Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.146

The Related Suttas Collection 35.146

15. Navapurāṇavagga

15. The Old and the New

Kammanirodhasutta

The Cessation of Action

“Navapurāṇāni, bhikkhave, kammāni desessāmi kammanirodhaṁ kammanirodhagāminiñca paṭipadaṁ. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmīti.

“Bhikkhus, I will teach you old action, new action, the cessation of action, and the practice that leads to the cessation of action. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak. …

Katamañca, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ?

And what is old action?

Cakkhu, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ abhisaṅkhataṁ abhisañcetayitaṁ vedaniyaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ …pe…

The eye is old action. It should be seen as produced by choices and intentions, as something to be felt.

jivhā purāṇakammā abhisaṅkhatā abhisañcetayitā vedaniyā daṭṭhabbā …pe… mano purāṇakammo abhisaṅkhato abhisañcetayito vedaniyo daṭṭhabbo.

The ear … nose … tongue … body … mind is old action. It should be seen as produced by choices and intentions, as something to be felt.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, purāṇakammaṁ.

This is called old action.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, navakammaṁ?

And what is new action?

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, etarahi kammaṁ karoti kāyena vācāya manasā,

The deeds you currently perform by way of body, speech, and mind.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, navakammaṁ.

This is called new action.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, kammanirodho?

And what is the cessation of action?

Yo kho, bhikkhave, kāyakammavacīkammamanokammassa nirodhā vimuttiṁ phusati,

When you experience freedom due to the cessation of deeds by body, speech, and mind.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammanirodho.

This is called the cessation of action.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā?

And what’s the practice that leads to the cessation of action?

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ—sammādiṭṭhi, sammāsaṅkappo, sammāvācā, sammākammanto, sammāājīvo, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati, sammāsamādhi—

It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā.

This is called the practice that leads to the cessation of action.

Iti kho, bhikkhave, desitaṁ mayā purāṇakammaṁ, desitaṁ navakammaṁ, desito kammanirodho, desitā kammanirodhagāminī paṭipadā.

So, bhikkhus, I’ve taught you old action, new action, the cessation of action, and the practice that leads to the cessation of action.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, satthārā karaṇīyaṁ sāvakānaṁ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya, kataṁ vo taṁ mayā. Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha; mā pacchāvippaṭisārino ahuvattha. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.

Out of compassion, I’ve done what a teacher should do who wants what’s best for their disciples. Here are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice jhāna, bhikkhus! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later! This is my instruction to you.”

Paṭhamaṁ.