Nāmasutta
“Name” weighs everything down.
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral
1.1“Kiṁsu sabbaṁ addhabhavi,“What overcomes everything?1.2kismā bhiyyo na vijjati;What is it that nothing excels?1.3Kissassu ekadhammassa,What is the one thing1.4sabbeva vasamanvagū”ti.that has everything under its sway?”
2.1“Nāmaṁ sabbaṁ addhabhavi,“Name overcomes everything.12.2nāmā bhiyyo na vijjati;Nothing excels name.22.3Nāmassa ekadhammassa,Name is the one thing2.4sabbeva vasamanvagū”ti.that has everything under its sway.”3
Compare Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇa 20.2.32, Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 4.6.5.3.
This contradicts Chāndogya Upaniṣad 7.1.5, which states, “Surely there is that which excels name” (nāmno vāva bhūyo ’stīti), which it says is the “speech” that makes the scripture known.
The Buddha is refuting the doctrine that “name” (and form) come to an end in the ocean of infinite consciousness (see too DN 15:22.6).
