Majjhima Nikāya 43

The Middle-Length Suttas Collection 43

Mahāvedallasutta

The Great Classification

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Atha kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā sāriputtena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:

Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita came out of retreat, went to Venerable Sāriputta, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Sāriputta:

“‘Duppañño duppañño’ti, āvuso, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, āvuso, duppaññoti vuccatī”ti?

“Friend, they speak of ‘a witless person’. How is a witless person defined?”

“‘Nappajānāti nappajānātī’ti kho, āvuso, tasmā duppaññoti vuccati. Kiñca nappajānāti? ‘Idaṁ dukkhan’ti nappajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti nappajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti nappajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti nappajānāti. ‘Nappajānāti nappajānātī’ti kho, āvuso, tasmā duppaññoti vuccatī”ti.

“Friend, they’re called witless because they don’t understand. And what don’t they understand? They don’t understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.’ They’re called witless because they don’t understand.”

“Sādhāvuso”ti kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko āyasmato sāriputtassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ uttariṁ pañhaṁ apucchi:

Saying “Good, friend,” Mahākoṭṭhita approved and agreed with what Sāriputta said. Then he asked another question:

“‘Paññavā paññavā’ti, āvuso, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, āvuso, paññavāti vuccatī”ti?

“They speak of ‘a wise person’. How is a wise person defined?”

“‘Pajānāti pajānātī’ti kho, āvuso, tasmā paññavāti vuccati. Kiñca pajānāti? ‘Idaṁ dukkhan’ti pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti pajānāti, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti pajānāti. ‘Pajānāti pajānātī’ti kho, āvuso, tasmā paññavāti vuccatī”ti.

“They’re called wise because they understand. And what do they understand? They understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.’ They’re called wise because they understand.”

“‘Viññāṇaṁ viññāṇan’ti, āvuso, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, āvuso, viññāṇanti vuccatī”ti?

“They speak of ‘consciousness’. How is consciousness defined?”

“‘Vijānāti vijānātī’ti kho, āvuso, tasmā viññāṇanti vuccati. Kiñca vijānāti? Sukhantipi vijānāti, dukkhantipi vijānāti, adukkhamasukhantipi vijānāti. ‘Vijānāti vijānātī’ti kho, āvuso, tasmā viññāṇanti vuccatī”ti.

“It’s called consciousness because it cognizes. And what does it cognize? It cognizes ‘pleasure’ and ‘pain’ and ‘neutral’. It’s called consciousness because it cognizes.”

“Yā cāvuso, paññā yañca viññāṇaṁ—ime dhammā saṁsaṭṭhā udāhu visaṁsaṭṭhā? Labbhā ca panimesaṁ dhammānaṁ vinibbhujitvā vinibbhujitvā¹ nānākaraṇaṁ paññāpetun”ti?

“Wisdom and consciousness—are these things mixed or separate? And can we completely dissect them so as to describe the difference between them?”

“Yā cāvuso, paññā yañca viññāṇaṁ—ime dhammā saṁsaṭṭhā, no visaṁsaṭṭhā. Na ca labbhā imesaṁ dhammānaṁ vinibbhujitvā vinibbhujitvā nānākaraṇaṁ paññāpetuṁ. Yaṁ hāvuso, pajānāti taṁ vijānāti, yaṁ vijānāti taṁ pajānāti. Tasmā ime dhammā saṁsaṭṭhā, no visaṁsaṭṭhā. Na ca labbhā imesaṁ dhammānaṁ vinibbhujitvā vinibbhujitvā nānākaraṇaṁ paññāpetun”ti.

“Wisdom and consciousness—these things are mixed, not separate. And you can never completely dissect them so as to describe the difference between them. For you understand what you cognize, and you cognize what you understand. That’s why these things are mixed, not separate. And you can never completely dissect them so as to describe the difference between them.”

“Yā cāvuso, paññā yañca viññāṇaṁ—imesaṁ dhammānaṁ saṁsaṭṭhānaṁ no visaṁsaṭṭhānaṁ kiṁ nānākaraṇan”ti?

“Wisdom and consciousness—what is the difference between these things that are mixed, not separate?”

“Yā cāvuso, paññā yañca viññāṇaṁ—imesaṁ dhammānaṁ saṁsaṭṭhānaṁ no visaṁsaṭṭhānaṁ paññā bhāvetabbā, viññāṇaṁ pariññeyyaṁ. Idaṁ nesaṁ nānākaraṇan”ti.

“The difference between these things is that wisdom should be developed, while consciousness should be completely understood.”

“‘Vedanā vedanā’ti, āvuso, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, āvuso, vedanāti vuccatī”ti?

“They speak of this thing called ‘feeling’. How is feeling defined?”

“‘Vedeti vedetī’ti kho, āvuso, tasmā vedanāti vuccati. Kiñca vedeti? Sukhampi vedeti, dukkhampi vedeti, adukkhamasukhampi vedeti. ‘Vedeti vedetī’ti kho, āvuso, tasmā vedanāti vuccatī”ti.

“It’s called feeling because it feels. And what does it feel? It feels pleasure, pain, and neutral. It’s called feeling because it feels.”

“‘Saññā saññā’ti, āvuso, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, āvuso, saññāti vuccatī”ti?

“They speak of this thing called ‘perception’. How is perception defined?”

“‘Sañjānāti sañjānātī’ti kho, āvuso, tasmā saññāti vuccati. Kiñca sañjānāti? Nīlakampi sañjānāti, pītakampi sañjānāti, lohitakampi sañjānāti, odātampi sañjānāti. ‘Sañjānāti sañjānātī’ti kho, āvuso, tasmā saññāti vuccatī”ti.

“It’s called perception because it perceives. And what does it perceive? It perceives blue, yellow, red, and white. It’s called perception because it perceives.”

“Yā cāvuso, vedanā yā ca saññā yañca viññāṇaṁ—ime dhammā saṁsaṭṭhā udāhu visaṁsaṭṭhā? Labbhā ca panimesaṁ dhammānaṁ vinibbhujitvā vinibbhujitvā nānākaraṇaṁ paññāpetun”ti?

“Feeling, perception, and consciousness—are these things mixed or separate? And can we completely dissect them so as to describe the difference between them?”

“Yā cāvuso, vedanā yā ca saññā yañca viññāṇaṁ—ime dhammā saṁsaṭṭhā, no visaṁsaṭṭhā. Na ca labbhā imesaṁ dhammānaṁ vinibbhujitvā vinibbhujitvā nānākaraṇaṁ paññāpetuṁ. Yaṁ hāvuso, vedeti taṁ sañjānāti, yaṁ sañjānāti taṁ vijānāti. Tasmā ime dhammā saṁsaṭṭhā no visaṁsaṭṭhā. Na ca labbhā imesaṁ dhammānaṁ vinibbhujitvā vinibbhujitvā nānākaraṇaṁ paññāpetun”ti.

“Feeling, perception, and consciousness—these things are mixed, not separate. And you can never completely dissect them so as to describe the difference between them. For you perceive what you feel, and you cognize what you perceive. That’s why these things are mixed, not separate. And you can never completely dissect them so as to describe the difference between them.”

“Nissaṭṭhena hāvuso, pañcahi indriyehi parisuddhena manoviññāṇena kiṁ neyyan”ti?

“What can be known by purified mind consciousness released from the five senses?”

“Nissaṭṭhena, āvuso, pañcahi indriyehi parisuddhena manoviññāṇena ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ neyyaṁ, ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ neyyaṁ, ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ neyyan”ti.

“Aware that ‘space is infinite’ it can know the dimension of infinite space. Aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’ it can know the dimension of infinite consciousness. Aware that ‘there is nothing at all’ it can know the dimension of nothingness.”

“Neyyaṁ panāvuso, dhammaṁ kena pajānātī”ti?

“How do you understand something that can be known?”

“Neyyaṁ kho, āvuso, dhammaṁ paññācakkhunā pajānātī”ti.

“You understand something that can be known with the eye of wisdom.”

“Paññā panāvuso, kimatthiyā”ti?

“What is the purpose of wisdom?”

“Paññā kho, āvuso, abhiññatthā pariññatthā pahānatthā”ti.

“The purpose of wisdom is direct knowledge, complete understanding, and giving up.”

“Kati panāvuso, paccayā sammādiṭṭhiyā uppādāyā”ti?

“How many conditions are there for the arising of right view?”

“Dve kho, āvuso, paccayā sammādiṭṭhiyā uppādāya—parato ca ghoso, yoniso ca manasikāro. Ime kho, āvuso, dve paccayā sammādiṭṭhiyā uppādāyā”ti.

“There are two conditions for the arising of right view: the words of another and rational application of mind. These are the two conditions for the arising of right view.”

“Katihi panāvuso, aṅgehi anuggahitā sammādiṭṭhi cetovimuttiphalā ca hoti cetovimuttiphalānisaṁsā ca, paññāvimuttiphalā ca hoti paññāvimuttiphalānisaṁsā cā”ti?

“When right view is supported by how many factors does it have freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom as its fruit and benefit?”

“Pañcahi kho, āvuso, aṅgehi anuggahitā sammādiṭṭhi cetovimuttiphalā ca hoti cetovimuttiphalānisaṁsā ca, paññāvimuttiphalā ca hoti paññāvimuttiphalānisaṁsā ca. Idhāvuso, sammādiṭṭhi sīlānuggahitā ca hoti, sutānuggahitā ca hoti, sākacchānuggahitā ca hoti, samathānuggahitā ca hoti, vipassanānuggahitā ca hoti. Imehi kho, āvuso, pañcahaṅgehi anuggahitā sammādiṭṭhi cetovimuttiphalā ca hoti cetovimuttiphalānisaṁsā ca, paññāvimuttiphalā ca hoti paññāvimuttiphalānisaṁsā cā”ti.

“When right view is supported by five factors it has freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom as its fruit and benefit. It’s when right view is supported by ethics, learning, discussion, serenity, and discernment. When right view is supported by these five factors it has freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom as its fruit and benefit.”

“Kati panāvuso, bhavā”ti?

“How many states of existence are there?”

“Tayome, āvuso, bhavā—kāmabhavo, rūpabhavo, arūpabhavo”ti.

“Friend, there are these three states of existence. Existence in the sensual realm, the realm of luminous form, and the formless realm.”

“Kathaṁ panāvuso, āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hotī”ti?

“But how is there rebirth into a new state of existence in the future?”

“Avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ kho, āvuso, sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ tatratatrābhinandanā—evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hotī”ti.

“It’s because of sentient beings—shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving—taking pleasure wherever it lands. That’s how there is rebirth into a new state of existence in the future.”

“Kathaṁ panāvuso, āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti na hotī”ti?

“But how is there no rebirth into a new state of existence in the future?”

“Avijjāvirāgā kho, āvuso, vijjuppādā taṇhānirodhā—evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti na hotī”ti.

“It’s when ignorance fades away, knowledge arises, and craving ceases. That’s how there is no rebirth into a new state of existence in the future.”

“Katamaṁ panāvuso, paṭhamaṁ jhānan”ti?

“But what, friend, is the first jhāna?”

“Idhāvuso, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati—idaṁ vuccati, āvuso, paṭhamaṁ jhānan”ti.

“Friend, it’s when a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first jhāna, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. This is called the first jhāna.”

“Paṭhamaṁ panāvuso, jhānaṁ katiaṅgikan”ti?

“But how many factors does the first jhāna have?”

“Paṭhamaṁ kho, āvuso, jhānaṁ pañcaṅgikaṁ. Idhāvuso, paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa bhikkhuno vitakko ca vattati, vicāro ca pīti ca sukhañca cittekaggatā ca. Paṭhamaṁ kho, āvuso, jhānaṁ evaṁ pañcaṅgikan”ti.

“The first jhāna has five factors. When a bhikkhu has entered the first jhāna, placing the mind, keeping it connected, rapture, bliss, and unification of mind are present. That’s how the first jhāna has five factors.”

“Paṭhamaṁ panāvuso, jhānaṁ kataṅgavippahīnaṁ kataṅgasamannāgatan”ti?

“But how many factors has the first jhāna given up and how many does it possess?”

“Paṭhamaṁ kho, āvuso, jhānaṁ pañcaṅgavippahīnaṁ, pañcaṅgasamannāgataṁ. Idhāvuso, paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa bhikkhuno kāmacchando pahīno hoti, byāpādo pahīno hoti, thinamiddhaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti, uddhaccakukkuccaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti, vicikicchā pahīnā hoti; vitakko ca vattati, vicāro ca pīti ca sukhañca cittekaggatā ca. Paṭhamaṁ kho, āvuso, jhānaṁ evaṁ pañcaṅgavippahīnaṁ pañcaṅgasamannāgatan”ti.

“The first jhāna has given up five factors and possesses five factors. When a bhikkhu has entered the first jhāna, sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt are given up. Placing the mind, keeping it connected, rapture, bliss, and unification of mind are present. That’s how the first jhāna has given up five factors and possesses five factors.”

“Pañcimāni, āvuso, indriyāni nānāvisayāni nānāgocarāni, na aññamaññassa gocaravisayaṁ paccanubhonti, seyyathidaṁ—cakkhundriyaṁ, sotindriyaṁ, ghānindriyaṁ, jivhindriyaṁ, kāyindriyaṁ. Imesaṁ kho, āvuso, pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ nānāvisayānaṁ nānāgocarānaṁ, na aññamaññassa gocaravisayaṁ paccanubhontānaṁ, kiṁ paṭisaraṇaṁ, ko ca nesaṁ gocaravisayaṁ paccanubhotī”ti?

“Friend, these five faculties have different scopes and different ranges, and don’t experience each others’ scope and range. That is, the faculties of the eye, ear, nose, tongue, and body. What do these five faculties, with their different scopes and ranges, have recourse to? What experiences their scopes and ranges?”

“Pañcimāni, āvuso, indriyāni nānāvisayāni nānāgocarāni, na aññamaññassa gocaravisayaṁ paccanubhonti, seyyathidaṁ—cakkhundriyaṁ, sotindriyaṁ, ghānindriyaṁ, jivhindriyaṁ, kāyindriyaṁ. Imesaṁ kho, āvuso, pañcannaṁ indriyānaṁ nānāvisayānaṁ nānāgocarānaṁ, na aññamaññassa gocaravisayaṁ paccanubhontānaṁ, mano paṭisaraṇaṁ, mano ca nesaṁ gocaravisayaṁ paccanubhotī”ti.

“These five faculties, with their different scopes and ranges, have recourse to the mind. And the mind experiences their scopes and ranges.”

“Pañcimāni, āvuso, indriyāni, seyyathidaṁ—cakkhundriyaṁ, sotindriyaṁ, ghānindriyaṁ, jivhindriyaṁ, kāyindriyaṁ. Imāni kho, āvuso, pañcindriyāni kiṁ paṭicca tiṭṭhantī”ti?

“These five faculties depend on what to continue?”

“Pañcimāni, āvuso, indriyāni, seyyathidaṁ—cakkhundriyaṁ, sotindriyaṁ, ghānindriyaṁ, jivhindriyaṁ, kāyindriyaṁ. Imāni kho, āvuso, pañcindriyāni āyuṁ paṭicca tiṭṭhantī”ti.

“These five faculties depend on life to continue.”

“Āyu panāvuso, kiṁ paṭicca tiṭṭhatī”ti?

“But what does life depend on to continue?”

“Āyu usmaṁ paṭicca tiṭṭhatī”ti.

“Life depends on warmth to continue.”

“Usmā panāvuso, kiṁ paṭicca tiṭṭhatī”ti?

“But what does warmth depend on to continue?”

“Usmā āyuṁ paṭicca tiṭṭhatī”ti.

“Warmth depends on life to continue.”

“Idāneva kho mayaṁ, āvuso, āyasmato sāriputtassa bhāsitaṁ evaṁ ājānāma: ‘āyu usmaṁ paṭicca tiṭṭhatī’ti. Idāneva pana mayaṁ, āvuso, āyasmato sāriputtassa bhāsitaṁ evaṁ ājānāma: ‘usmā āyuṁ paṭicca tiṭṭhatī’ti. Yathā kathaṁ panāvuso, imassa bhāsitassa attho daṭṭhabbo”ti?

“Just now I understood you to say: ‘Life depends on warmth to continue.’ But I also understood you to say: ‘Warmth depends on life to continue.’ How then should we see the meaning of this statement?”

“Tena hāvuso, upamaṁ te karissāmi; upamāyapidhekacce viññū purisā bhāsitassa atthaṁ ājānanti. Seyyathāpi, āvuso, telappadīpassa jhāyato acciṁ paṭicca ābhā paññāyati, ābhaṁ paṭicca acci paññāyati; evameva kho, āvuso, āyu usmaṁ paṭicca tiṭṭhati, usmā āyuṁ paṭicca tiṭṭhatī”ti.

“Well then, friend, I shall give you a simile. For by means of a simile some sensible people understand the meaning of what is said. Suppose there was an oil lamp burning. The light appears dependent on the flame, and the flame appears dependent on the light. In the same way, life depends on warmth to continue, and warmth depends on life to continue.”

“Teva nu kho, āvuso, āyusaṅkhārā, te vedaniyā dhammā udāhu aññe āyusaṅkhārā aññe vedaniyā dhammā”ti?

“Are the life forces the same things as the phenomena that are felt? Or are they different things?”

“Na kho, āvuso, teva āyusaṅkhārā te vedaniyā dhammā. Te ca hāvuso, āyusaṅkhārā abhaviṁsu te vedaniyā dhammā, na yidaṁ saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpannassa bhikkhuno vuṭṭhānaṁ paññāyetha. Yasmā ca kho, āvuso, aññe āyusaṅkhārā aññe vedaniyā dhammā, tasmā saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpannassa bhikkhuno vuṭṭhānaṁ paññāyatī”ti.

“The life forces are not the same things as the phenomena that are felt. For if the life forces and the phenomena that are felt were the same things, a bhikkhu who had attained the cessation of perception and feeling would not emerge from it. But because the life forces and the phenomena that are felt are different things, a bhikkhu who has attained the cessation of perception and feeling can emerge from it.”

“Yadā nu kho, āvuso, imaṁ kāyaṁ kati dhammā jahanti; athāyaṁ kāyo ujjhito avakkhitto seti, yathā kaṭṭhaṁ acetanan”ti?

“How many things must this body lose before it lies forsaken, tossed aside like an insentient log?”

“Yadā kho, āvuso, imaṁ kāyaṁ tayo dhammā jahanti—āyu usmā ca viññāṇaṁ; athāyaṁ kāyo ujjhito avakkhitto seti, yathā kaṭṭhaṁ acetanan”ti.

“This body must lose three things before it lies forsaken, tossed aside like an insentient log: vitality, warmth, and consciousness.”

“Yvāyaṁ, āvuso, mato kālaṅkato, yo cāyaṁ bhikkhu saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpanno—imesaṁ kiṁ nānākaraṇan”ti?

“What’s the difference between someone who has passed away and a bhikkhu who has attained the cessation of perception and feeling?”

“Yvāyaṁ, āvuso, mato kālaṅkato tassa kāyasaṅkhārā niruddhā paṭippassaddhā, vacīsaṅkhārā niruddhā paṭippassaddhā, cittasaṅkhārā niruddhā paṭippassaddhā, āyu parikkhīṇo, usmā vūpasantā, indriyāni paribhinnāni. Yo cāyaṁ bhikkhu saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpanno tassapi kāyasaṅkhārā niruddhā paṭippassaddhā, vacīsaṅkhārā niruddhā paṭippassaddhā, cittasaṅkhārā niruddhā paṭippassaddhā, āyu na parikkhīṇo, usmā avūpasantā, indriyāni vippasannāni. Yvāyaṁ, āvuso, mato kālaṅkato, yo cāyaṁ bhikkhu saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpanno—idaṁ nesaṁ nānākaraṇan”ti.

“When someone dies, their physical, verbal, and mental processes have ceased and stilled; their vitality is spent; their warmth is dissipated; and their faculties have disintegrated. When a bhikkhu has attained the cessation of perception and feeling, their physical, verbal, and mental processes have ceased and stilled. But their vitality is not spent; their warmth is not dissipated; and their faculties are very clear. That’s the difference between someone who has passed away and a bhikkhu who has attained the cessation of perception and feeling.”

“Kati panāvuso, paccayā adukkhamasukhāya cetovimuttiyā samāpattiyā”ti?

“How many conditions are necessary to attain the neutral release of the heart?”

“Cattāro kho, āvuso, paccayā adukkhamasukhāya cetovimuttiyā samāpattiyā. Idhāvuso, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ime kho, āvuso, cattāro paccayā adukkhamasukhāya cetovimuttiyā samāpattiyā”ti.

“Four conditions are necessary to attain the neutral release of the heart. Giving up pleasure and pain, and ending former happiness and sadness, a bhikkhu enters and remains in the fourth jhāna, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. These four conditions are necessary to attain the neutral release of the heart.”

“Kati panāvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā samāpattiyā”ti?

“How many conditions are necessary to attain the signless release of the heart?”

“Dve kho, āvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā samāpattiyā—sabbanimittānañca amanasikāro, animittāya ca dhātuyā manasikāro. Ime kho, āvuso, dve paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā samāpattiyā”ti.

“Two conditions are necessary to attain the signless release of the heart: not focusing on any signs, and focusing on the signless. These two conditions are necessary to attain the signless release of the heart.”

“Kati panāvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā ṭhitiyā”ti?

“How many conditions are necessary to remain in the signless release of the heart?”

“Tayo kho, āvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā ṭhitiyā—sabbanimittānañca amanasikāro, animittāya ca dhātuyā manasikāro, pubbe ca abhisaṅkhāro. Ime kho, āvuso, tayo paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā ṭhitiyā”ti.

“Three conditions are necessary to remain in the signless release of the heart: not focusing on any signs, focusing on the signless, and a previous determination. These three conditions are necessary to remain in the signless release of the heart.”

“Kati panāvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā vuṭṭhānāyā”ti?

“How many conditions are necessary to emerge from the signless release of the heart?”

“Dve kho, āvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā vuṭṭhānāya—sabbanimittānañca manasikāro, animittāya ca dhātuyā amanasikāro. Ime kho, āvuso, dve paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā vuṭṭhānāyā”ti.

“Two conditions are necessary to emerge from the signless release of the heart: focusing on all signs, and not focusing on the signless. These two conditions are necessary to emerge from the signless release of the heart.”

“Yā cāyaṁ, āvuso, appamāṇā cetovimutti, yā ca ākiñcaññā cetovimutti, yā ca suññatā cetovimutti, yā ca animittā cetovimutti—ime dhammā nānātthā ceva nānābyañjanā ca udāhu ekatthā byañjanameva nānan”ti?

“The limitless release of the heart, and the release of the heart through nothingness, and the release of the heart through emptiness, and the signless release of the heart: do these things differ in both meaning and phrasing? Or do they mean the same thing, and differ only in the phrasing?”

“Yā cāyaṁ, āvuso, appamāṇā cetovimutti, yā ca ākiñcaññā cetovimutti, yā ca suññatā cetovimutti, yā ca animittā cetovimutti—atthi kho, āvuso, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma ime dhammā nānātthā ceva nānābyañjanā ca; atthi ca kho, āvuso, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma ime dhammā ekatthā, byañjanameva nānaṁ.

“There is a way in which these things differ in both meaning and phrasing. But there’s also a way in which they mean the same thing, and differ only in the phrasing.

Katamo cāvuso, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma ime dhammā nānātthā ceva nānābyañjanā ca?

And what’s the way in which these things differ in both meaning and phrasing?

Idhāvuso, bhikkhu mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharati. Karuṇāsahagatena cetasā …pe… muditāsahagatena cetasā … upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharati. Ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, appamāṇā cetovimutti.

Firstly, a bhikkhu meditates spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. They meditate spreading a heart full of compassion … They meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing … They meditate spreading a heart full of equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. This is called the limitless release of the heart.

Katamā cāvuso, ākiñcaññā cetovimutti? Idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma natthi kiñcīti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, ākiñcaññā cetovimutti.

And what is the release of the heart through nothingness? It’s when a bhikkhu, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, enters and remains in the dimension of nothingness. This is called the heart’s release through nothingness.

Katamā cāvuso, suññatā cetovimutti? Idhāvuso, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘suññamidaṁ attena vā attaniyena vā’ti. Ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, suññatā cetovimutti.

And what is the release of the heart through emptiness? It’s when a bhikkhu has gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, and reflects like this: ‘This is empty of a self or what belongs to a self.’ This is called the release of the heart through emptiness.

Katamā cāvuso, animittā cetovimutti? Idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbanimittānaṁ amanasikārā animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ vuccatāvuso, animittā cetovimutti.

And what is the signless release of the heart? It’s when a bhikkhu, not focusing on any signs, enters and remains in the signless immersion of the heart. This is called the signless release of the heart.

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma ime dhammā nānātthā ceva nānābyañjanā ca.

This is the way in which these things differ in both meaning and phrasing.

Katamo cāvuso, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma ime dhammā ekatthā byañjanameva nānaṁ?

And what’s the way in which they mean the same thing, and differ only in the phrasing?

Rāgo kho, āvuso, pamāṇakaraṇo, doso pamāṇakaraṇo, moho pamāṇakaraṇo. Te khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Yāvatā kho, āvuso, appamāṇā cetovimuttiyo, akuppā tāsaṁ cetovimutti aggamakkhāyati. Sā kho panākuppā cetovimutti suññā rāgena, suññā dosena, suññā mohena.

Greed, hate, and delusion are makers of limits. A bhikkhu who has ended the defilements has given these up, cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, and obliterated them, so they are unable to arise in the future. The unshakable release of the heart is said to be the best kind of limitless release of the heart. That unshakable release of the heart is empty of greed, hate, and delusion.

Rāgo kho, āvuso, kiñcano, doso kiñcano, moho kiñcano. Te khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Yāvatā kho, āvuso, ākiñcaññā cetovimuttiyo, akuppā tāsaṁ cetovimutti aggamakkhāyati. Sā kho panākuppā cetovimutti suññā rāgena, suññā dosena, suññā mohena.

Greed is something, hate is something, and delusion is something. A bhikkhu who has ended the defilements has given these up, cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, and obliterated them, so they are unable to arise in the future. The unshakable release of the heart is said to be the best kind of release of the heart through nothingness. That unshakable release of the heart is empty of greed, hate, and delusion.

Rāgo kho, āvuso, nimittakaraṇo, doso nimittakaraṇo, moho nimittakaraṇo. Te khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Yāvatā kho, āvuso, animittā cetovimuttiyo, akuppā tāsaṁ cetovimutti aggamakkhāyati. Sā kho panākuppā cetovimutti suññā rāgena, suññā dosena, suññā mohena.

Greed, hate, and delusion are makers of signs. A bhikkhu who has ended the defilements has given these up, cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, and obliterated them, so they are unable to arise in the future. The unshakable release of the heart is said to be the best kind of signless release of the heart. That unshakable release of the heart is empty of greed, hate, and delusion.

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, pariyāyo yaṁ pariyāyaṁ āgamma ime dhammā ekatthā byañjanameva nānan”ti.

This is the way in which they mean the same thing, and differ only in the phrasing.”

Idamavocāyasmā sāriputto. Attamano āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko āyasmato sāriputtassa bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

This is what Venerable Sāriputta said. Satisfied, Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita was happy with what Sāriputta said.

Mahāvedallasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ tatiyaṁ.