snp.5.7 Suttanipata

The Young Man Upasīva’s Questions

“Alone, Sakyan, with nothing to depend on,” said venerable Upasīva,
“I am not able to cross over the great flood.
Please tell me of a support, All-Seeing Visionary,
depending on which I can cross over this flood.”

“Looking to nothingness, and being mindful, Upasīva,” said the Gracious One,
“depending on nothing, cross over the flood.
Having given up sense pleasures, abstaining from talk,
day and night you must look for the end of suffering.”

“He who is passionless regarding all sense pleasures,” said venerable Upasīva,
“who is depending on nothingness, having given up all else,
intent on the highest freedom which still has perception—
will he remain there without going away?”

“He who is passionless regarding all sense pleasures, Upasīva,” said the Gracious One,
“who is depending on nothingness, having given up all else,intent on the highest freedom which still has perception—
he will remain there without going away.”

“If he remains there without going away
for a great number of years, All-Seeing Visionary,
will he become cool and free right there,
or will the consciousness of such a one fall away?”

“As a flame overthrown by the force of the wind, Upasīva,” said the Gracious One,
“goes to rest and can no longer be discerned,
just so the Sage free from the mental body
goes to rest and can no longer be discerned.”

“The one who has come to rest, is he then nothing?” said venerable Upasīva,
“or is he actually eternally healthy?
Please explain this to me, O Sage,
for this Teaching has been understood by you.”

“There is no measure of the one who has come to rest, Upasīva,” said the Gracious One,
“there is nothing by which they can speak of him,
when everything has been completely removed,
all the pathways for speech are also completely removed.”

The Young Man Upasīva’s Questions are Finished

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

Upasīva’s Questions

Upasīva
Alone, O Sakya, unsupported too,
the mighty flood I do not dare to cross,
All-seeing One, please tell me of the means
using which I may overpass the flood.

Buddha
Mindfully do you no-thingness regard,
rely on “there-is-not” to go across the flood,
abandon conversation, let go of sense-desires,
See craving’s exhaustion by night and by day.

Upasīva
That one who’s unattached to sense-desires,
relying on no-thingness, left others aside,
freed in the highest of consciousness’s freedom,
will that one be established, or fall away from this?

Buddha
That one who’s unattached to sense-desires,
relying on no-thingness, left others aside,
freed in the highest of consciousness’s freedom,
that one will be established, not fall away from this.

Upasīva
Should that one remain even for a heap of years,
O all-Seeing One, but still not fall away?
Would that one liberated cool-become just there,
consciousness ceased in that very state?

Buddha
As flame blown out by force of wind
has gone to its “goal”, cannot be described,
likewise the Sage “in mind and body” freed:
gone to the Goal and cannot be described.

Upasīva
Does one not exist who’s reached the Goal?
Or does one dwell forever free?
O Sage, do well declare this to me now,
for certainly this dharma’s known by you.

Buddha
Of one who’s reached the Goal, no measure’s found,
there is not that by which one could be named,
when dharmas for that one are emptied out,
emptied are the ways of telling too.

- Translator: Laurence Khantipalo Mills

The Questions of Upasīva

“Alone and independent, O Sakyan,”
said Venerable Upasīva,
“I am not able to cross the great flood.
Tell me a support, All-seer,
depending on which I may cross this flood.”
“Mindfully contemplating nothingness,”
replied the Buddha,
depending on the perception ‘there is nothing’, cross the flood.
Giving up sensual pleasures, refraining from chatter,
watch day and night for the ending of craving.”
“One who is free of all sensual desires,”
said Venerable Upasīva,
“depending on nothingness, all else left behind,
intent on the ultimate liberation of perception:
might they remain there without travelling on?”
“One free of all sensual desires,”
replied the Buddha,
“depending on nothingness, all else left behind,
intent on the ultimate liberation of perception:
they might remain there without travelling on.”
“If they were to remain there without travelling on,
even for myriad years, All-seer,
and, being freed, were to grow cool right there,
would the consciousness of such a one pass away?”
“As a flame tossed by a gust of wind,”
replied the Buddha,
“comes to an end beyond reckoning;
so too, a sage freed from mental phenomena
comes to an end beyond reckoning.”
“One who has come to an end—do they not exist?
Or do they exist in a state of eternal wellness?
Please, sage, answer me clearly,
for truly you understand this matter.”
“One who has come to an end cannot be defined,”
replied the Buddha.
“They have nothing by which one might describe them.
When all things have been eradicated,
eradicated, too, are all ways of speech.”