SN 35.95

CDB ii 1175

Maalunkyaputta Sutta: Maalunkyaputta

translated from the Pali by

Maurice O'Connell Walshe

Alternate translation: Thanissaro

The Pali title of this sutta is based on the SLTP edition.

[ The Ven. Maalu"nkyaputta said: ] "It would be well for me, Lord, if the Blessed One would teach me briefly a doctrine so that having heard it I might dwell alone, in seclusion, unwearied, ardent and resolute."

"Well now, Maalu"nkyaputta, what am I to say to the younger monks if you, a frail, aged, venerable man, far gone in years, at the end of your life, ask for instruction in brief?"

"What do you think, Maalu"nkyaputta? Objects cognizable by the eye, not seen, which you have not seen before, which you do not see now and do not wish to see — have you any desire, lust and fondness for them?"

"No indeed, Lord."

[ Similarly for sounds, scents, flavors, tangible things, mental objects. ]

"Well then, Maalu"nkyaputta, in things seen, heard, sensed, [1] cognized: in the seen there will only be the seen, in the heard only the heard, in the sensed only the sensed, in the cognized only the cognized... Then, Maalu"nkyaputta, there will be no 'thereby' for you. [2] Having no 'thereby' you have no 'there.' [3] Having no 'there,' Maalu"nkyaputta, there is for you neither this world, nor the next, nor anywhere in between. [4] That in itself is the end of suffering."

"Indeed, Lord, I understand in full the meaning of what the Blessed One has stated in brief."

Forms perceived cause loss of mindfulness, If we dwell on their endearing charms, Passion grips the heart, and feeling flows, Clinging has us firmly in its grip: So emotions rise and grow in strength, Of divers kinds, all based on what was seen. Some of greed and some of hatred born — Grievously they all afflict the heart of man, Heaping up his store of pain and woe: Thus for him Nibbaana's far away.

[ Similarly for sounds, scents, tastes, tangibles, thoughts. ]

He who's not inflamed by things he sees, Seeing forms retains his mindfulness, Not in passion's grip, simply feels, On him clinging cannot get a hold. If he just observes the things he sees, Not reacting to their shape or form, He'll pull down the pile, not build it up. Mindfully proceeding on his way, Heaping up no store of pain and woe: Then for him Nibbaana's very near.

[ Similarly for sounds, scents, tastes, tangibles, thoughts. ]

"Indeed, Lord, I understand in full the meaning of what the Blessed One has stated in brief."

[ The Buddha confirms Maalu"nkyaputta's words; in due course Maalu"nkyaputta becomes an Arahant. ]

Notes

1 .: Muta : i.e., smelt, tasted or touched.
2 .: This is almost impossible to translate adequately. There is no agent, i.e., no "seer," "feeler," "knower." "There will be no 'thereby' whereby one will be lustful, hating or deluded (SA [SN commentary])."
3 .: If there is no agent (i.e., "self"), then there is nowhere such an agent can be located. "You will have no 'there'": you will not be bound "there" or attached "there," i.e., with regard to the seen, heard, sensed and cognized (SA).
4 .: "You will realize that nothing is really reborn."

You may copy, reformat, reprint, republish, and redistribute this work in any medium whatsoever, provided that: (1) you only make such copies, etc. available free of charge and, in the case of reprinting, only in quantities of no more than 50 copies; (2) you clearly indicate that any derivatives of this work (including translations) are derived from this source document; and (3) you include the full text of this license in any copies or derivatives of this work. Otherwise, all rights reserved. Documents linked from this page may be subject to other restrictions. From Samyutta Nikaya: An Anthology (WH 318-321) , by M. O'C. Walshe (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1985). Transcribed from the print edition in 2007 by a volunteer, under the auspices of the Access to Insight Dhamma Transcription Project and by arrangement with the Buddhist Publication Society. Minor revisions were made in accordance with the ATI style sheet. Pali diacritics are represented using the Velthuis convention. Last revised for Access to Insight on 30 November 2013.

How to cite this document (a suggested style): "Maalunkyaputta Sutta: Maalunkyaputta" (SN 35.95), translated from the Pali by Maurice O'Connell Walshe. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition) , 30 November 2013, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.095.wlsh.html .