Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.55

Numbered Discourses 7.55

6. Abyākatavagga

6. The Undeclared Points

Purisagatisutta

Places People Are Reborn

“Satta ca, bhikkhave, purisagatiyo desessāmi anupādā ca parinibbānaṁ. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, I will teach you seven places people are reborn, and Nibbana by not grasping. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Yes, sir,” the bhikkhus replied. The Buddha said this:

“katamā ca, bhikkhave, satta purisagatiyo?

“And what are the seven places people are reborn?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati. So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti. So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte¹ ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati. So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti. So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

Take a bhikkhu who practices like this: ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine. I am giving up what exists, what has come to be.’ They gain equanimity. They’re not attached to life, or to creating a new life. And they see with right wisdom that there is a peaceful state beyond. But they haven’t completely realized that state. They haven’t totally given up the underlying tendencies of conceit, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next. Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off would be extinguished. In the same way, a bhikkhu who practices like this … With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati. So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti. So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

Take a bhikkhu who practices like this: ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine. I am giving up what exists, what has come to be.’ They gain equanimity. They’re not attached to life, or to creating a new life. And they see with right wisdom that there is a peaceful state beyond. But they haven’t totally realized that state. They haven’t completely given up the underlying tendencies of conceit, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next. Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would be extinguished. In the same way, a bhikkhu who practices like this … With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā anupahacca talaṁ nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā antarāparinibbāyī hoti.

Take a bhikkhu who practices like this: ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’ With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next. Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would be extinguished just before landing. In the same way, a bhikkhu who practices like this … With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished between one life and the next.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā upahacca talaṁ nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā upahaccaparinibbāyī hoti.

Take a bhikkhu who practices like this: ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’ With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished upon landing. Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would be extinguished on landing. In the same way, a bhikkhu who practices like this … ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’ With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished upon landing.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā paritte tiṇapuñje vā kaṭṭhapuñje vā nipateyya. Sā tattha aggimpi janeyya, dhūmampi janeyya, aggimpi janetvā dhūmampi janetvā tameva parittaṁ tiṇapuñjaṁ vā kaṭṭhapuñjaṁ vā pariyādiyitvā anāhārā nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā asaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti.

Take a bhikkhu who practices like this: ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’ With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished without extra effort. Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would fall on a little heap of grass or twigs. There it would ignite a fire and produce smoke. But the fire would consume the grass or twigs and become extinguished for lack of fuel. In the same way, a bhikkhu who practices like this … ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’ With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished without extra effort.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā vipule tiṇapuñje vā kaṭṭhapuñje vā nipateyya. Sā tattha aggimpi janeyya, dhūmampi janeyya, aggimpi janetvā dhūmampi janetvā tameva vipulaṁ tiṇapuñjaṁ vā kaṭṭhapuñjaṁ vā pariyādiyitvā anāhārā nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sasaṅkhāraparinibbāyī hoti.

Take a bhikkhu who practices like this: ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’ With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished with extra effort. Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would fall on a large heap of grass or twigs. There it would ignite a fire and produce smoke. But the fire would consume the grass or twigs and become extinguished for lack of fuel. In the same way, a bhikkhu who practices like this … ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’ With the ending of the five lower fetters they’re extinguished with extra effort.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati. So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Tañca khvassa padaṁ na sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa na sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, na sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti. So pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, divasaṁsantatte ayokapāle haññamāne papaṭikā nibbattitvā uppatitvā mahante tiṇapuñje vā kaṭṭhapuñje vā nipateyya. Sā tattha aggimpi janeyya, dhūmampi janeyya, aggimpi janetvā dhūmampi janetvā tameva mahantaṁ tiṇapuñjaṁ vā kaṭṭhapuñjaṁ vā pariyādiyitvā gacchampi daheyya, dāyampi daheyya, gacchampi dahitvā dāyampi dahitvā haritantaṁ vā pathantaṁ vā selantaṁ vā udakantaṁ vā ramaṇīyaṁ vā bhūmibhāgaṁ āgamma anāhārā nibbāyeyya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā …pe… so pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā uddhaṁsoto hoti akaniṭṭhagāmī. Imā kho, bhikkhave, satta purisagatiyo.

Take a bhikkhu who practices like this: ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine. I am giving up what exists, what has come to be.’ They gain equanimity. They’re not attached to life, or to creating a new life. And they see with right wisdom that there is a peaceful state beyond. But they haven’t totally realized that state. They haven’t completely given up the underlying tendencies of conceit, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. With the ending of the five lower fetters they head upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm. Suppose you struck an iron pot that had been heated all day. Any spark that flew off and floated away would fall on a huge heap of grass or twigs. There it would ignite a fire and produce smoke. And after consuming the grass and twigs, the fire would burn up plants and trees until it reached a green field, a roadside, a cliff’s edge, a body of water, or cleared parkland, where it would be extinguished for lack of fuel. In the same way, a bhikkhu who practices like this … ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. …’ With the ending of the five lower fetters they head upstream, going to the Akaniṭṭha realm. These are the seven places people are reborn.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, anupādāparinibbānaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ paṭipanno hoti: ‘no cassa no ca me siyā, na bhavissati na me bhavissati, yadatthi yaṁ bhūtaṁ taṁ pajahāmī’ti upekkhaṁ paṭilabhati. So bhave na rajjati, sambhave na rajjati, atthuttari padaṁ santaṁ sammappaññāya passati. Tañca khvassa padaṁ sabbena sabbaṁ sacchikataṁ hoti, tassa sabbena sabbaṁ mānānusayo pahīno hoti, sabbena sabbaṁ bhavarāgānusayo pahīno hoti, sabbena sabbaṁ avijjānusayo pahīno hoti. So āsavānaṁ khayā …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anupādāparinibbānaṁ.

And what is Nibbana by not grasping? Take a bhikkhu who practices like this: ‘It might not be, and it might not be mine. It will not be, and it will not be mine. I am giving up what exists, what has come to be.’ They gain equanimity. They’re not attached to life, or to creating a new life. And they see with right wisdom that there is a peaceful state beyond. And they have totally realized that state. They’ve completely given up the underlying tendencies of conceit, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. They’ve realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements. This is called Nibbana by not grasping.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, satta purisagatiyo anupādā ca parinibbānan”ti.

These are the seven places people are reborn, and Nibbana by not grasping.”

Dutiyaṁ.