Saṃyutta Nikāya
3. Khandha Vagga
25. Okkantika Saṃyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
3. The Book Called the Khandhā-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the Elements of Sensory Existence and other Subjects
25. Kindred Sayings on Entering
Sutta 7
Cetanā Suttaṃ
Volition[1]
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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The Exalted One was once staying near Sāvatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
And there the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:
"Brethren!"
"Master!" responded those brethren.
The Exalted One said:
"Volitional acts occasioned by body,[ed1] brethren, are impermanent,
changeable,
becoming otherwise.
Volitional acts occasioned by sound, brethren, are impermanent,
changeable,
becoming otherwise.
Volitional acts occasioned by scent, brethren, are impermanent,
changeable,
becoming otherwise.
Volitional acts occasioned by savour, brethren, are impermanent,
changeable,
becoming otherwise.
Volitional acts occasioned by tangibles, brethren, are impermanent,
changeable,
becoming otherwise.
Volitional acts occasioned by ideas,[ed2] brethren, are impermanent,
changeable,
becoming otherwise.
§
He who has faith and confidence, brethren,
in these doctrines,
such an one is called
'Walker in faith,
one who enters on assurance of perfection,
one who enters on the state of the worthy,
one who has escaped the state of the manyfolk;
one incapable of doing a deed
by which he would be reborn in purgatory
or in the womb of an animal,
or in the realm of Petas;
one incapable of dying without realizing
the fruita of stream-winning.'
■
He, brethren, by whom these doctrines
by his insight
are moderately approved,
is called
'Walker in Dhamma,
one who enters on assurance of perfection,
one who enters on the state of the worthy,
one who has escaped the state of the manyfolk;
one incapable of doing a deed
by which he would be reborn in purgatory
or in the womb of an animal,
or in the realm of Petas;
one incapable of dying without realizing
the fruita of stream-winning.'
■
He, brethren, who thus knows,
thus sees
these doctrines,
is called
'Stream-winner,
saved from destruction,
assured,
bound for enlightenment.'"
Pts. of Contr. 225: Which appears to be an argument arising from an understanding that '~sañcetanā' implies an intrensic moral value within or attached to ((sañ)) sights, etc. The counter-argument here points to AN 4.171. where it is explained that kamma (good or bad action) is essentially defined by 'sañcetanā' ('intent with regard to' or even possibly 'own-intent' 'identified-with intent'.) Woodward attempts to clarify the matter with his 'acts occasioned by'. Intent is an act (kamma) but this goes too far from the Pali. The literal translation of cetana would be something like 'having the heart for' and this sutta does not go further than that into such things as acts of body related to sights etc.
— p.p.
[1] Cf. Pts. of Contr. 225
[ed1] As with §2, Woodward translates 'rūpa' as body, but what is being spoken of here are the objects of the senses and that would be 'visible objects' or 'sights' not just the body.
[ed2] 'Dhammā'. Here Woodward changes his translation from 'state of mind' which he used in §2. and again from 'phenomenon' which he used in §6.
