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SN 35.104PTS SN 4.841 min read

Sanctuary from the Yoke

Yogakkhemisutta

Someone who has given up attraction to the senses has arrived at the sanctuary.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.104Linked Discourses 35.104
  • 0.211. Yogakkhemivagga11. Sanctuary from the Yoke

0.3YogakkhemisuttaSanctuary from the Yoke

1.1PTS 4.85Sāvatthinidānaṁ.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Yogakkhemipariyāyaṁ vo, bhikkhave, dhammapariyāyaṁ desessāmi.“Mendicants, I will teach you an exposition of the teaching, an explanation of one who has found sanctuary from the yoke.11.3Taṁ suṇātha.Listen …

1.4Katamo ca, bhikkhave, yogakkhemipariyāyo dhammapariyāyo?And what is an exposition of the teaching, an explanation of one who has found sanctuary from the yoke?

1.5Santi, bhikkhave, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.There are sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.1.6Te tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.The Realized One has given these up, cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, and obliterated them, so they are unable to arise in the future.1.7Tesañca pahānāya akkhāsi yogaṁ, tasmā tathāgato ‘yogakkhemī’ti vuccati …pe…He teaches yoking oneself to meditation for giving them up. That’s why the Realized One is called one who has found sanctuary from the yoke. …2

1.8santi, bhikkhave, manoviññeyyā dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.There are ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.1.9Te tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.The Realized One has given these up, cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, and obliterated them, so they are unable to arise in the future.1.10Tesañca pahānāya akkhāsi yogaṁ, tasmā tathāgato ‘yogakkhemī’ti vuccati.He teaches yoking oneself to meditation for giving them up. That’s why the Realized One is called one who has found sanctuary from the yoke.

1.11Ayaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yogakkhemipariyāyo dhammapariyāyo”ti.This is an exposition of the teaching, an explanation of one who has found sanctuary from the yoke.”

1.12Paṭhamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. For “sanctuary from the yoke”, see note on SN 7.11:6.2.

    ↩ sn35.104:1.2
  2. The duality between yoga (“yoke”) as “harness, fetter” and as “commitment to practice” is crucial to this sutta. The Buddha is not teaching nihilism, he is teaching us to “yoke” ourselves to the right cause.

    ↩ sn35.104:1.7