sn.35.23 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The All

At Savatthi. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you the all. Listen to that….

“And what, bhikkhus, is the all? The eye and forms, the ear and sounds, the nose and odours, the tongue and tastes, the body and tactile objects, the mind and mental phenomena. This is called the all.

“If anyone, bhikkhus, should speak thus: ‘Having rejected this all, I shall make known another all’—that would be a mere empty boast on his part. If he were questioned he would not be able to reply and, further, he would meet with vexation. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, that would not be within his domain.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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All

At Sāvatthī.
“Mendicants, I will teach you the all.
Listen …
And what is the all?
It’s just the eye and sights, the ear and sounds, the nose and smells, the tongue and tastes, the body and touches, and the mind and thoughts.
This is called the all.
Mendicants, suppose someone was to say:
‘I’ll reject this all and describe another all.’ They’d have no grounds for that,
they’d be stumped by questions, and, in addition, they’d get frustrated.
Why is that?
Because they’re out of their element.”