{"collection":"Majjhima Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_mn1/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_mn1","id":"suttacentral_mn1","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/mn1/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Majjhima Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Ukka\u1e6d\u1e6dh\u0101 in the Subhaga Forest at the root of a magnificent sal tree. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, \u201cMendicants!\u201d \u201cVenerable sir,\u201d they replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cMendicants, I will teach you the explanation of the root of all things. Listen and apply your minds well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d they replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cTake an unlearned ordinary person who has not seen the noble ones, and is neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the noble ones. They\u2019ve not seen true persons, and are neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the true persons. They perceive earth as earth. Having perceived earth as earth, they conceive it to be earth, they conceive it in earth, they conceive it as earth, they conceive that \u2018earth is mine\u2019, they approve earth. Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive water as water. Having perceived water as water, they conceive it to be water \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive fire as fire. Having perceived fire as fire, they conceive it to be fire \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive air as air. Having perceived air as air, they conceive it to be air \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive creatures as creatures. Having perceived creatures as creatures, they conceive them to be creatures \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive gods as gods. Having perceived gods as gods, they conceive them to be gods \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive the Progenitor as the Progenitor. Having perceived the Progenitor as the Progenitor, they conceive him to be the Progenitor \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive the Divinity as the Divinity. Having perceived the Divinity as the Divinity, they conceive him to be the Divinity \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive those of sublime luminosity as those of sublime luminosity. Having perceived those of sublime luminosity as those of sublime luminosity, they conceive them to be those of sublime luminosity \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive those of universal beauty as those of universal beauty. But then they conceive them to be those of universal beauty \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive those of abundant fruit as those of abundant fruit. Having perceived those of abundant fruit as those of abundant fruit, they conceive them to be those of abundant fruit \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive the Vanquisher as the Vanquisher. Having perceived the Vanquisher as the Vanquisher, they conceive him to be the Vanquisher \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive the dimension of infinite space as the dimension of infinite space. Having perceived the dimension of infinite space as the dimension of infinite space, they conceive it to be the dimension of infinite space \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive the dimension of infinite consciousness as the dimension of infinite consciousness. Having perceived the dimension of infinite consciousness as the dimension of infinite consciousness, they conceive it to be the dimension of infinite consciousness \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive the dimension of nothingness as the dimension of nothingness. Having perceived the dimension of nothingness as the dimension of nothingness, they conceive it to be the dimension of nothingness \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception as the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. Having perceived the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception as the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, they conceive it to be the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive the seen as the seen. Having perceived the seen as the seen, they conceive it to be the seen \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive the heard as the heard. Having perceived the heard as the heard, they conceive it to be the heard \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive the thought as the thought. Having perceived the thought as the thought, they conceive it to be the thought \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive the known as the known. Having perceived the known as the known, they conceive it to be the known \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive oneness as oneness. Having perceived oneness as oneness, they conceive it to be oneness \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive diversity as diversity. Having perceived diversity as diversity, they conceive it to be diversity \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive all as all. Having perceived all as all, they conceive it to be all \u2026 Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. They perceive extinguishment as extinguishment. Having perceived extinguishment as extinguishment, they conceive it to be extinguishment, they conceive it in extinguishment, they conceive it as extinguishment, they conceive that \u2018extinguishment is mine\u2019, they approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because they haven\u2019t completely understood it, I say. A mendicant who is a trainee, who hasn\u2019t achieved their heart\u2019s desire, but lives aspiring to the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, let them not conceive it to be earth, let them not conceive it in earth, let them not conceive it as earth, let them not conceive that \u2018earth is mine\u2019, let them not approve earth. Why is that? So that they may completely understand it, I say. They directly know water \u2026 fire \u2026 air \u2026 creatures \u2026 gods \u2026 the Progenitor \u2026 the Divinity \u2026 those of sublime luminosity \u2026 those replete with glory \u2026 those of abundant fruit \u2026 the Vanquisher \u2026 the dimension of infinite space \u2026 the dimension of infinite consciousness \u2026 the dimension of nothingness \u2026 the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception \u2026 the seen \u2026 the heard \u2026 the thought \u2026 the known \u2026 oneness \u2026 diversity \u2026 all \u2026 They directly know extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, let them not conceive it to be extinguishment, let them not conceive it in extinguishment, let them not conceive it as extinguishment, let them not conceive that \u2018extinguishment is mine\u2019, let them not approve extinguishment. Why is that? So that they may completely understand it, I say. A mendicant who is perfected\u2014with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart\u2019s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment\u2014directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, they do not conceive it to be earth, they do not conceive it in earth, they do not conceive it as earth, they do not conceive that \u2018earth is mine\u2019, they do not approve earth. Why is that? Because they have completely understood it, I say. They directly know water \u2026 fire \u2026 air \u2026 creatures \u2026 gods \u2026 the Progenitor \u2026 the Divinity \u2026 those of sublime luminosity \u2026 those replete with glory \u2026 those of abundant fruit \u2026 the Vanquisher \u2026 the dimension of infinite space \u2026 the dimension of infinite consciousness \u2026 the dimension of nothingness \u2026 the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception \u2026 the seen \u2026 the heard \u2026 the thought \u2026 the known \u2026 oneness \u2026 diversity \u2026 all \u2026 They directly know extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, they do not conceive it to be extinguishment, they do not conceive it in extinguishment, they do not conceive it as extinguishment, they do not conceive that \u2018extinguishment is mine\u2019, they do not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because they have completely understood it, I say. A mendicant who is perfected\u2014with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart\u2019s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment\u2014directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, they do not conceive it to be earth, they do not conceive it in earth, they do not conceive it as earth, they do not conceive that \u2018earth is mine\u2019, they do not approve earth. Why is that? Because they\u2019re free of greed due to the ending of greed. They directly know water \u2026 fire \u2026 air \u2026 creatures \u2026 gods \u2026 the Progenitor \u2026 the Divinity \u2026 those of sublime luminosity \u2026 those replete with glory \u2026 those of abundant fruit \u2026 the Vanquisher \u2026 the dimension of infinite space \u2026 the dimension of infinite consciousness \u2026 the dimension of nothingness \u2026 the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception \u2026 the seen \u2026 the heard \u2026 the thought \u2026 the known \u2026 oneness \u2026 diversity \u2026 all \u2026 They directly know extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, they do not conceive it to be extinguishment, they do not conceive it in extinguishment, they do not conceive it as extinguishment, they do not conceive that \u2018extinguishment is mine\u2019, they do not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because they\u2019re free of greed due to the ending of greed. A mendicant who is perfected\u2014with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart\u2019s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment\u2014directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, they do not conceive it to be earth, they do not conceive it in earth, they do not conceive it as earth, they do not conceive that \u2018earth is mine\u2019, they do not approve earth. Why is that? Because they\u2019re free of hate due to the ending of hate. They directly know water \u2026 fire \u2026 air \u2026 creatures \u2026 gods \u2026 the Progenitor \u2026 the Divinity \u2026 those of sublime luminosity \u2026 those replete with glory \u2026 those of abundant fruit \u2026 the Vanquisher \u2026 the dimension of infinite space \u2026 the dimension of infinite consciousness \u2026 the dimension of nothingness \u2026 the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception \u2026 the seen \u2026 the heard \u2026 the thought \u2026 the known \u2026 oneness \u2026 diversity \u2026 all \u2026 They directly know extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, they do not conceive it to be extinguishment, they do not conceive it in extinguishment, they do not conceive it as extinguishment, they do not conceive that \u2018extinguishment is mine\u2019, they do not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because they\u2019re free of hate due to the ending of hate. A mendicant who is perfected\u2014with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart\u2019s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment\u2014directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, they do not conceive it to be earth, they do not conceive it in earth, they do not conceive it as earth, they do not conceive that \u2018earth is mine\u2019, they do not approve earth. Why is that? Because they\u2019re free of delusion due to the ending of delusion. They directly know water \u2026 fire \u2026 air \u2026 creatures \u2026 gods \u2026 the Progenitor \u2026 the Divinity \u2026 those of sublime luminosity \u2026 those replete with glory \u2026 those of abundant fruit \u2026 the Vanquisher \u2026 the dimension of infinite space \u2026 the dimension of infinite consciousness \u2026 the dimension of nothingness \u2026 the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception \u2026 the seen \u2026 the heard \u2026 the thought \u2026 the known \u2026 oneness \u2026 diversity \u2026 all \u2026 They directly know extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, they do not conceive it to be extinguishment, they do not conceive it in extinguishment, they do not conceive it as extinguishment, they do not conceive that \u2018extinguishment is mine\u2019, they do not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because they\u2019re free of delusion due to the ending of delusion. The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, he does not conceive it to be earth, he does not conceive it in earth, he does not conceive it as earth, he does not conceive that \u2018earth is mine\u2019, he does not approve earth. Why is that? Because the Realized One has completely understood it to the end, I say. He directly knows water \u2026 fire \u2026 air \u2026 creatures \u2026 gods \u2026 the Progenitor \u2026 the Divinity \u2026 those of sublime luminosity \u2026 those replete with glory \u2026 those of abundant fruit \u2026 the Vanquisher \u2026 the dimension of infinite space \u2026 the dimension of infinite consciousness \u2026 the dimension of nothingness \u2026 the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception \u2026 the seen \u2026 the heard \u2026 the thought \u2026 the known \u2026 oneness \u2026 diversity \u2026 all \u2026 He directly knows extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, he does not conceive it to be extinguishment, he does not conceive it in extinguishment, he does not conceive it as extinguishment, he does not conceive that \u2018extinguishment is mine\u2019, he does not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because the Realized One has completely understood it to the end, I say. The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha directly knows earth as earth. Having directly known earth as earth, he does not conceive it to be earth, he does not conceive it in earth, he does not conceive it as earth, he does not conceive that \u2018earth is mine\u2019, he does not approve earth. Why is that? Because he has understood that approval is the root of suffering, and that rebirth comes from continued existence; whoever has come to be gets old and dies. That\u2019s why the Realized One\u2014with the ending, fading away, cessation, giving up, and letting go of all cravings\u2014has awakened to the supreme perfect awakening, I say. He directly knows water \u2026 fire \u2026 air \u2026 creatures \u2026 gods \u2026 the Progenitor \u2026 the Divinity \u2026 those of sublime luminosity \u2026 those replete with glory \u2026 those of abundant fruit \u2026 the Vanquisher \u2026 the dimension of infinite space \u2026 the dimension of infinite consciousness \u2026 the dimension of nothingness \u2026 the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception \u2026 the seen \u2026 the heard \u2026 the thought \u2026 the known \u2026 oneness \u2026 diversity \u2026 all \u2026 He directly knows extinguishment as extinguishment. Having directly known extinguishment as extinguishment, he does not conceive it to be extinguishment, he does not conceive it in extinguishment, he does not conceive it as extinguishment, he does not conceive that \u2018extinguishment is mine\u2019, he does not approve extinguishment. Why is that? Because he has understood that approval is the root of suffering, and that rebirth comes from continued existence; whoever has come to be gets old and dies. That\u2019s why the Realized One\u2014with the ending, fading away, cessation, giving up, and letting go of all cravings\u2014has awakened to the supreme perfect Awakening, I say.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. But the mendicants did not approve what the Buddha said.","title":"The Root of All Things","tradition":"Majjhima Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":2676}