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sn.35.83 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Phagguna

Then the Venerable Phagguna approached the Blessed One … and said to him: “Venerable sir, is there any eye by means of which one describing the Buddhas of the past could describe them—those who have attained final Nibbāna, cut through proliferation, cut through the rut, exhausted the round, and transcended all suffering? Is there any ear by way of which one describing the Buddhas of the past could describe them?… Is there any mind by way of which one describing the Buddhas of the past could describe them—those who have attained final Nibbāna, cut through proliferation, cut through the rut, exhausted the round, and transcended all suffering?”

“There is no eye, Phagguna, by means of which one describing the Buddhas of the past could describe them—those who have attained final Nibbāna, cut through proliferation, cut through the rut, exhausted the round, and transcended all suffering. There is no ear by means of which one describing the Buddhas of the past could describe them…. There is no mind by means of which one describing the Buddhas of the past could describe them—those who have attained final Nibbāna, cut through proliferation, cut through the rut, exhausted the round, and transcended all suffering.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh


Phagguna’s Question

And then Venerable Phagguna went up to the Buddha … and said to him:
“Sir, suppose someone were to describe the Buddhas of the past who have become completely extinguished, cut off proliferation, cut off the track, finished off the cycle, and transcended suffering. Does the eye exist by which they could be described?
Does the ear … nose … tongue … body exist …?
Does the mind exist by which they could be described?”
“Phagguna, suppose someone were to describe the Buddhas of the past who have become completely extinguished, cut off proliferation, cut off the track, finished off the cycle, and transcended suffering. The eye does not exist by which they could be described.
The ear … nose … tongue … body does not exist …
The mind does not exist by which they could be described.”