SN46:52 A Method of Exposition
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1Then, in the morning, a number of bhikkhus dressed and, taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Then it occurred to them: "It is still too early to walk for alms in Sāvatthī. Let us go to the park of the wanderers of other sects."
2Then those bhikkhus went to the park of the wanderers of other sects. They exchanged greetings with those wanderers and, when they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, sat down to one side. The wanderers then said to them:
3"Friends, the ascetic Gotama teaches the Dhamma to his disciples thus: ‘Come, bhikkhus, abandon the five hindrances, the corruptions of the mind that weaken wisdom, and develop correctly the seven factors of enlightenment.’ We too teach the Dhamma to our disciples thus: ‘Come, friends, abandon the five hindrances, the corruptions of the mind that weaken wisdom, and develop correctly the seven factors of enlightenment.’ So, friends, what here is the distinction, the disparity, the difference between the ascetic Gotama and us, that is, regarding the one Dhamma teaching and the other, regarding the one manner of instruction and the other?" [n.98] Spk says that the teachers of other sects do not have any original teachings on the five hindrances and the seven enlightenment factors. When they teach their own disciples they plagiarize the Buddha’s teachings on these topics. Gethin points out, however, that the sutta itself does not go as far as the commentary but only stresses the differences between the two modes of teaching (Buddhist Path to Awakening, p. 180).
4–7Then those bhikkhus neither delighted in nor rejected the statement of those wanderers. Without delighting in it, without rejecting it, they rose from their seats and left, thinking, "We shall learn the meaning of this statement in the presence of the Blessed One."
Then, when those bhikkhus had walked for alms in Sāvatthī and had returned from the alms round, after their meal they approached the Blessed One. Having paid homage to him, they sat down to one side sn.v.109 and reported to him the entire discussion between those wanderers and themselves. The Blessed One said:
8"Bhikkhus, when wanderers of other sects speak thus, they should be asked: ‘Friends, is there a method of exposition by means of which the five hindrances become ten, and the seven factors of enlightenment become fourteen?’ Being asked thus, those wanderers would not be able to reply and, further, they would meet with vexation. For what reason? Because that would not be within their domain. I do not see anyone, bhikkhus, in this world with its devas, Māra, and Brahma, in this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its devas and humans, who could satisfy the mind with an answer to these questions except the Tathagata or a disciple of the Tathagata or one who has heard it from them. sn.v.110
i. The five become ten
9"And what, bhikkhus, is the method of exposition by means of which the five hindrances become ten?
"Whatever sensual desire there is for the internal is a hindrance; whatever sensual desire there is for the external is also a hindrance.
[n.99] Spk: Sensual desire "for the internal" is desire for one's own five aggregates; "for the external," desire for the aggregates of others (and also, no doubt, for inanimate objects).
Similarly below, ill will towards the internal might be understood as anger directed towards oneself, ill will towards the external as anger directed to other beings and to external conditions. The distinction between sloth and torpor is drawn at Vism 469 (Ppn 14:167): Sloth (thina) has the characteristic of "lack of driving power," the function of removing energy, and manifestation as "sinking of the mind." Torpor (middha) has the characteristic of unwieldiness, the function of smothering, and manifestation as nodding and sleep. Sloth can thus be understood as mental dullness, torpor as drowsiness. Restlessness (uddhacca) is disquietude or agitation, remorse (kukkucca) regret over faults of commission and omission. Doubt about the internal, according to Spk, is uncertainty regarding one's own five aggregates (whether they are truly impermanent, etc.); doubt about the external is the "great doubt" (mahavicikicchā) about eight matters (the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Saṅgha, and the training; the past, present, and future; and dependent origination).
Thus what is spoken of concisely as the hindrance of sensual desire becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold.
"Whatever ill will there is towards the internal is a hindrance; whatever ill will there is towards the external is also a hindrance. Thus what is spoken of concisely as the hindrance of ill will becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold.
"Whatever sloth there is, is a hindrance; whatever torpor there is, is also a hindrance. Thus what is spoken of concisely as the hindrance of sloth and torpor becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold.
"Whatever restlessness there is, is a hindrance; whatever remorse there is, is also a hindrance. Thus what is spoken of concisely as the hindrance of restlessness and remorse becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold.
"Whatever doubt there is about the internal is a hindrance; whatever doubt there is about the external is also a hindrance. Thus what is spoken of concisely as the hindrance of doubt becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold.
ii. The seven become fourteen
10"And what, bhikkhus, is the method of exposition by means of which the seven factors of enlightenment become fourteen? [n.100] The bifurcation of each enlightenment factor is also found at Vibh 228, modelled on the present sutta.
"Whatever mindfulness there is of things internal is the enlightenment factor of mindfulness; whatever mindfulness there is of things external is also the enlightenment factor of mindfulness. Thus what is spoken of concisely as the enlightenment factor of mindfulness becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold. sn.v.111
11"Whenever one discriminates things internally with wisdom, examines them, makes an investigation of them, that is the enlightenment factor of discrimination of states; whenever one discriminates things externally with wisdom, examines them, makes an investigation of them, that is also the enlightenment factor of discrimination of states. Thus what is spoken of concisely as the enlightenment factor of discrimination of states becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold.
12"Whatever bodily energy there is, is the enlightenment factor of energy; whatever mental energy there is, is also the enlightenment factor of energy. Thus what is spoken of concisely as the enlightenment factor of energy becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold.
13"Whatever rapture there is accompanied by thought and examination is the enlightenment factor of rapture; whatever rapture there is without thought and examination is also the enlightenment factor of rapture. [n.101] The former is the rapture of the first jhāna, the latter the rapture of the second jhāna. Thus what is spoken of concisely as the enlightenment factor of rapture becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold.
14"Whatever tranquillity of body there is, is the enlightenment factor of tranquillity; whatever tranquillity of mind there is, is also the enlightenment factor of tranquillity. [n.102] Spk explains tranquillity of body (kāyappassaddhi) as the tranquillizing of distress in the three aggregates (feeling, perception, volitional formations), tranquillity of mind (cittappassaddhi) as the tranquillizing of distress in the aggregate of consciousness. But see n. 61 above. Thus what is spoken of concisely as the enlightenment factor of tranquillity becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold.
15"Whatever concentration there is accompanied by thought and examination is the enlightenment factor of concentration; whatever concentration there is without thought and examination is also the enlightenment factor of concentration. [n.103] The former is the concentration of the first jhāna and the access to it; the latter, the concentration of the second jhāna and higher stages. Thus what is spoken of concisely as the enlightenment factor of concentration becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold.
16"Whatever equanimity there is regarding things internal is the enlightenment factor of equanimity; whatever equanimity there is regarding things external is also the enlightenment factor of equanimity. Thus what is spoken of concisely as the enlightenment factor of equanimity becomes, by this method of exposition, twofold.
"This, bhikkhus, is the method of exposition by means of which the seven factors of enlightenment become fourteen."
1Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisiṁsu. Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi: "atippago kho tāva sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya carituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkameyyāmā"ti.
2Atha kho te bhikkhū yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā tehi aññatitthiyehi paribbājakehi saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te bhikkhū aññatitthiyā paribbājakā etadavocuṁ:
3"Samaṇo, āvuso, gotamo sāvakānaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ deseti: ‘etha tumhe, bhikkhave, pañca nīvaraṇe pahāya cetaso upakkilese paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe satta bojjhaṅge yathābhūtaṁ bhāvethā’ti. Mayampi kho, āvuso, sāvakānaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ desema: ‘etha tumhe, āvuso, pañca nīvaraṇe pahāya cetaso upakkilese paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe satta bojjhaṅge yathābhūtaṁ bhāvethā’ti. Idha no, āvuso, ko viseso, ko adhippayāso, kiṁ nānākaraṇaṁ samaṇassa vā gotamassa amhākaṁ vā, yadidaṁ – dhammadesanāya vā dhammadesanaṁ, anusāsaniyā vā anusāsanin"ti?
4Atha kho te bhikkhū tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ bhāsitaṁ neva abhinandiṁsu nappaṭikkosiṁsu; anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamiṁsu: "Bhagavato santike etassa bhāsitassa atthaṁ ājānissāmā"ti.
Atha kho te bhikkhū sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
5"Idha mayaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisimha. Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ etadahosi: ‘atippago kho tāva sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya carituṁ, yannūna mayaṁ yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkameyyāmā’ti. Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, yena aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ ārāmo tenupasaṅkamimha; upasaṅkamitvā tehi aññatitthiyehi paribbājakehi saddhiṁ sammodimha. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdimha. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho amhe, bhante, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā etadavocuṁ:
6‘Samaṇo, āvuso, gotamo sāvakānaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ deseti "etha tumhe, bhikkhave, pañca nīvaraṇe pahāya cetaso upakkilese paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe satta bojjhaṅge yathābhūtaṁ bhāvethā"ti. Mayampi kho, āvuso, sāvakānaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ desema: "etha tumhe, āvuso, pañca nīvaraṇe pahāya cetaso upakkilese paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe satta bojjhaṅge yathābhūtaṁ bhāvethā"ti. Idha no, āvuso, ko viseso, ko adhippayāso, kiṁ nānākaraṇaṁ samaṇassa vā gotamassa amhākaṁ vā, yadidaṁ – dhammadesanāya vā dhammadesanaṁ, anusāsaniyā vā anusāsanin’ti?
7Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ bhāsitaṁ neva abhinandimha nappaṭikkosimha, anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamimha: ‘bhagavato santike etassa bhāsitassa atthaṁ ājānissāmā’"ti.
8"Evaṁvādino, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evamassu vacanīyā: ‘atthi panāvuso, pariyāyo, yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma pañca nīvaraṇā dasa honti, satta bojjhaṅgā catuddasā’ti. Evaṁ puṭṭhā, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā na ceva sampāyissanti, uttariñca vighātaṁ āpajjissanti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yathā taṁ, bhikkhave, avisayasmiṁ. Nāhaṁ taṁ, bhikkhave, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya, yo imesaṁ pañhānaṁ veyyākaraṇena cittaṁ ārādheyya, aññatra tathāgatena vā tathāgatāsāvakena vā ito vā pana sutvā.
9Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pariyāyo, yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma pañca nīvaraṇā dasa honti?
Yadapi, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ kāmacchando tadapi nīvaraṇaṁ, yadapi bahiddhā kāmacchando tadapi nīvaraṇaṁ. ‘Kāmacchandanīvaraṇan’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti.
Yadapi, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ byāpādo tadapi nīvaraṇaṁ, yadapi bahiddhā byāpādo tadapi nīvaraṇaṁ. ‘Byā pāda nīvaraṇan’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti.
Yadapi, bhikkhave, thinaṁ tadapi nīvaraṇaṁ, yadapi middhaṁ tadapi nīvaraṇaṁ. ‘Thinamiddhanīvaraṇan’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti.
Yadapi, bhikkhave, uddhaccaṁ tadapi nīvaraṇaṁ, yadapi kukkuccaṁ tadapi nīvaraṇaṁ. ‘Uddhaccakukkuccanīvaraṇan’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti.
Yadapi, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ dhammesu vicikicchā tadapi nīvaraṇaṁ, yadapi bahiddhā dhammesu vicikicchā tadapi nīvaraṇaṁ. ‘Vicikicchānīvaraṇan’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti. Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pariyāyo, yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma pañca nīvaraṇā dasa honti.
10Katamo ca, bhikkhave, pariyāyo, yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma satta bojjhaṅgā catuddasa honti?
Yadapi, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ dhammesu sati tadapi satisambojjhaṅgo, yadapi bahiddhā dhammesu sati tadapi satisambojjhaṅgo. ‘Satisambojjhaṅgo’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti.
11Yadapi, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ dhammesu paññāya pavicinati pavicarati parivīmaṁsamāpajjati tadapi dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo, yadapi bahiddhā dhammesu paññāya pavicinati pavicarati parivīmaṁsamāpajjati tadapi dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo. ‘Dhammavicayasambojjhaṅgo’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti.
12Yadapi, bhikkhave, kāyikaṁ vīriyaṁ tadapi vīriyasambojjhaṅgo, yadapi cetasikaṁ vīriyaṁ tadapi vīriyasambojjhaṅgo. ‘Vīriyasambojjhaṅgo’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti.
13Yadapi, bhikkhave, savitakkasavicārā pīti tadapi pītisambojjhaṅgo, yadapi avitakkaavicārā pīti tadapi pītisambojjhaṅgo. ‘Pītisambojjhaṅgo’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti.
14Yadapi, bhikkhave, kāyappassaddhi tadapi passaddhisambojjhaṅgo, yadapi cittappassaddhi tadapi passaddhisambojjhaṅgo. ‘Passaddhisambojjhaṅgo’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti.
15Yadapi, bhikkhave, savitakko savicāro samādhi tadapi samādhisambojjhaṅgo, yadapi avitakkaavicāro samādhi tadapi samādhisambojjhaṅgo. ‘Samādhisambojjhaṅgo’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti.
16Yadapi, bhikkhave, ajjhattaṁ dhammesu upekkhā tadapi upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo, yadapi bahiddhā dhammesu upekkhā tadapi upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo. ‘Upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo’ti iti hidaṁ uddesaṁ gacchati. Tadamināpetaṁ pariyāyena dvayaṁ hoti.
Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pariyāyo, yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma satta bojjhaṅgā catuddasā"ti.
Dutiyaṁ.