{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn24.6/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn24.6","id":"suttacentral_sn24.6","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn24.6/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At S\u0101vatth\u012b. \u201cMendicants, when what exists, because of grasping what and insisting on what, does the view arise: \u2018The one who acts does nothing wrong when they punish, mutilate, torture, aggrieve, oppress, intimidate, or when they encourage others to do the same. Nothing bad is done when they kill, steal, break into houses, plunder wealth, steal from isolated buildings, commit highway robbery, commit adultery, and lie. If you were to reduce all the living creatures of this earth to one heap and mass of flesh with a razor-edged chakram, no evil comes of that, and no outcome of evil. If you were to go along the south bank of the Ganges killing, mutilating, and torturing, and encouraging others to do the same, no evil comes of that, and no outcome of evil. If you were to go along the north bank of the Ganges giving and sacrificing and encouraging others to do the same, no merit comes of that, and no outcome of merit. In giving, self-control, restraint, and truthfulness there is no merit or outcome of merit\u2019?\u201d \u201cOur teachings are rooted in the Buddha. \u2026\u201d \u201cWhen form exists, because of grasping form and insisting on form, the view arises: \u2018The one who acts does nothing wrong \u2026 there is no merit or outcome of merit.\u2019 When feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness exists, because of grasping consciousness and insisting on consciousness, the view arises: \u2018The one who acts does nothing wrong \u2026 there is no merit or outcome of merit.\u2019 What do you think, mendicants? Is form permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u2026 \u201cIs feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u2026 \u201cThat which is seen, heard, thought, known, attained, sought, and explored by the mind: is that permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u2026 \u201cBut by not grasping what\u2019s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, would such a view arise?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cWhen a noble disciple has given up doubt regarding these six grounds, and has given up doubt in suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation, they\u2019re called a noble disciple who is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.\u201d","title":"Acting","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":369}