• Linked Discourses 24.7 Saṁyutta Nikāya 24.7
  • 1. Stream-Entry 1. Sotāpattivagga

Cause Hetusutta

At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

ā€œMendicants, when what exists, because of grasping what and insisting on what, does the view arise: ā€œKismiṁ nu kho, bhikkhave, sati, kiṁ upādāya, kiṁ abhinivissa evaṁ diį¹­į¹­hi uppajjati: ā€˜There is no cause or reason for the corruption of sentient beings. ā€˜natthi hetu, natthi paccayo sattānaṁ saį¹…kilesāya. Sentient beings are corrupted without cause or reason. AhetÅ« appaccayā sattā saį¹…kilissanti. There’s no cause or reason for the purification of sentient beings. Natthi hetu, natthi paccayo sattānaṁ visuddhiyā. Sentient beings are purified without cause or reason. AhetÅ« appaccayā sattā visujjhanti. There is no power, no energy, no human strength or vigor. Natthi balaṁ natthi vÄ«riyaṁ natthi purisathāmo natthi purisaparakkamo. All sentient beings, all living creatures, all beings, all souls lack control, power, and energy. Molded by destiny, circumstance, and nature, they experience pleasure and pain in the six classes of rebirth’?ā€ Sabbe sattā sabbe pāṇā sabbe bhÅ«tā sabbe jÄ«vā avasā abalā avÄ«riyā niyatisaį¹…gatibhāvapariṇatā chasvevābhijātÄ«su sukhadukkhaṁ paį¹­isaṁvedentÄ«ā€™ā€ti?

ā€œOur teachings are rooted in the Buddha. ā€¦ā€ ā€œBhagavaṁmÅ«lakā no, bhante, dhammā …pe…

ā€œWhen form exists, because of grasping form and insisting on form, the view arises: ā€œRÅ«pe kho, bhikkhave, sati, rÅ«paṁ upādāya, rÅ«paṁ abhinivissa evaṁ diį¹­į¹­hi uppajjati: ā€˜There is no cause or reason … ā€˜natthi hetu, natthi paccayo …pe… they experience pleasure and pain in the six classes of rebirth.’ sukhadukkhaṁ paį¹­isaṁvedentī’ti. When feeling … Vedanāya sati …pe… perception … saƱƱāya sati … choices … saį¹…khāresu sati … consciousness exists, because of grasping consciousness and insisting on consciousness, the view arises: viññāṇe sati, viññāṇaṁ upādāya, viññāṇaṁ abhinivissa evaṁ diį¹­į¹­hi uppajjati: ā€˜There is no cause or reason … ā€˜natthi hetu, natthi paccayo …pe… they experience pleasure and pain in the six classes of rebirth.’ sukhadukkhaṁ paį¹­isaṁvedentī’ti.

What do you think, mendicants? Taṁ kiṁ maƱƱatha, bhikkhave, Is form permanent or impermanent?ā€ rÅ«paṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vÄā€ti?

ā€œImpermanent, sir.ā€ … ā€œAniccaṁ, bhante …pe… vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, api nu taṁ anupādāya evaṁ diį¹­į¹­hi uppajjeyya: ā€˜natthi hetu, natthi paccayo …pe… sukhadukkhaṁ paį¹­isaṁvedentÄ«ā€™ā€ti? ā€œNo hetaṁ, bhanteā€.

ā€œIs feeling … ā€œVedanā … perception … saƱƱā … choices … saį¹…khārā … consciousness permanent or impermanent?ā€ viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vÄā€ti?

ā€œImpermanent, sir.ā€ … ā€œAniccaṁ, bhante …pe…

api nu taṁ anupādāya evaṁ diį¹­į¹­hi uppajjeyya: ā€˜natthi hetu, natthi paccayo …pe… sukhadukkhaṁ paį¹­isaṁvedentÄ«ā€™ā€ti? ā€œNo hetaṁ, bhanteā€.

ā€œThat which is seen, heard, thought, known, attained, sought, and explored by the mind: is that permanent or impermanent?ā€ ā€œYampidaṁ diį¹­į¹­haṁ sutaṁ mutaṁ viƱƱātaṁ pattaṁ pariyesitaṁ anuvicaritaṁ manasā tampi niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vÄā€ti?

ā€œImpermanent, sir.ā€ … ā€œAniccaṁ, bhante …pe…

ā€œBut by not grasping what’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, would such a view arise?ā€ api nu taṁ anupādāya evaṁ diį¹­į¹­hi uppajjeyya: ā€˜natthi hetu natthi paccayo …pe… sukhadukkhaṁ paį¹­isaṁvedentÄ«ā€™ā€ti?

ā€œNo, sir.ā€ ā€œNo hetaṁ, bhanteā€.

ā€œWhen a noble disciple has given up doubt in these six cases, and has given up doubt in suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation, ā€œYato kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa imesu ca į¹­hānesu kaį¹…khā pahÄ«nā hoti, dukkhepissa kaį¹…khā pahÄ«nā hoti …pe… dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paį¹­ipadāyapissa kaį¹…khā pahÄ«nā hoti—they’re called a noble disciple who is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, bound for awakening.ā€ ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako sotāpanno avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyanoā€ti.

Sattamaṁ.