{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn44.2/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn44.2","id":"suttacentral_sn44.2","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn44.2/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near Ves\u0101l\u012b, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Now at that time Venerable Anur\u0101dha was staying not far from the Buddha in a wilderness hut. Then several wanderers of other religions went up to Venerable Anur\u0101dha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side and said to him: \u201cReverend Anur\u0101dha, when a realized one is describing a realized one\u2014a supreme person, highest of people, who has reached the highest point\u2014they describe them in these four ways: After death, a realized one still exists, or no longer exists, or both still exists and no longer exists, or neither still exists nor no longer exists.\u201d \u201cReverends, when a realized one is describing a realized one\u2014a supreme person, highest of people, who has reached the highest point\u2014they describe them other than these four ways: After death, a realized one still exists, or no longer exists, or both still exists and no longer exists, or neither still exists nor no longer exists.\u201d When he said this, the wanderers said to him, \u201cThis mendicant must be junior, recently gone forth, or else a foolish, incompetent senior mendicant.\u201d Then, after rebuking Venerable Anur\u0101dha by calling him \u201cjunior\u201d and \u201cfoolish\u201d, the wanderers rose from their seats and left. Soon after they had left, Anur\u0101dha thought, \u201cIf those wanderers were to inquire further, how should I answer them so as to repeat what the Buddha has said, and not misrepresent him with an untruth? How should I explain in line with his teaching, so that there would be no legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism?\u201d Then Venerable Anur\u0101dha went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. \u201cWhat do you think, Anur\u0101dha? Is form permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?\u201d \u201cSuffering, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: \u2018This is mine, I am this, this is my self\u2019?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cIs feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness permanent or impermanent?\u201d \u201cImpermanent, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?\u201d \u201cSuffering, sir.\u201d \u201cBut if it\u2019s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: \u2018This is mine, I am this, this is my self\u2019?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cSo, Anur\u0101dha, you should truly see any kind of form at all\u2014past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> form\u2014with right understanding: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 Any kind of feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness at all\u2014past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> consciousness\u2014with right understanding: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they\u2019re freed. When they\u2019re freed, they know they\u2019re freed. They understand: \u2018Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.\u2019 What do you think, Anur\u0101dha? Do you consider that the label \u2018realized one\u2019 applies to form?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cDo you consider that the label \u2018realized one\u2019 applies to feeling?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 perception?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 choices?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 consciousness?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Anur\u0101dha? Do you consider that the label \u2018realized one\u2019 applies in relation to form?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cDo you consider that the label \u2018realized one\u2019 applies apart from form?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cDo you consider that the label \u2018realized one\u2019 applies in relation to feeling?\u201d \u201c\u2026 apart from feeling?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 in relation to perception?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 apart from perception?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 in relation to choices?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 apart from choices?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 in relation to consciousness?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 apart from consciousness?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Anur\u0101dha? Do you consider that the label \u2018realized one\u2019 applies to one who has form?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 feeling?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 perception?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 choices?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 consciousness?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cWhat do you think, Anur\u0101dha? Do you consider that the label \u2018realized one\u2019 applies to that one who is without form?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 feeling?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 perception?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 choices?\u201d \u2026 \u201c\u2026 consciousness?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cIn that case, Anur\u0101dha, since a realized one is not found by you as a genuine fact in this very life, is it cogent for you to declare: \u2018Reverends, when a realized one is describing a realized one\u2014a supreme person, highest of people, who has reached the highest point\u2014they describe them other than these four ways: After death, a realized one still exists, or no longer exists, or both still exists and no longer exists, or neither still exists nor no longer exists\u2019?\u201d \u201cNo, sir.\u201d \u201cGood, good, Anur\u0101dha! In the past, as today, what I describe is suffering and the cessation of suffering.\u201d","title":"With Anur\u0101dha","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":843}