Sīsapāvanasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 56.31

Linked Discourses 56.31

4. Sīsapāvanavagga

4. In a Rosewood Forest

Sīsapāvanasutta

In a Rosewood Forest

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati sīsapāvane.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambī in a rosewood grove.

Atha kho bhagavā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahetvā bhikkhū āmantesi:

Then the Buddha picked up a few rosewood leaves in his hand and addressed the mendicants:

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

“What do you think, mendicants?

katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ—

Which is more:

yāni vā mayā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni yadidaṁ upari sīsapāvane”ti?

the few leaves in my hand, or those in the grove above?”

“Appamattakāni, bhante, bhagavatā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni;

“Sir, the few leaves in your hand are a tiny amount.

atha kho etāneva bahutarāni yadidaṁ upari sīsapāvane”ti.

There are far more leaves in the grove above.”

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, etadeva bahutaraṁ yaṁ vo mayā abhiññāya anakkhātaṁ.

“In the same way, there is much more that I have directly known but have not explained to you. What I have explained is a tiny amount.

Kasmā cetaṁ, bhikkhave, mayā anakkhātaṁ?

And why haven’t I explained it?

Na hetaṁ, bhikkhave, atthasaṁhitaṁ nādibrahmacariyakaṁ na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati;

Because it’s not beneficial or relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. It doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.

tasmā taṁ mayā anakkhātaṁ.

That’s why I haven’t explained it.

Kiñca, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṁ?

And what have I explained?

‘Idaṁ dukkhan’ti, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti mayā akkhātaṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti mayā akkhātaṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti mayā akkhātaṁ.

I have explained: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

Kasmā cetaṁ, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṁ?

And why have I explained this?

Etañhi, bhikkhave, atthasaṁhitaṁ etaṁ ādibrahmacariyakaṁ etaṁ nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati;

Because it’s beneficial and relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life. It leads to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment.

tasmā taṁ mayā akkhātaṁ.

That’s why I’ve explained it.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

Paṭhamaṁ.