Contemplating Pairs · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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⚠ Glossing did not finish. The original text is shown below.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā tadahuposathe pannarase puṇṇāya puṇṇamāya rattiyā bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto abbhokāse nisinno hoti. Atha kho bhagavā tuṇhībhūtaṁ tuṇhībhūtaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ anuviloketvā bhikkhū āmantesi:
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery. Now, at that time it was the sabbath—the full moon on the fifteenth day—and the Buddha was sitting in the open surrounded by the Saṅgha of monks. Then the Buddha looked around the Saṅgha of monks, who were so very silent. He addressed them:
“‘Ye te, bhikkhave, kusalā dhammā ariyā niyyānikā sambodhagāmino, tesaṁ vo, bhikkhave, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ariyānaṁ niyyānikānaṁ sambodhagāmīnaṁ kā upanisā savanāyā’ti, iti ce, bhikkhave, pucchitāro assu, te evamassu vacanīyā: ‘yāvadeva dvayatānaṁ dhammānaṁ yathābhūtaṁ ñāṇāyā’ti. Kiñca dvayataṁ vadetha?
“Suppose, monks, they questioned you thus: ‘There are skillful teachings that are noble, emancipating, and lead to awakening. What is the real reason for listening to such teachings?’ You should answer: ‘Only so as to truly know the pairs of teachings.’ And what pairs do they speak of?
Idaṁ dukkhaṁ, ayaṁ dukkhasamudayoti ayamekānupassanā. Ayaṁ dukkhanirodho, ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadāti, ayaṁ dutiyānupassanā. Evaṁ sammā dvayatānupassino kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ— diṭṭheva dhamme aññā, sati vā upādisese anāgāmitā”ti.
‘This is suffering; this is the origin of suffering’: this is the first contemplation. ‘This is the cessation of suffering; this is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’: this is the second contemplation. When a mendicant meditates rightly contemplating a pair of teachings in this way—diligent, keen, and resolute—they can expect one of two results: enlightenment in this very life, or if there’s residue left behind, non-return.”
Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
“Ye dukkhaṁ nappajānanti, atho dukkhassa sambhavaṁ; Yattha ca sabbaso dukkhaṁ, asesaṁ uparujjhati; Tañca maggaṁ na jānanti, dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.
“There are those who don’t understand suffering and suffering’s cause, and where all suffering ceases no residue left behind. And they do not know the path that leads to the stilling of suffering.
Cetovimuttihīnā te, Atho paññāvimuttiyā; Abhabbā te antakiriyāya, Te ve jātijarūpagā.
They lack the heart’s release, as well as the release by wisdom. Unable to make an end, they continue to be reborn and grow old.
Ye ca dukkhaṁ pajānanti, atho dukkhassa sambhavaṁ; Yattha ca sabbaso dukkhaṁ, asesaṁ uparujjhati; Tañca maggaṁ pajānanti, dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.
But there are those who understand suffering and suffering’s cause, and where all suffering ceases with no residue left behind. And they understand the path that leads to the stilling of suffering.
Cetovimuttisampannā, Atho paññāvimuttiyā; Bhabbā te antakiriyāya, Na te jātijarūpagāti.
They’re endowed with the heart’s release, as well as the release by wisdom. Able to make an end, they don’t continue to be reborn and grow old.”
‘Siyā aññenapi pariyāyena sammā dvayatānupassanā’ti, iti ce, bhikkhave, pucchitāro assu; ‘siyā’tissu vacanīyā. Kathañca siyā? Yaṁ kiñci dukkhaṁ sambhoti sabbaṁ upadhipaccayāti, ayamekānupassanā. Upadhīnaṁ tveva asesavirāganirodhā natthi dukkhassa sambhavoti, ayaṁ dutiyānupassanā. Evaṁ sammā …pe… athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
“Suppose, monks, they questioned you thus: ‘Could there be another way to contemplate the pairs?’ You should say, ‘There could.’ And how could there be? ‘All the suffering that originates is caused by attachment’: this is one contemplation. ‘When attachment has faded away and ceased with no residue left behind, there is no origination of suffering’: this is the second contemplation. When a mendicant meditates in this way they can expect enlightenment or non-return.” Then the Teacher went on to say:
“Upadhinidānā pabhavanti dukkhā, Ye keci lokasmimanekarūpā; Yo ve avidvā upadhiṁ karoti, Punappunaṁ dukkhamupeti mando; Tasmā pajānaṁ upadhiṁ na kayirā, Dukkhassa jātippabhavānupassīti.
“Attachment is the source of suffering in all its countless forms in the world. When an ignorant person builds up attachments, that dullard returns to suffering again and again. So let one who understands not build up attachments, contemplating the inception of suffering and rebirth.”
‘Siyā aññenapi pariyāyena sammā dvayatānupassanā’ti, iti ce, bhikkhave, pucchitāro assu; ‘siyā’tissu vacanīyā. Kathañca siyā? Yaṁ kiñci dukkhaṁ sambhoti sabbaṁ avijjāpaccayāti, ayamekānupassanā. Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā natthi dukkhassa sambhavoti, ayaṁ dutiyānupassanā. Evaṁ sammā …pe… athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
“Suppose, monks, they questioned you thus: ‘Could there be another way to contemplate the pairs?’ You should say, ‘There could.’ And how could there be? ‘All the suffering that originates is caused by ignorance’: this is one contemplation. ‘When ignorance has faded away and ceased with no residue left behind, there is no origination of suffering’: this is the second contemplation. When a mendicant meditates in this way they can expect enlightenment or non-return.” Then the Teacher went on to say:
“Jātimaraṇasaṁsāraṁ, ye vajanti punappunaṁ; Itthabhāvaññathābhāvaṁ, avijjāyeva sā gati.
“Those who journey again and again, transmigrating through birth and death; they go from this state to another, that destination due only to ignorance.
Avijjā hāyaṁ mahāmoho, Yenidaṁ saṁsitaṁ ciraṁ; Vijjāgatā ca ye sattā, Na te gacchanti punabbhavanti.
For ignorance is the great delusion because of which we have long transmigrated. Those beings who have knowledge do not proceed to a future life.”
‘Siyā aññenapi …pe… kathañca siyā? Yaṁ kiñci dukkhaṁ sambhoti sabbaṁ saṅkhārapaccayāti, ayamekānupassanā. Saṅkhārānaṁ tveva asesavirāganirodhā natthi dukkhassa sambhavoti, ayaṁ dutiyānupassanā. Evaṁ sammā …pe… athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
“‘Could there be another way?’ … And how could there be? ‘All the suffering that originates is caused by choices’: this is one contemplation. ‘When choices has faded away and ceased with no residue left behind, there is no origination of suffering’: this is the second contemplation. When a mendicant meditates in this way they can expect enlightenment or non-return.” Then the Teacher went on to say:
“Yaṁ kiñci dukkhaṁ sambhoti, sabbaṁ saṅkhārapaccayā; Saṅkhārānaṁ nirodhena, natthi dukkhassa sambhavo.
“All the suffering that originates is caused by choices. With the cessation of choices, there is no origination of suffering.
Etamādīnavaṁ ñatvā, dukkhaṁ saṅkhārapaccayā; Sabbasaṅkhārasamathā, saññānaṁ uparodhanā; Evaṁ dukkhakkhayo hoti, etaṁ ñatvā yathātathaṁ.
Knowing this danger, that suffering is caused by choices; through the stilling of all choices, and the stopping of perceptions, this is the way suffering ends when one has known this as it is.
Sammaddasā vedaguno, Sammadaññāya paṇḍitā; Abhibhuyya mārasaṁyogaṁ, Na gacchanti punabbhavanti.
Rightly seeing, knowledge masters, the astute, understanding rightly, having thrown off Māra’s yoke, do not proceed to a future life.”
‘Siyā aññenapi …pe… kathañca siyā? Yaṁ kiñci dukkhaṁ sambhoti sabbaṁ viññāṇapaccayāti, ayamekānupassanā. Viññāṇassa tveva asesavirāganirodhā natthi dukkhassa sambhavoti, ayaṁ dutiyānupassanā. Evaṁ sammā …pe… athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
“‘Could there be another way?’ … And how could there be? ‘All the suffering that originates is caused by consciousness’: this is one contemplation. ‘When consciousness has faded away and ceased with no residue left behind, there is no origination of suffering’: this is the second contemplation. When a mendicant meditates in this way they can expect enlightenment or non-return.” Then the Teacher went on to say:
“Yaṁ kiñci dukkhaṁ sambhoti, Sabbaṁ viññāṇapaccayā; Viññāṇassa nirodhena, Natthi dukkhassa sambhavo.
“All the suffering that originates is caused by consciousness. With the cessation of consciousness, there is no origination of suffering.
Etamādīnavaṁ ñatvā, Dukkhaṁ viññāṇapaccayā; Viññāṇūpasamā bhikkhu, Nicchāto parinibbutoti.
Knowing this danger, that suffering is caused by consciousness, with the stilling of consciousness a mendicant is hungerless, quenched.”
‘Siyā aññenapi …pe… kathañca siyā? Yaṁ kiñci dukkhaṁ sambhoti sabbaṁ phassapaccayāti, ayamekānupassanā. Phassassa tveva asesavirāganirodhā natthi dukkhassa sambhavoti, ayaṁ dutiyānupassanā. Evaṁ sammā …pe… athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
“‘Could there be another way?’ … And how could there be? ‘All the suffering that originates is caused by contact’: this is one contemplation. ‘When contact has faded away and ceased with no residue left behind, there is no origination of suffering’: this is the second contemplation. When a mendicant meditates in this way they can expect enlightenment or non-return.” Then the Teacher went on to say:
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