceptions does not arise becuse of diversity in aims,
diversity in elements does not arise because of diversity in perceptions.
4. What, brethren, is the diversity in elements?
Visible object-element,
sound-element,
odour-element,
taste-element,
tangible-element,
idea-element.
This is called the diversity in elements.
5.How is it that because of diversity in elements there arises diversity in perceptions,
because of diversity in perceptions arises diversity in aims,
because of diversity in aims arises diversity in desires,
because of diversity in desires arises diversity in yearnings,
because of diversity in yearnings arises diversity in quests,
because of diversity in quests arises diversity in gains;
[that] diversity in quests does not arise because of diversity in gains,
diversity in yearnings does not arise because of diversity in quests,
diversity in desires does not arise because of diversity in yearnings,
diversity in aims does not arise because of diversity in desires,
diversity in perceptions does not arise becuse of diversity in aims,
diversity in elements does not arise because of diversity in perceptions?
6. Because of visible object-element, brethren, arises visible object-perception,
because of visible object-perception arises visible object-aims,
because of visible object-aims arises visible object-desires,
because of visible object-desires arises visible object-yearnings,
because of visible object-yearnings arises visible object-quests,
because of visible object-quests arises visible object gains;
visible object-quests do not arise because of visible object-gains,
visible object-yearnings do not arise because of visible object-quests,
visible object-desires do not arise because of visible object-yearnings,
visible object-aims do not arise because of visible object-desires,
visible object-perceptions do not arise because of visible object-aims,
visible object-elements do not arise because of visible object-perceptions.
7. Because of sound-element, brethren, arises sound-perception,
because of sound-perception arises sound-aims,
because of sound-aims arises sound-desires,
because of sound-desires arises sound-yearnings,
because of sound-yearnings arises sound-quests,
because of sound-quests arises sound-gains;
sound-quests do not arise because of sound-gains,
sound-yearnings do not arise because of sound-quests,
sound-desires do not arise because of sound-yearnings,
sound-aims do not arise because of sound-desires,
sound-perceptions do not arise because of sound-aims,
sound-elements do not arise because of sound-perceptions.
8. Because of odour-element, brethren, arises odour-perception,
because of odour-perception arises odour-aims,
because of odour-aims arises odour-desires,
because of odour-desires arises odour-yearnings,
because of odour-yearnings arises odour-quests,
because of odour-quests arises odour-gains;
odour-quests do not arise because of odour-gains,
odour-yearnings do not arise because of odour-quests,
odour-desires do not arise because of odour-yearnings,
odour-aims do not arise because of odour-desires,
odour-perceptions do not arise because of odour-aims,
odour-elements do not arise because of odour-perceptions.
9. Because of taste-element, brethren, arises taste-perception,
because of taste-perception arises taste-aims,
because of taste-aims arises taste-desires,
because of taste-desires arises taste-yearnings,
because of taste-yearnings arises taste-quests,
because of taste-quests arises taste-gains;
taste-quests do not arise because of taste-gains,
taste-yearnings do not arise because of taste-quests,
taste-desires do not arise because of taste-yearnings,
taste-aims do not arise because of taste-desires,
taste-perceptions do not arise because of taste-aims,
taste-elements do not arise because of taste-perceptions.
10. Because of tangibles-element, brethren, arises tangibles-perception,
because of tangibles-perception arises tangibles-aims,
because of tangibles-aims arises tangibles-desires,
because of tangibles-desires arises tangibles-yearnings,
beause of tangibles-yearnings arises tangibles-quests,
because of tangibles-quests arises tangibles-gains;
tangibles-quests do not arise because of tangibles gains,
tangibles-yearnings do not arise because of tangibles-quests,
tangibles-desires do not arise because of tangibles-yearnings,
tangibles-aims do not arise because of tangibles-desires,
tangibles-perceptions do not arise because of tangibles-aims,
tangibles-elements do not arise because of tangibles-perceptions.
11. Because of ideas-element, brethren, arises ideas-perception,
because of ideas-perception arises ideas-aims,
because of ideas-aims arises ideas-desires,
because of ideas-desires arises ideas-yearnings,
because of ideas-yearnings arises ideas-quests,
because of ideas-quests arises ideas-gains;
ideas-gains do not arise because of ideas-quests,
ideas-yearnings do not arise because of ideas-quests,
ideas-desires do not arise because of ideas-yearnings,
ideas-aims do not arise because of ideas-desires,
ideas-perceptions doe not arise because of ideas-aims,
ideas-elements do not arise because of ideas-perceptions.
12. Thus it is that because of the diversity in elements, brethren, arises diversity in perceptions,
because of diversity in perceptions arises diversity in aims,
because of diversity in aims arises diversity in desires,
because of diversity in desires arises diversity in yearnings,
because of diversity in yearnings arises diversity in quests,
because of diversity in quests arises diversity in gains;
[that] diversity in quests does not arise because of diversity in gains,
diversity in yearnings does not arise because of diversity in quests,
diversity in desires does not arise because of diversity in yearnings,
diversity in aims does not arise because of diversity in desires,
diversity in perceptions does not arise becuse of diversity in aims,
diversity in elements does not arise because of diversity in perceptions."[ed1]
[ed1] The translators summarize the whole sutta: "This Sutta is a virtual repetition of § 9, with emphasis on the rejection of the inverse order of causation."
