sutta » sn » sn45 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 45.5

Kimatthiyasutta

What’s the Purpose

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu …pe… ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha … and said to 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 pariññatthaṁ mayi brahmacariyaṁ vussati.
For the purpose of leading the spiritual life under me is to completely understand suffering.

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

‘atthi panāvuso, maggo, atthi paṭipadā etassa dukkhassa pariññāyā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha:
‘Is there a path and a practice for completely understanding that suffering?’ You should answer them like this:

‘atthi kho, āvuso, maggo, atthi paṭipadā etassa dukkhassa pariññāyā’ti.
‘There is.’

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, maggo, katamā paṭipadā etassa dukkhassa pariññāyāti?
And what is that path?

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ—
It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.
right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, maggo, ayaṁ paṭipadā etassa dukkhassa pariññāyāti.
This is the path and the practice for completely understanding suffering.

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

Pañcamaṁ.