sn.22.76 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Arahants (1)

At Savatthi. “Bhikkhus, form is impermanent. What is impermanent is suffering. What is suffering is nonself. What is nonself should be seen as it really is with correct wisdom thus: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.’ “Feeling is impermanent…. Perception is impermanent…. Volitional formations are impermanent…. Consciousness is impermanent. What is impermanent is suffering. What is suffering is nonself. What is nonself should be seen as it really is with correct wisdom thus: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.’

“Seeing thus, bhikkhus, the instructed noble disciple experiences revulsion towards form, revulsion towards feeling, revulsion towards perception, revulsion towards volitional formations, revulsion towards consciousness. Experiencing revulsion, he becomes dispassionate. Through dispassion his mind is liberated. When it is liberated there comes the knowledge: ‘It’s liberated.’ He understands: ‘Destroyed is birth, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being.’

“To whatever extent, bhikkhus, there are abodes of beings, even up to the pinnacle of existence, these are the foremost in the world, these are the best, that is, the arahants.”

This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this:

“Happy indeed are the arahants!
No craving can be found in them.
Cut off is the conceit ‘I am,’
Burst asunder is delusion’s net.

Limpid are their minds;
They are unsullied in the world—
The holy ones, without taints.

“Having fully understood the five aggregates,
Ranging in the seven good qualities,
Those praiseworthy superior men
Are the Buddha’s bosom sons.

“Endowed with the seven gems,
Trained in the threefold training,
Those great heroes wander about
With fear and trembling abandoned.

“Endowed with the ten factors,
Those great nagas, concentrated,
Are the best beings in the world:
No craving can be found in them.

“The adepts’ knowledge has arisen in them:
‘This body is the last I bear.’
In regard to the core of the holy life
They no longer depend on others.

They are released from renewed existence.
Having reached the stage of the tamed,
They are the victors in the world.

“Above, across, and below,
Delight is no more found in them.
They boldly sound their lion’s roar:
‘The enlightened are supreme in the world.’”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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The Perfected Ones

At Sāvatthī.
“Mendicants, form is impermanent.
What’s impermanent is suffering.
What’s suffering is not-self.
And what’s not-self should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
Feeling …
Perception …
Choices …
Consciousness is impermanent.
What’s impermanent is suffering.
What’s suffering is not-self.
And what’s not-self should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’
Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.
Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.
They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is no return to any state of existence.’
As far as there are abodes of sentient beings, even up until the pinnacle of existence, the perfected ones are the foremost and the best.”
That is what the Buddha said.
Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
“Oh! How happy are the perfected ones!
Craving is not found in them,
the conceit ‘I am’ is cut off,
and the net of delusion is shattered.
They’ve attained imperturbability,
their minds are unclouded,
nothing in the world clings to them,
they’ve become holy, undefiled.
Completely understanding the five aggregates,
their domain is the seven good qualities.
Those good people are praiseworthy,
the Buddha’s rightful children.
Endowed with the seven gems,
and trained in the three trainings,
the great heroes live on,
with fear and dread given up.
Endowed with ten factors,
those giants have immersion.
These are the best in the world,
craving is not found in them.
The master’s knowledge has arisen:
‘This bag of bones is my last.’
They are independent of others
in the core of the spiritual path.
Unwavering in the face of discrimination,
they’re freed from future lives.
They’ve reached the level of the tamed,
in the world, they’re the winners.
Above, below, all round,
relishing is not found in them.
They roar their lion’s roar:
‘The awakened are supreme in the world!’”