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SN 46.39PTS SN 5.961 min read

Trees

Rukkhasutta

As some large trees with small seeds will overgrow and ruin other trees, so the hindrances overgrow and ruin the mind.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 46.39Linked Discourses 46.39
  • 0.24. Nīvaraṇavagga4. Hindrances

0.3RukkhasuttaTrees

1.1“Santi, bhikkhave, mahārukkhā aṇubījā mahākāyā rukkhānaṁ ajjhāruhā, yehi rukkhā ajjhārūḷhā obhaggavibhaggā vipatitā senti.“Mendicants, there are large trees with tiny seeds and big bodies, which grow up and around other trees as parasites. The trees they engulf break apart, collapse, and fall.11.2Katame ca te, bhikkhave, mahārukkhā aṇubījā mahākāyā rukkhānaṁ ajjhāruhā, yehi rukkhā ajjhārūḷhā obhaggavibhaggā vipatitā senti?And what are those large trees with tiny seeds and big bodies?1.3Assattho, nigrodho, pilakkho, udumbaro, kacchako, kapitthano—The peepal, banyan, wavy leaf fig, cluster fig, Moreton Bay fig, and white fig.21.4ime kho te, bhikkhave, mahārukkhā aṇubījā mahākāyā rukkhānaṁ ajjhāruhā, yehi rukkhā ajjhārūḷhā obhaggavibhaggā vipatitā senti.These are the large trees with tiny seeds and big bodies, which grow up and around other trees as parasites. The trees they engulf break apart, collapse, and fall.

1.5Evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco kulaputto yādisake kāme ohāya agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so tādisakehi kāmehi tato vā pāpiṭṭhatarehi obhaggavibhaggo vipatito seti.In the same way, take a certain gentleman who has gone forth from the lay life to homelessness, abandoning sensual pleasures. But beset by sensual pleasures that are similar, or even worse, he breaks apart, collapses, and falls.

2.1PTS 5.97Pañcime, bhikkhave, āvaraṇā nīvaraṇā cetaso ajjhāruhā paññāya dubbalīkaraṇā.There are these five obstacles and hindrances, parasites of the mind that weaken wisdom.2.2Katame pañca?What five?2.3Kāmacchando, bhikkhave, āvaraṇo nīvaraṇo cetaso ajjhāruho paññāya dubbalīkaraṇo.Sensual desire,2.4Byāpādo, bhikkhave, āvaraṇo nīvaraṇo cetaso ajjhāruho paññāya dubbalīkaraṇo.ill will,2.5Thinamiddhaṁ, bhikkhave, āvaraṇaṁ nīvaraṇaṁ cetaso ajjhāruhaṁ paññāya dubbalīkaraṇaṁ.dullness and drowsiness,2.6Uddhaccakukkuccaṁ, bhikkhave, āvaraṇaṁ nīvaraṇaṁ cetaso ajjhāruhaṁ paññāya dubbalīkaraṇaṁ.restlessness and remorse,2.7Vicikicchā, bhikkhave, āvaraṇā nīvaraṇā cetaso ajjhāruhā paññāya dubbalīkaraṇā.and doubt.2.8Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca āvaraṇā nīvaraṇā cetaso ajjhāruhā paññāya dubbalīkaraṇā.These are the five obstacles and hindrances, parasites of the mind that weaken wisdom.

3.1Sattime, bhikkhave, bojjhaṅgā anāvaraṇā anīvaraṇā cetaso anajjhāruhā bhāvitā bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattanti.These seven awakening factors are not obstacles, hindrances, or parasites of the mind. When developed and cultivated they lead to the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom.3.2Katame satta?What seven?3.3Satisambojjhaṅgo, bhikkhave, anāvaraṇo anīvaraṇo cetaso anajjhāruho bhāvito bahulīkato vijjāvimuttiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo, bhikkhave, anāvaraṇo anīvaraṇo cetaso anajjhāruho bhāvito bahulīkato vijjāvimuttiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattati.The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity.3.4Ime kho, bhikkhave, satta bojjhaṅgā anāvaraṇā anīvaraṇā cetaso anajjhāruhā bhāvitā bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiphalasacchikiriyāya saṁvattantī”ti.These seven awakening factors are not obstacles, hindrances, or parasites of the mind. When developed and cultivated they lead to the realization of the fruit of knowledge and freedom.”

3.5Navamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. These trees are all “strangling figs”. They are proverbial in folklore for showing the threat of even the slightest evil (Ja 370, Ja 412).

    E.J.H. Corner describes them in delicious detail in his Wayside Trees of Malaya (1940), vol. 1, pp. 664–5 (cited by Bodhi in his note on this discourse).

    ↩ sn46.39:1.1

  2. Kacchaka here is described as a parasitic strangler, which agrees with Bu Pc 11:2.1.6, where it is said to propagate from the trunk. It is sometimes identified with Toona ciliata, the “red cedar”, but that cannot be correct, as it is not a strangler. I translate as “Moreton bay fig” in homage to these magnificent trees that flourish throughout eastern Australia.

    Kapitthana is Sanskrit kapītana, which Sanskrit sources identify with a bewildering variety of trees. One such, the Ficus virens or “white fig”, fits the description here.

    ↩ sn46.39:1.3