Skip to content
True DhammaLibrary · Community
AN 4.16PTS AN 2.171 min read

Subtlety

Sokhummasutta

Subtlety of form, feeling, perception, and choices.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.16Numbered Discourses 4.16
  • 0.22. Caravagga2. Walking

0.3SokhummasuttaSubtlety

1.1PTS 2.18“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, sokhummāni.“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of subtlety.1.2Katamāni cattāri?What four?

1.3Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu rūpasokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena;A mendicant has ultimate subtlety of form.1.4tena ca rūpasokhummena aññaṁ rūpasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na samanupassati;They don’t see any other subtlety of form that’s better or finer than that,1.5tena ca rūpasokhummena aññaṁ rūpasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na pattheti.nor do they aim for it.

1.6Vedanāsokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena;A mendicant has ultimate subtlety of feeling.1.7tena ca vedanāsokhummena aññaṁ vedanāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na samanupassati;They don’t see any other subtlety of feeling that’s better or finer than that,1.8tena ca vedanāsokhummena aññaṁ vedanāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na pattheti.nor do they aim for it.

1.9Saññāsokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena;A mendicant has ultimate subtlety of perception.1.10tena ca saññāsokhummena aññaṁ saññāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na samanupassati;They don’t see any other subtlety of perception that’s better or finer than that,1.11tena ca saññāsokhummena aññaṁ saññāsokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na pattheti.nor do they aim for it.

1.12Saṅkhārasokhummena samannāgato hoti paramena;A mendicant has ultimate subtlety of choices.1.13tena ca saṅkhārasokhummena aññaṁ saṅkhārasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na samanupassati;They don’t see any other subtlety of choices that’s better or finer than that,1.14tena ca saṅkhārasokhummena aññaṁ saṅkhārasokhummaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na pattheti.nor do they aim for it.

1.15Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri sokhummānīti.These are the four kinds of subtlety.

2.1Rūpasokhummataṁ ñatvā,Knowing the subtlety of form,2.2vedanānañca sambhavaṁ;the cause of feelings,2.3Saññā yato samudeti,where perception comes from,2.4atthaṁ gacchati yattha ca;and where it ends;2.5Saṅkhāre parato ñatvā,and knowing choices as alien,2.6dukkhato no ca attato.as suffering and as not-self,

3.1Sa ve sammaddaso bhikkhu,that mendicant sees rightly,3.2santo santipade rato;peaceful, in love with the state of peace.3.3Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ,They bear their final body,3.4jetvā māraṁ savāhinin”ti.having vanquished Māra with his legions.”

3.5Chaṭṭhaṁ.