{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn12.12/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn12.12","id":"suttacentral_sn12.12","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn12.12/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At S\u0101vatth\u012b. \u201cMendicants, these four fuels maintain sentient beings that have been born and help those about to be born. What four? Edible food, whether solid or subtle; contact is the second, mental intention the third, and consciousness the fourth. These are the four fuels that maintain sentient beings that have been born and help those that are about to be born.\u201d When he said this, Venerable Phagguna of the Top-Knot said to the Buddha, \u201cBut sir, who consumes consciousness as fuel?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s not a cogent question,\u201d said the Buddha. \u201cI don\u2019t speak of one who consumes. If I were to speak of one who consumes, then it would be cogent to ask who consumes. But I don\u2019t speak like that. Hence it would be cogent to ask: \u2018For what is consciousness the fuel?\u2019 And a cogent answer to this would be: \u2018Consciousness as fuel is a requirement for regeneration into a new state of existence in the future. When the being is present, there are the six sense fields. The six sense fields are requirements for contact.\u2019\u201d \u201cBut sir, who contacts?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s not a cogent question,\u201d said the Buddha. \u201cI don\u2019t speak of one who contacts. If I were to speak of one who contacts, then it would be cogent to ask who contacts. But I don\u2019t speak like that. Hence it would be cogent to ask: \u2018What is a requirement for contact?\u2019 And a cogent answer to this would be: \u2018The six sense fields are requirements for contact. Contact is a requirement for feeling.\u2019\u201d \u201cBut sir, who feels?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s not a cogent question,\u201d said the Buddha. \u201cI don\u2019t speak of one who feels. If I were to speak of one who feels, then it would be cogent to ask who feels. But I don\u2019t speak like that. Hence it would be cogent to ask: \u2018What is a requirement for feeling?\u2019 And a cogent answer to this would be: \u2018Contact is a requirement for feeling. Feeling is a requirement for craving.\u2019\u201d \u201cBut sir, who craves?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s not a cogent question,\u201d said the Buddha. \u201cI don\u2019t speak of one who craves. If I were to speak of one who craves, then it would be cogent to ask who craves. But I don\u2019t speak like that. Hence it would be cogent to ask: \u2018What is a requirement for craving?\u2019 And a cogent answer to this would be: \u2018Feeling is a requirement for craving. Craving is a requirement for grasping.\u2019\u201d \u201cBut sir, who grasps?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s not a cogent question,\u201d said the Buddha. \u201cI don\u2019t speak of one who grasps. If I were to speak of one who grasps, then it would be cogent to ask who grasps. But I don\u2019t speak like that. Hence it would be cogent to ask: \u2018What is a requirement for grasping?\u2019 And a cogent answer to this would be: \u2018Craving is a requirement for grasping. Grasping is a requirement for continued existence.\u2019 \u2026 That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. When the six fields of contact fade away and cease with no residue left behind, contact ceases. When contact ceases, feeling ceases. When feeling ceases, craving ceases. When craving ceases, grasping ceases. When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases. When continued existence ceases, rebirth ceases. When rebirth ceases, old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress cease. That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.\u201d","title":"Phagguna of the Top-Knot","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":562}