sutta » sn » sn35 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.81

Sambahulabhikkhusutta

Several Mendicants

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha … and asked him,

“idha no, bhante, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā amhe evaṁ pucchanti:
“Sir, sometimes wanderers of other religions ask us:

‘kimatthiyaṁ, āvuso, samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti?
‘Reverends, what’s the purpose of leading the spiritual life under the ascetic Gotama?’

Evaṁ puṭṭhā mayaṁ, bhante, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākaroma:
We answer them like this:

‘dukkhassa kho, āvuso, pariññatthaṁ bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti.
‘The purpose of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand suffering.’

Kacci mayaṁ, bhante, evaṁ puṭṭhā evaṁ byākaramānā vuttavādino ceva bhagavato homa, na ca bhagavantaṁ abhūtena abbhācikkhāma, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākaroma, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānuvādo gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgacchatī”ti?
Answering this way, we trust that we repeat what the Buddha has said, and don’t misrepresent him with an untruth. We trust our explanation is in line with the teaching, and that there are no legitimate grounds for rebuttal or criticism.”

“Taggha tumhe, bhikkhave, evaṁ puṭṭhā evaṁ byākaramānā vuttavādino ceva me hotha, na ca maṁ abhūtena abbhācikkhatha, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākarotha, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānuvādo gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgacchati.
“Indeed, in answering this way you repeat what I’ve said, and don’t misrepresent me with an untruth. Your explanation is in line with the teaching, and there are no legitimate grounds for rebuttal or criticism.

Dukkhassa hi, bhikkhave, pariññatthaṁ mayi brahmacariyaṁ vussati.
For the purpose of leading the spiritual life under me is to completely understand suffering.

Sace pana vo, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:
If wanderers of other religions were to ask you:

‘katamaṁ pana taṁ, āvuso, dukkhaṁ, yassa pariññāya samaṇe gotame brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti?
‘Reverends, what is that suffering?’

Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha:
You should answer them:

‘cakkhu kho, āvuso, dukkhaṁ, tassa pariññāya bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussati.
‘Reverends, the eye is suffering. The purpose of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this.

Rūpā …pe…
Sights … Eye consciousness … Eye contact …

yampidaṁ cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tampi dukkhaṁ.
The pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises conditioned by eye contact is also suffering.

Tassa pariññāya bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussati …pe…
The purpose of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this.

mano dukkho …pe…
Ear … Nose … Tongue … Body … Mind …

yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tampi dukkhaṁ.
The pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises conditioned by mind contact is also suffering.

Tassa pariññāya bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussati.
The purpose of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this.

Idaṁ kho taṁ, āvuso, dukkhaṁ, tassa pariññāya bhagavati brahmacariyaṁ vussatī’ti.
This is that suffering. The purpose of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this.’

Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyāthā”ti.
When questioned by wanderers of other religions, that’s how you should answer them.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.