1At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, I do not dispute with the world; rather, it is the world that disputes with me. A proponent of the Dhamma does not dispute with anyone in the world. Of that which the wise in the world agree upon as not existing, I too say that it does not exist. And of that which the wise in the world agree upon as existing, I too say that it exists. [n.185] This portion of the sutta offers an important counterpoint to the message of the Kaccanagotta Sutta (SN12.15). Here the Buddha emphasizes that he does not reject all ontological propositions, but only those that transcend the bounds of possible experience. While the Kaccanagotta Sutta shows that the "middle teaching" excludes static, substantialist conceptions of existence and nonexistence, the present text shows that the same "middle teaching" can accommodate definite pronouncements about these ontological issues. The affirmation of the existence of the five aggregates, as impermanent processes, serves as a rejoinder to illusionist theories, which hold that the world lacks real being.

2"And what is it, bhikkhus, that the wise in the world agree upon as not existing, of which I too say that it does not exist? sn.iii.139 Form that is permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change: this the wise in the world agree upon as not existing, and I too say that it does not exist. Feeling … Perception … Volitional formations … Consciousness that is permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change: this the wise in the world agree upon as not existing, and I too say that it does not exist.

"That, bhikkhus, is what the wise in the world agree upon as not existing, of which I too say that it does not exist.

3"And what is it, bhikkhus, that the wise in the world agree upon as existing, of which I too say that it exists? Form that is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change: this the wise in the world agree upon as existing, and I too say that it exists. Feeling … Perception … Volitional formations … Consciousness that is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change: this the wise in the world agree upon as existing, and I too say that it exists.

4"That, bhikkhus, is what the wise in the world agree upon as existing, of which I too say that it exists.

5"There is, bhikkhus, a world-phenomenon [n.186] Lokadhamma. Spk: The five aggregates are called thus because it is their nature to disintegrate (lujjanasabhāvattā). Loka is derived from lujjati at SN35.82. The etymology cannot be accepted literally but serves a pedagogic purpose. in the world to which the Tathāgata has awakened and broken through. Having done so, he explains it, teaches it, proclaims it, establishes it, discloses it, analyses it, elucidates it.

"And what is that world-phenomenon in the world to which the Tathāgata has awakened and broken through? Form, bhikkhus, is a world-phenomenon in the world to which the Tathāgata has awakened and broken through. Having done so, he explains it, teaches it, proclaims it, establishes it, discloses it, analyses it, elucidates it.

6When it is being thus explained … sn.iii.140 … and elucidated by the Tathāgata, if anyone does not know and see, how can I do anything with that foolish worldling, blind and sightless, who does not know and does not see?

"Feeling … Perception … Volitional formations … Consciousness is a world-phenomenon in the world to which the Tathāgata has awakened and broken through. Having done so, he explains it, teaches it, proclaims it, establishes it, discloses it, analyses it, elucidates it.

7When it is being thus explained … and elucidated by the Tathāgata, if anyone does not know and see, how can I do anything with that foolish worldling, blind and sightless, who does not know and does not see?

8“Bhikkhus, just as a blue, red, or white lotus is born in the water and grows up in the water, but having risen up above the water, it stands unsullied by the water, so too the Tathāgata was born in the world and grew up in the world, but having overcome the world, he dwells unsullied by the world.” [n.187] Spk: In this sutta three types of world are spoken of. When it is said, “I do not dispute with the world,” it is the world of beings (sattaloka). “A world-phenomenon in the world”: here, the world of formations (saṅkhāraloka). “The Tathāgata was born in the world”: here, the geographic world (okāsaloka). Ee has omitted loke jāto, no doubt by oversight. The simile is also at AN II 38,30-39,3; see too AN V 152,12-16.

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. "Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, lokena vivadāmi, lokova mayā vivadati. Na, bhikkhave, dhammavādī kenaci lokasmiṁ vivadati. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, natthisammataṁ loke paṇḍitānaṁ, ahampi taṁ ‘natthī’ti vadāmi. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, atthisammataṁ loke paṇḍitānaṁ, ahampi taṁ ‘atthī’ti vadāmi.

2Kiñca, bhikkhave, natthisammataṁ loke paṇḍitānaṁ, yamahaṁ ‘natthī’ti vadāmi? Rūpaṁ, bhikkhave, niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ natthisammataṁ loke paṇḍitānaṁ; ahampi taṁ ‘natthī’ti vadāmi. Vedanā … saññā … saṅkhārā … viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ dhuvaṁ sassataṁ avipariṇāmadhammaṁ natthisammataṁ loke paṇḍitānaṁ; ahampi taṁ ‘natthī’ti vadāmi.

Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, natthisammataṁ loke paṇḍitānaṁ; ahampi taṁ ‘natthī’ti vadāmi.

3Kiñca, bhikkhave, atthisammataṁ loke paṇḍitānaṁ, yamahaṁ ‘atthī’ti vadāmi? Rūpaṁ, bhikkhave, aniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ atthisammataṁ loke paṇḍitānaṁ; ahampi taṁ ‘atthī’ti vadāmi. Vedanā aniccā … pe … viññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ atthisammataṁ loke paṇḍitānaṁ; ahampi taṁ ‘atthī’ti vadāmi. Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, atthisammataṁ loke paṇḍitānaṁ; ahampi taṁ ‘atthī’ti vadāmi.

4Atthi, bhikkhave, loke lokadhammo, taṁ tathāgato abhisambujjhati abhisameti; abhisambujjhitvā abhisametvā taṁ ācikkhati deseti paññapeti paṭṭhapeti vivarati vibhajati uttānīkaroti.

5Kiñca, bhikkhave, loke lokadhammo, taṁ tathāgato abhisambujjhati abhisameti, abhisambujjhitvā abhisametvā ācikkhati deseti paññapeti paṭṭhapeti vivarati vibhajati uttānīkaroti?

Rūpaṁ, bhikkhave, loke lokadhammo taṁ tathāgato abhisambujjhati abhisameti. Abhisambujjhitvā abhisametvā ācikkhati deseti paññapeti paṭṭhapeti vivarati vibhajati uttānīkaroti.

6Yo, bhikkhave, tathāgatena evaṁ ācikkhiyamāne desiyamāne paññapiyamāne paṭṭhapiyamāne vivariyamāne vibhajiyamāne uttānīkariyamāne na jānāti na passati tamahaṁ, bhikkhave, bālaṁ puthujjanaṁ andhaṁ acakkhukaṁ ajānantaṁ apassantaṁ kinti karomi.

Vedanā, bhikkhave, loke lokadhammo … pe … saññā, bhikkhave … saṅkhārā, bhikkhave … viññāṇaṁ, bhikkhave, loke lokadhammo taṁ tathāgato abhisambujjhati abhisameti. Abhisambujjhitvā abhisametvā ācikkhati deseti paññapeti paṭṭhapeti vivarati vibhajati uttānīkaroti.

7Yo, bhikkhave, tathāgatena evaṁ ācikkhiyamāne desiyamāne paññapiyamāne paṭṭhapiyamāne vivariyamāne vibhajiyamāne uttānīkariyamāne na jānāti na passati tamahaṁ, bhikkhave, bālaṁ puthujjanaṁ andhaṁ acakkhukaṁ ajānantaṁ apassantaṁ kinti karomi.

8Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, uppalaṁ vā padumaṁ vā puṇḍarīkaṁ vā udake jātaṁ udake saṁvaḍḍhaṁ udakā accuggamma ṭhāti anupalittaṁ udakena; evameva kho, bhikkhave, tathāgato loke jāto loke saṁvaḍḍho lokaṁ abhibhuyya vihārati anupalitto lokenā"ti.

Dutiyaṁ.