iti.96 Itivuttaka

The Bonds

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, one bound by the bond of sensual desire and by the bond of being is a returner, one who comes back to this state. One freed from the bond of sensual desire but still bound by the bond of being is a non-returner, one who does not come back to this state. One freed from the bond of sensual desire and freed from the bond of being is an arahant, one in whom the taints are destroyed.”

Fettered by both these bonds—
The sensual bond and the bond of being—
Living beings continue in saṁsāra,
Journeying on to birth and death.

Those who abandon sensual desires
But have not reached the taints’ destruction,
Fettered by the bondage of being,
Are declared to be non-returners.

But those who have cut off doubts,
Destroyed conceit and renewal of being,
Who reach the taints’ full destruction,
Though in the world, have gone beyond.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Attached to Sensual Pleasures

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, one attached to both sensual pleasures and rebirth is a returner, who comes back to this state of existence.
One detached from sensual pleasures but still attached to rebirth is a non-returner, who comes not back to this state of existence.
One detached from both sensual pleasures and rebirth is a perfected one, who has ended defilements.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“Attached to both sensual pleasures
and the desire to be reborn in a future life;
sentient beings continue to transmigrate,
with ongoing birth and death.
Those who’ve given up sensual pleasures
without attaining the end of defilements,
and are still attached to being reborn,
are said to be non-returners.
Those who have cut off doubt,
and ended conceit and future lives,
they’re the ones in this world who’ve truly crossed over,
having reached the ending of defilements.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.