snp.5.7 Suttanipata

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.”