SN 12.4 · Pali Canon (Tipiṭaka) – English & Pāli · Verses Across
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SN 12.4
About Vipassī · Vipassīsutta
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At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, Vipassī the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha had this thought before his awakening, when he was still unawakened but intent on awakening: ‘Alas, this world has fallen into trouble. It’s born, grows old, dies, passes away, and is reborn, yet it doesn’t understand how to escape from this suffering, from old age and death. Oh, when will an escape be found from this suffering, from old age and death?’
Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati …pe… “vipassissa, bhikkhave, bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato etadahosi: ‘kicchaṁ vatāyaṁ loko āpanno jāyati ca jīyati ca mīyati ca cavati ca upapajjati ca. Atha ca panimassa dukkhassa nissaraṇaṁ nappajānāti jarāmaraṇassa. Kudāssu nāma imassa dukkhassa nissaraṇaṁ paññāyissati jarāmaraṇassā’ti?
Then Vipassī, the one intent on awakening, thought: ‘When what exists is there old age and death? What is a requirement for old age and death?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When rebirth exists there’s old age and death. Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati jarāmaraṇaṁ hoti, kiṁpaccayā jarāmaraṇan’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘jātiyā kho sati jarāmaraṇaṁ hoti, jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇan’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there rebirth? What is a requirement for rebirth?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When continued existence exists there’s rebirth. Continued existence is a requirement for rebirth.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati jāti hoti, kiṁpaccayā jātī’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘bhave kho sati jāti hoti, bhavapaccayā jātī’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there continued existence? What is a requirement for continued existence?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When grasping exists there’s continued existence. Grasping is a requirement for continued existence.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati bhavo hoti, kiṁpaccayā bhavo’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘upādāne kho sati bhavo hoti, upādānapaccayā bhavo’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there grasping? What is a requirement for grasping?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When craving exists there’s grasping. Craving is a requirement for grasping.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati upādānaṁ hoti, kiṁpaccayā upādānan’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘taṇhāya kho sati upādānaṁ hoti, taṇhāpaccayā upādānan’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there craving? What is a requirement for craving?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When feeling exists there’s craving. Feeling is a requirement for craving.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati taṇhā hoti, kiṁpaccayā taṇhā’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘vedanāya kho sati taṇhā hoti, vedanāpaccayā taṇhā’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there feeling? What is a requirement for feeling?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When contact exists there’s feeling. Contact is a requirement for feeling.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati vedanā hoti, kiṁpaccayā vedanā’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘phasse kho sati vedanā hoti, phassapaccayā vedanā’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there contact? What is a requirement for contact?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When the six sense fields exist there’s contact. The six sense fields are requirements for contact.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati phasso hoti, kiṁpaccayā phasso’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘saḷāyatane kho sati phasso hoti, saḷāyatanapaccayā phasso’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists are there the six sense fields? What is a requirement for the six sense fields?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When name and form exist there are the six sense fields. Name and form are requirements for the six sense fields.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati saḷāyatanaṁ hoti, kiṁpaccayā saḷāyatanan’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘nāmarūpe kho sati saḷāyatanaṁ hoti, nāmarūpapaccayā saḷāyatanan’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists are there name and form? What is a requirement for name and form?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When consciousness exists there are name and form. Consciousness is a requirement for name and form.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati nāmarūpaṁ hoti, kiṁpaccayā nāmarūpan’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘viññāṇe kho sati nāmarūpaṁ hoti, viññāṇapaccayā nāmarūpan’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there consciousness? What is a requirement for consciousness?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When choices exist there’s consciousness. Choices are a requirement for consciousness.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati viññāṇaṁ hoti, kiṁpaccayā viññāṇan’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘saṅkhāresu kho sati viññāṇaṁ hoti, saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇan’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists are there choices? What is a requirement for choices?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When ignorance exists there are choices. Ignorance is a requirement for choices.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati saṅkhārā honti, kiṁpaccayā saṅkhārā’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘avijjāya kho sati saṅkhārā honti, avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā’ti.
And so, ignorance is a requirement for choices. Choices are a requirement for consciousness. … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. ‘Origination, origination.’ While Vipassī was intent on awakening, such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in him regarding teachings not learned before from another.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no old age and death? When what ceases do old age and death cease?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When rebirth doesn’t exist there’s no old age and death. When rebirth ceases, old age and death cease.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati jarāmaraṇaṁ na hoti, kissa nirodhā jarāmaraṇanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘jātiyā kho asati jarāmaraṇaṁ na hoti, jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇanirodho’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no rebirth? When what ceases does rebirth cease?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When continued existence doesn’t exist there’s no rebirth. When continued existence ceases, rebirth ceases.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati jāti na hoti, kissa nirodhā jātinirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘bhave kho asati jāti na hoti, bhavanirodhā jātinirodho’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no continued existence? When what ceases does continued existence cease?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When grasping doesn’t exist there’s no continued existence. When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati bhavo na hoti, kissa nirodhā bhavanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘upādāne kho asati bhavo na hoti, upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no grasping? When what ceases does grasping cease?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When craving doesn’t exist there’s no grasping. When craving ceases, grasping ceases.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati upādānaṁ na hoti, kissa nirodhā upādānanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘taṇhāya kho asati upādānaṁ na hoti, taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no craving? When what ceases does craving cease?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When feeling doesn’t exist there’s no craving. When feeling ceases, craving ceases.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati taṇhā na hoti, kissa nirodhā taṇhānirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘vedanāya kho asati taṇhā na hoti, vedanānirodhā taṇhānirodho’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no feeling? When what ceases does feeling cease?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When contact doesn’t exist there’s no feeling. When contact ceases, feeling ceases.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati vedanā na hoti, kissa nirodhā vedanānirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘phasse kho asati vedanā na hoti, phassanirodhā vedanānirodho’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no contact? When what ceases does contact cease?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When the six sense fields don’t exist there’s no contact. When the six sense fields cease, contact ceases.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati phasso na hoti, kissa nirodhā phassanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘saḷāyatane kho asati phasso na hoti, saḷāyatananirodhā phassanirodho’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist are there no six sense fields? When what ceases do the six sense fields cease?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When name and form don’t exist there are no six sense fields. When name and form cease, the six sense fields cease.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati saḷāyatanaṁ na hoti, kissa nirodhā saḷāyatananirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘nāmarūpe kho asati saḷāyatanaṁ na hoti, nāmarūpanirodhā saḷāyatananirodho’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist are there no name and form? When what ceases do name and form cease?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When consciousness doesn’t exist there are no name and form. When consciousness ceases, name and form cease.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati nāmarūpaṁ na hoti, kissa nirodhā nāmarūpanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘viññāṇe kho asati nāmarūpaṁ na hoti, viññāṇanirodhā nāmarūpanirodho’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no consciousness? When what ceases does consciousness cease?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When choices don’t exist there’s no consciousness. When choices cease, consciousness ceases.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati viññāṇaṁ na hoti, kissa nirodhā viññāṇanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘saṅkhāresu kho asati viññāṇaṁ na hoti, saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho’ti.
Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist are there no choices? When what ceases do choices cease?’ Then, through rational application of mind, Vipassī penetrated with wisdom: ‘When ignorance doesn’t exist there are no choices. When ignorance ceases, choices cease.’
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati saṅkhārā na honti, kissa nirodhā saṅkhāranirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘avijjāya kho asati saṅkhārā na honti, avijjānirodhā saṅkhāranirodho’ti.
And so, when ignorance ceases, choices cease. When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases. ‘Cessation, cessation.’ Such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in Vipassī, the one intent on awakening, regarding teachings not learned before from another.”
