1.1PTS 4.98“Pubbeva me, bhikkhave, sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato etadahosi:“Mendicants, before my awakening—when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening—I thought:1.2‘yeme pañca kāmaguṇā cetaso samphuṭṭhapubbā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā, tatra me cittaṁ bahulaṁ gacchamānaṁ gaccheyya paccuppannesu vā appaṁ vā anāgatesu’.‘My mind might often stray toward the five kinds of sensual stimulation that I formerly experienced—which have passed, ceased, and perished—or to those in the present, or in the future a little.’¹

1.3Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi:Then it occurred to me:1.4‘yeme pañca kāmaguṇā cetaso samphuṭṭhapubbā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā, tatra me attarūpena appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo’.‘In my own way I should practice diligence, mindfulness, and protecting the mind regarding the five kinds of sensual stimulation that I formerly experienced—which have passed, ceased, and perished.’²

1.5Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, tumhākampi ye te pañca kāmaguṇā cetaso samphuṭṭhapubbā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā, tatra vo cittaṁ bahulaṁ gacchamānaṁ gaccheyya paccuppannesu vā appaṁ vā anāgatesu.So, mendicants, your minds might also often stray toward the five kinds of sensual stimulation that you formerly experienced—which have passed, ceased, and perished—or to those in the present, or in the future a little.1.6Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, tumhākampi ye te pañca kāmaguṇā cetaso samphuṭṭhapubbā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā, tatra vo attarūpehi appamādo sati cetaso ārakkho karaṇīyo.So in your own way you should practice diligence, mindfulness, and protecting the mind regarding the five kinds of sensual stimulation that you formerly experienced—which have passed, ceased, and perished.

1.7Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…So you should understand that dimension where the eye ceases and perception of sights fades away.³1.8yattha jivhā ca nirujjhati, rasasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…You should understand that dimension where the ear … nose … tongue … body …1.9yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe”ti.mind ceases and perception of ideas fades away.”

1.10Idaṁ vatvā bhagavā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.When he had spoken, the Blessed One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.

2.1Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:Soon after the Buddha left, those mendicants considered,2.2“idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:“The Buddha gave this brief summary, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. …2.3‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…2.4yattha jivhā ca nirujjhati, rasasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…2.5yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti.2.6Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā”ti?Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief summary given by the Buddha?”

3.1Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi:Then those mendicants thought,3.2“ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.“This Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.3.3Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary given by the Buddha.3.4Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā”ti.Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter.”

4.1PTS 4.99Atha kho te bhikkhū yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu.Then those mendicants went to Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him.4.2Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavocuṁ:When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said,5.1“Idaṁ kho no, āvuso ānanda, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:5.2‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…5.3yattha jivhā ca nirujjhati, rasasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…5.4yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti.5.5Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:5.6‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:5.7“tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…5.8yattha jivhā ca nirujjhati, rasasaññā ca nirujjhati se āyatane veditabbe …pe…5.9yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe”ti.5.10Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti?5.11Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ etadahosi:5.12‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.5.13Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.5.14Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti.5.15Vibhajatāyasmā ānando”ti.“May Venerable Ānanda please explain this.”

6.1“Seyyathāpi, āvuso, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa …pe…“Reverends, suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. …”

6.2vibhajatāyasmā ānando agaruṁ karitvā”ti.“Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.”

7.1PTS 4.100“Tenahāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.“Then listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

7.2“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paccassosuṁ.“Yes, reverend,” they replied.7.3Āyasmā ānando etadavoca:Ānanda said this:

8.1“Yaṁ kho vo, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:“Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail:

8.2‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…‘So you should understand that dimension where the eye ceases and perception of sights fades away. You should understand that dimension where the ear … nose … tongue … body …8.3yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti.mind ceases and perception of ideas fades away.’

8.4Imassa khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.And this is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary.

8.5Saḷāyatananirodhaṁ no etaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:The Buddha was referring to the cessation of the six sense fields when he said:⁴8.6‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe, yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…‘So you should understand that dimension where the eye ceases and perception of sights fades away. You should understand that dimension where the ear … nose … tongue … body …8.7yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti.mind ceases and perception of ideas fades away.’

8.8Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:The Buddha gave this brief summary, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail.8.9‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…8.10yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti.8.11Imassa khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.And this is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary.

8.12Ākaṅkhamānā ca pana tumhe āyasmanto bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamatha;If you wish, you may go to the Buddha and ask him about this.8.13upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ puccheyyātha.8.14Yathā vo bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.You should remember it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

9.1“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:“Yes, reverend,” replied those mendicants. Then they rose from their seats and went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

10.1PTS 4.101“Yaṁ kho no, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:10.2‘tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…10.3yattha jivhā ca nirujjhati, rasasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…10.4yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe’ti, tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:10.5‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:10.6“tasmātiha, bhikkhave, se āyatane veditabbe yattha cakkhu ca nirujjhati, rūpasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe …pe…10.7yattha mano ca nirujjhati, dhammasaññā ca nirujjhati, se āyatane veditabbe”ti.10.8Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti?10.9Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ etadahosi:10.10‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.10.11Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.10.12Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti.10.13Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamimha; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipucchimha.10.14Tesaṁ no, bhante, āyasmatā ānandena imehi ākārehi, imehi padehi, imehi byañjanehi attho vibhatto”ti.Then they said, “And Ānanda explained the meaning to us in this manner, with these words and phrases.”

11.1“Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, ānando; mahāpañño, bhikkhave, ānando.“Mendicants, Ānanda is astute, he has great wisdom.11.2Mañcepi tumhe, bhikkhave, etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, ahampi taṁ evamevaṁ byākareyyaṁ yathā taṁ ānandena byākataṁ.If you came to me and asked this question, I would answer it in exactly the same way as Ānanda.11.3Eso cevetassa attho. Evañca naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.That is what it means, and that’s how you should remember it.”

11.4Catutthaṁ.