Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
45. Magga Saṃyutta
1. Avijjā Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
45. Kindred Sayings on the Way
1. On Ignorance
Sutta 9
Sūka Suttaṃ
Bearded Wheat[1]
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
For details see Terms of Use.
Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Suppose, monks, the spike of bearded wheat
or bearded barley
be wrongly aimed,[2]
when pressed by hand or foot
will it pierce[3] hand or foot,
will it draw blood?
It cannot be so.
Why not?
Because the spike is wrongly aimed.
■
Just so, monks, it cannot be
that the monk whose view is wrongly aimed,
whose way-culture is wrongly aimed,
can pierce through ignorance,
draw knowledge
and realize Nibbāna.
Why not?
Because his view is wrongly aimed.
■
[10] But, monks, suppose that the spike of bearded wheat
or bearded barley
be well aimed.
When pressed by hand or foot,
it is certain[4] that it will pierce hand or foot
and draw blood.
Why so?
Because, monks, the spike is well aimed.
■
Just so, monks, it is certain
that the monk whose view is well aimed,
whose way-culture is well aimed,
can pierce through ignorance,
draw knowledge,
and realize Nibbāna.
Why so?
Because, monks, of the right aim of his view.
§
And how does a monk
by well aimed view,
by well aimed way-culture,
so pierce through ignorance,
draw knowledge
and realize Nibbāna?
Herein, monks, he cultivates right view,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates right aim,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates right speech,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates right action,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates right living,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates right effort,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates right mindfulness,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.
He cultivates right concentration,
which is based on detachment,
on dispassion,
on cessation,
which ends in self-surrender.
That is how this monk,
by well aimed view,
by well aimed path-culture,
pierces through ignorance,
draws knowledge
and realizes Nibbāna."
[1] Sūka (text suka throughout). Cf. A. i, 8; Dhp. 311 (kuso yathā duggahīto); KhpA. 86.
[2] Micchā-panihitaṇ ('so as not to pierce.' Comy.).
[3] Text here and below bhindissati (v.l. chijjati); but A. and Comys. bhecchati (fut. of bhindati), chijjati, DhpA. checchati.
Thānaṇ vijjati. There is standing for knowing or invisioning.
— p.p.
[4] Thānaṇ vijjati.
