{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn35.153/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn35.153","id":"suttacentral_sn35.153","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn35.153/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"\u201cMendicants, is there a method\u2014apart from faith, endorsement, oral transmission, reasoned train of thought, or acceptance of a view after deliberation\u2014that a mendicant can rely on to declare their enlightenment? That is: \u2018I understand: \u201cRebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.\u201d\u2019\u201d \u201cOur teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The mendicants will listen and remember it.\u201d \u201cWell then, mendicants, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d they replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cThere is a method\u2014apart from faith, endorsement, oral transmission, reasoned train of thought, or acceptance of a view after deliberation\u2014that a mendicant can rely on to declare their enlightenment. That is: \u2018I understand: \u201cRebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.\u201d\u2019 And what is that method? Take a mendicant who sees a sight with their eyes. When they have greed, hate, and delusion in them, they understand \u2018I have greed, hate, and delusion in me.\u2019 When they don\u2019t have greed, hate, and delusion in them, they understand \u2018I don\u2019t have greed, hate, and delusion in me.\u2019 Since this is so, are these things understood by faith, endorsement, oral transmission, reasoned train of thought, or acceptance of a view after deliberation?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cAren\u2019t they understood by seeing them with wisdom?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cThis is a method\u2014apart from faith, endorsement, oral transmission, reasoned train of thought, or acceptance of a view after deliberation\u2014that a mendicant can rely on to declare their enlightenment. That is: \u2018I understand: \u201cRebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.\u201d\u2019 Furthermore, a mendicant hears a sound \u2026 smells an odor \u2026 tastes a flavor \u2026 encounters a touch \u2026 knows an idea with their mind. When they have greed, hate, and delusion in them, they understand \u2018I have greed, hate, and delusion in me.\u2019 When they don\u2019t have greed, hate, and delusion in them, they understand \u2018I don\u2019t have greed, hate, and delusion in me.\u2019 Since this is so, are these things understood by faith, endorsement, oral transmission, reasoned train of thought, or acceptance of a view after deliberation?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cAren\u2019t they understood by seeing them with wisdom?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cThis too is a method\u2014apart from faith, endorsement, oral transmission, reasoned train of thought, or acceptance of a view after deliberation\u2014that a mendicant can rely on to declare their enlightenment. That is: \u2018I understand: \u201cRebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.\u201d\u2019\u201d","title":"Is There a Method?","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":474}