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Majjhima Nikāya 115

Bahudhātukasutta

Many Elements · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā at Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ was stayingviharati in Jeta's Grovejetavane of Anāthapiṇḍikaanāthapiṇḍikassa monasteryārāme.
thereTatra indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā mendicantsbhikkhū addressedāmantesi:
"mendicants!"“bhikkhavo”ti.
"venerable sir,"“Bhadante”ti thosete mendicantsbhikkhū to the Blessed Onebhagavato repliedpaccassosuṁ.
the Blessed OneBhagavā said thisetadavoca:

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

those who“Yāni whateverkānici, monksbhikkhave, fearsbhayāni ariseuppajjanti allsabbāni thosetāni from the foolbālato ariseuppajjanti, notno from the astutepaṇḍitato;
thatye whateverkeci perilsupaddavā ariseuppajjanti allsabbe thosete from the foolbālato ariseuppajjanti, notno from the astutepaṇḍitato;
thatye whateverkeci hazardsupasaggā ariseuppajjanti allsabbe thosete from the foolbālato ariseuppajjanti, notno from the astutepaṇḍitato.
just asSeyyathāpi, monksbhikkhave, from a hut made of reedsnaḷāgārā orvā from a hut made of grasstiṇāgārā orvā fireaggi releasedmutto even a bungalowkūṭāgārānipi burnsdahati plastered inside and outullittāvalittāni draft-freenivātāni with doors fastenedphusitaggaḷāni with windows shutteredpihitavātapānāni;
in the same wayevameva indeedkho, monksbhikkhave, those whoyāni whateverkānici fearsbhayāni ariseuppajjanti allsabbāni thosetāni from the foolbālato ariseuppajjanti, notno from the astutepaṇḍitato;
thatye whateverkeci perilsupaddavā ariseuppajjanti allsabbe thosete from the foolbālato ariseuppajjanti, notno from the astutepaṇḍitato;
thatye whateverkeci hazardsupasaggā ariseuppajjanti allsabbe thosete from the foolbālato ariseuppajjanti, notno from the astutepaṇḍitato.
thusIti indeedkho, monksbhikkhave, dangeroussappaṭibhayo the foolbālo, safeappaṭibhayo the astute personpaṇḍito;
periloussaupaddavo the foolbālo, not perilousanupaddavo the astute personpaṇḍito;
hazardoussaupasaggo the foolbālo, not hazardousanupasaggo the astute personpaṇḍito.

“Whatever dangers there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever perils there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever hazards there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. It’s like a fire that spreads from a hut made of reeds or grass, and burns down even a bungalow, plastered inside and out, draft-free, with doors fastened and windows shuttered. In the same way, whatever dangers there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever perils there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever hazards there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. So, the fool is dangerous, but the astute person is safe. The fool is perilous, but the astute person is not. The fool is hazardous, but the astute person is not.

there is notNatthi, monksbhikkhave, from the astutepaṇḍitato dangerbhayaṁ, there is notnatthi from the astutepaṇḍitato perilupaddavo, there is notnatthi from the astutepaṇḍitato hazardupasaggo.
therefore hereTasmātiha, monksbhikkhave, astute‘paṇḍitā we shall bebhavissāma inquirersvīmaṁsakā’ti—
thus indeedevañhi by youvo, monksbhikkhave, should be trainedsikkhitabban”ti.

There’s no danger, peril, or hazard that comes from the astute. So you should train like this: ‘We shall be astute, we shall be inquirers.’”

thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, venerableāyasmā Ānandaānando to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:
to what extent“kittāvatā thennu indeedkho, sirbhante, astutepaṇḍito a mendicantbhikkhu an inquirer‘vīmaṁsako’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti?
when“Yato indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, a mendicantbhikkhu skilled in the elementsdhātukusalo andca ishoti, skilled in the sense fieldsāyatanakusalo andca ishoti, skilled in dependent originationpaṭiccasamuppādakusalo andca ishoti, skilled in the possible and the impossibleṭhānāṭhānakusalo andca ishoti—
to this extentettāvatā indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, astutepaṇḍito a mendicantbhikkhu an inquirer‘vīmaṁsako’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti.

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha, “Sir, how is a mendicant qualified to be called ‘astute, an inquirer’?” “Ānanda, it’s when a mendicant is skilled in the elements, in the sense fields, in dependent origination, and in the possible and the impossible. That’s how a mendicant is qualified to be called ‘astute, an inquirer’.”

in what way“Kittāvatā butpana, sirbhante, skilled in the elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti?
eighteen“Aṭṭhārasa indeedkho theseimā, Ānandaānanda, elementsdhātuyo—
eye elementcakkhudhātu, sight elementrūpadhātu, eye consciousness elementcakkhuviññāṇadhātu;
ear elementsotadhātu, sound elementsaddadhātu, ear consciousness elementsotaviññāṇadhātu;
nose elementghānadhātu, smell elementgandhadhātu, nose consciousness elementghānaviññāṇadhātu;
tongue elementjivhādhātu, taste elementrasadhātu, tongue consciousness elementjivhāviññāṇadhātu;
body elementkāyadhātu, touch elementphoṭṭhabbadhātu, body consciousness elementkāyaviññāṇadhātu;
mind elementmanodhātu, ideas elementdhammadhātu, mind consciousness elementmanoviññāṇadhātu.
theseImā indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, eighteenaṭṭhārasa elementsdhātuyo whenyato knowsjānāti seespassati—
to this extent tooettāvatāpi indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, skilled in the elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti.

“But sir, how is a mendicant qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’?” “There are, Ānanda, these eighteen elements. The eye element, sight element, and eye consciousness element. The ear element, sound element, and ear consciousness element. The nose element, smell element, and nose consciousness element. The tongue element, taste element, and tongue consciousness element. The body element, touch element, and body consciousness element. The mind element, ideas element, and mind consciousness element. When a mendicant knows and sees these eighteen elements, they’re qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’.”

may be“Siyā butpana, sirbhante, another tooaññopi waypariyāyo, asyathā skilled in elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti?
may be“Siyā, Ānandaānanda.
these sixChayimā, Ānandaānanda, elementsdhātuyo—
earth elementpathavīdhātu, water elementāpodhātu, fire elementtejodhātu, air elementvāyodhātu, space elementākāsadhātu, consciousness elementviññāṇadhātu.
theseImā indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, sixcha elementsdhātuyo whenyato knowsjānāti seespassati—
to this extent tooettāvatāpi indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, skilled in elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti.

“But sir, could there be another way in which a mendicant is qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’?” “There could, Ānanda. There are these six elements: the elements of earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness. When a mendicant knows and sees these six elements, they’re qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’.”

could be“Siyā butpana, sirbhante, another alsoaññopi waypariyāyo, in whichyathā skilled in the elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti?
there could be“Siyā, Ānandaānanda.
these sixChayimā, Ānandaānanda, elementsdhātuyo—
the element of pleasuresukhadhātu, the element of paindukkhadhātu, the element of happinesssomanassadhātu, the element of sadnessdomanassadhātu, the element of equanimityupekkhādhātu, the element of ignoranceavijjādhātu.
theseImā indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, sixcha elementsdhātuyo whenyato knowsjānāti seespassati—
to this extent alsoettāvatāpi indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, skilled in the elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti.

“But sir, could there be another way in which a mendicant is qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’?” “There could, Ānanda. There are these six elements: the elements of pleasure, pain, happiness, sadness, equanimity, and ignorance. When a mendicant knows and sees these six elements, they’re qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’.”

might be“Siyā butpana, sirbhante, another tooaññopi waypariyāyo, asyathā skilled in elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti?
might be“Siyā, Ānandaānanda.
these sixChayimā, Ānandaānanda, elementsdhātuyo—
element of sensualitykāmadhātu, element of renunciationnekkhammadhātu, element of malicebyāpādadhātu, element of good willabyāpādadhātu, element of crueltyvihiṁsādhātu, element of harmlessnessavihiṁsādhātu.
theseImā indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, sixcha elementsdhātuyo whenyato knowsjānāti seespassati—
to this extent tooettāvatāpi indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, skilled in elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti.

“But sir, could there be another way in which a mendicant is qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’?” “There could, Ānanda. There are these six elements: the elements of sensuality and renunciation, malice and good will, and cruelty and harmlessness. When a mendicant knows and sees these six elements, they’re qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’.”

could it be“Siyā butpana, sirbhante, another tooaññopi waypariyāyo, in whichyathā skilled in the elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti?
could it be“Siyā, Ānandaānanda.
threeTisso theseimā, Ānandaānanda, elementsdhātuyo—
sensual realmkāmadhātu, realm of luminous formrūpadhātu, formless realmarūpadhātu.
theseImā indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, threetisso elementsdhātuyo whenyato knowsjānāti seespassati—
to this extent tooettāvatāpi indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, skilled in the elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti.

“But sir, could there be another way in which a mendicant is qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’?” “There could, Ānanda. There are these three elements: the sensual realm, the realm of luminous form, and the formless realm. When a mendicant knows and sees these three elements, they’re qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’.”

could be“Siyā butpana, sirbhante, another alsoaññopi waypariyāyo, in whichyathā skilled in the elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicant' (iti)bhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti?
could be“Siyā, Ānandaānanda.
twoDve theseimā, Ānandaānanda, elementsdhātuyo—
conditioned elementsaṅkhatādhātu, unconditioned elementasaṅkhatādhātu.
theseImā indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, twodve elementsdhātuyo whenyato knowsjānāti seespassati—
to that extent alsoettāvatāpi indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, skilled in the elements‘dhātukusalo a mendicant' (iti)bhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti.

“But sir, could there be another way in which a mendicant is qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’?” “There could, Ānanda. There are these two elements: the conditioned element and the unconditioned element. When a mendicant knows and sees these two elements, they’re qualified to be called ‘skilled in the elements’.”

to what extent“Kittāvatā butpana, sirbhante, skilled in sense fields‘āyatanakusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti?
there are these six“Cha indeedkho but thesepanimāni, Ānandaānanda, interior and exteriorajjhattikabāhirāni sense fieldsāyatanāni—
eyecakkhu andceva sightsrūpā andca and earsotañca soundssaddā andca and noseghānañca smellsgandhā andca tonguejivhā andca tastesrasā andca bodykāyo andca touchesphoṭṭhabbā andca mindmano andca ideasdhammā andca.
theseImāni indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, sixcha interior and exteriorajjhattikabāhirāni sense fieldsāyatanāni whenyato knowsjānāti seespassati—
to this extentettāvatā indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, skilled in sense fields‘āyatanakusalo a mendicantbhikkhū’ti qualified to be calledalaṁvacanāyā”ti.

“But sir, how is a mendicant qualified to be called ‘skilled in the sense fields’?” “There are these six interior and exterior sense fields: the eye and sights, the ear and sounds, the nose and smells, the tongue and tastes, the body and touches, and the mind and ideas. When a mendicant knows and sees these six interior and exterior sense fields, they’re qualified to be called ‘skilled in the sense fields’.”

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