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SN 18.12–201 min read

The Nine Discourses on Sights, Etc.

Rūpādisuttanavaka

The Buddha teaches Rāhula about the senses, aggregates, and elements in light of the three characteristics.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 18.12–20Linked Discourses 18.12–20
  • 0.22. DutiyavaggaChapter Two

0.3RūpādisuttanavakaThe Nine Discourses on Sights, Etc.

1.1PTS 2.251Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula,“What do you think, Rāhula?1.3rūpā niccā vā aniccā vā”ti?Are sights permanent or impermanent?”

1.4“Aniccā, bhante” …pe…“Impermanent, sir.” …1.5saddā …“… sounds …1.6gandhā …smells …1.7rasā …tastes …1.8phoṭṭhabbā …touches …1.9dhammā ….ideas …”

2.1“Cakkhuviññāṇaṁ …pe…“… eye consciousness …2.2sotaviññāṇaṁ …ear consciousness …2.3ghānaviññāṇaṁ …nose consciousness …2.4jivhāviññāṇaṁ …tongue consciousness …2.5kāyaviññāṇaṁ …body consciousness …2.6manoviññāṇaṁ ….mind consciousness …”

3.1Cakkhusamphasso …pe…“… eye contact …3.2sotasamphasso …ear contact …3.3ghānasamphasso …nose contact …3.4jivhāsamphasso …tongue contact …3.5kāyasamphasso …body contact …3.6manosamphasso ….mind contact …”

4.1Cakkhusamphassajā vedanā …pe…“… feeling born of eye contact …4.2sotasamphassajā vedanā …feeling born of ear contact …4.3ghānasamphassajā vedanā …feeling born of nose contact …4.4jivhāsamphassajā vedanā …feeling born of tongue contact …4.5kāyasamphassajā vedanā …feeling born of body contact …4.6manosamphassajā vedanā ….feeling born of mind contact …”

5.1Rūpasaññā …pe…“… perception of sights …5.2saddasaññā …perception of sounds …5.3gandhasaññā …perception of smells …5.4rasasaññā …perception of tastes …5.5phoṭṭhabbasaññā …perception of touches …5.6dhammasaññā ….perception of ideas …”

6.1Rūpasañcetanā …pe…“… intention regarding sights …6.2saddasañcetanā …intention regarding sounds …6.3gandhasañcetanā …intention regarding smells …6.4rasasañcetanā …intention regarding tastes …6.5phoṭṭhabbasañcetanā …intention regarding touches …6.6dhammasañcetanā ….intention regarding ideas …”

7.1Rūpataṇhā …pe…“… craving for sights …7.2saddataṇhā …craving for sounds …7.3gandhataṇhā …craving for smells …7.4rasataṇhā …craving for tastes …7.5phoṭṭhabbataṇhā …craving for touches …7.6dhammataṇhā ….craving for ideas …”

8.1Pathavīdhātu …pe…“… the earth element …8.2āpodhātu …the water element …8.3tejodhātu …the fire element …8.4vāyodhātu …the air element …8.5ākāsadhātu …the space element …8.6viññāṇadhātu ….the consciousness element …”

9.1PTS 2.252Rūpaṁ …pe…“… form …9.2vedanā …feeling …9.3saññā …perception …9.4saṅkhārā …choices …9.5viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

9.6Aniccaṁ, bhante …pe…“Impermanent, sir.” …

9.7“evaṁ passaṁ rāhula …pe…“Seeing this …9.8nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”

9.9Dasamaṁ.