sutta » sn » sn22 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 22.54

Bījasutta

A Seed

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.

“Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, bījajātāni.
“Mendicants, there are five kinds of plants propagated from seeds.

Katamāni pañca?
What five?

Mūlabījaṁ, khandhabījaṁ, aggabījaṁ, phalubījaṁ, bījabījaññeva pañcamaṁ.
Plants propagated from roots, stems, cuttings, or joints; and those from regular seeds are the fifth.

Imāni cassu, bhikkhave, pañca bījajātāni akhaṇḍāni apūtikāni avātātapahatāni sārādāni sukhasayitāni, pathavī ca nāssa, āpo ca nāssa;
Suppose these five kinds of plants propagated from seeds were intact, unspoiled, not weather-damaged, fertile, and well-kept. But there’s no soil or water.

api numāni, bhikkhave, pañca bījajātāni vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjeyyun”ti?
Then would these five kinds of plants propagated from seeds reach growth, increase, and maturity?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.
“No, sir.”

“Imāni cassu, bhikkhave, pañca bījajātāni akhaṇḍāni …pe… sukhasayitāni, pathavī ca assa, āpo ca assa;
“Suppose these five kinds of plants propagated from seeds were intact, unspoiled, not weather-damaged, fertile, and well-kept. And there is soil and water.

api numāni, bhikkhave, pañca bījajātāni vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjeyyun”ti?
Then would these five kinds of plants propagated from seeds reach growth, increase, and maturity?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Yes, sir.”

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pathavīdhātu, evaṁ catasso viññāṇaṭṭhitiyo daṭṭhabbā.
“The four grounds of consciousness should be seen as like the earth element.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, āpodhātu, evaṁ nandirāgo daṭṭhabbo.
Relishing and greed should be seen as like the water element.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, pañca bījajātāni, evaṁ viññāṇaṁ sāhāraṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.
Consciousness with its fuel should be seen as like the five kinds of plants propagated from seeds.

Rūpupayaṁ, bhikkhave, viññāṇaṁ tiṭṭhamānaṁ tiṭṭheyya, rūpārammaṇaṁ rūpappatiṭṭhaṁ nandūpasecanaṁ vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjeyya.
As long as consciousness remains, it would remain involved with form, supported by form, grounded on form. And with a sprinkle of relishing, it would grow, increase, and mature.

Vedanupayaṁ vā, bhikkhave, viññāṇaṁ tiṭṭhamānaṁ tiṭṭheyya …pe…
Or consciousness would remain involved with feeling …

saññupayaṁ vā, bhikkhave, viññāṇaṁ tiṭṭhamānaṁ tiṭṭheyya …pe…
Or consciousness would remain involved with perception …

saṅkhārupayaṁ vā, bhikkhave, viññāṇaṁ tiṭṭhamānaṁ tiṭṭheyya, saṅkhārārammaṇaṁ saṅkhārappatiṭṭhaṁ nandūpasecanaṁ vuddhiṁ virūḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjeyya.
Or as long as consciousness remains, it would remain involved with choices, supported by choices, grounded on choices. And with a sprinkle of relishing, it would grow, increase, and mature.

Yo, bhikkhave, evaṁ vadeyya:
Mendicants, suppose you say:

‘ahamaññatra rūpā aññatra vedanāya aññatra saññāya aññatra saṅkhārehi viññāṇassa āgatiṁ vā gatiṁ vā cutiṁ vā upapattiṁ vā vuddhiṁ vā virūḷhiṁ vā vepullaṁ vā paññāpessāmī’ti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.
‘Apart from form, feeling, perception, and choices, I will describe the coming and going of consciousness, its passing away and reappearing, its growth, increase, and maturity.’ That is not possible.

Rūpadhātuyā ceva, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno rāgo pahīno hoti.
If a mendicant has given up greed for the form element,

Rāgassa pahānā vocchijjatārammaṇaṁ patiṭṭhā viññāṇassa na hoti.
the support is cut off, and there is no foundation for consciousness.

Vedanādhātuyā ce …
If a mendicant has given up greed for the feeling element …

saññādhātuyā ce …
perception element …

saṅkhāradhātuyā ce …
choices element …

viññāṇadhātuyā ce, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno rāgo pahīno hoti.
consciousness element,

Rāgassa pahānā vocchijjatārammaṇaṁ patiṭṭhā viññāṇassa na hoti.
the support is cut off, and there is no foundation for consciousness.

Tadappatiṭṭhitaṁ viññāṇaṁ avirūḷhaṁ anabhisaṅkhacca vimuttaṁ.
Since that consciousness does not become established and does not grow, with no power to regenerate, it is freed.

Vimuttattā ṭhitaṁ. Ṭhitattā santusitaṁ. Santusitattā na paritassati. Aparitassaṁ paccattaññeva parinibbāyati.
Being free, it’s stable. Being stable, it’s content. Being content, they’re not anxious. Not being anxious, they personally become extinguished.

‘Khīṇā jāti …pe… nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānātī”ti.
They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended … there is no return to any state of existence.’”

Dutiyaṁ.