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Philosophy 438 Indian Buddhist Philosophy Buddhist Views of the ...

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38 CHAPTER 3. MIDDLE-LENGTH SAYINGS<br />

“Any consciousness by which one describing <strong>the</strong> Tathagata would describe<br />

him: That <strong>the</strong> Tathagata has abandoned, its root destroyed, like an<br />

uprooted palm tree, deprived <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> conditions <strong>of</strong> existence, not destined<br />

for future arising. Freed from <strong>the</strong> classification <strong>of</strong> consciousness, Vaccha,<br />

<strong>the</strong> Tathagata is deep, boundless, hard to fathom, like <strong>the</strong> sea. ‘Reappears’<br />

doesn’t apply. ‘Does not reappear’ doesn’t apply. ‘Both does and does not<br />

reappear’ doesn’t apply. ‘Nei<strong>the</strong>r reappears nor does not reappear’ doesn’t<br />

apply.”<br />

When this was said, <strong>the</strong> wanderer Vacchagotta said to <strong>the</strong> Blessed One:<br />

“Master Gotama, it is as if <strong>the</strong>re were a great sala tree not far from a village<br />

or town: From inconstancy, its branches and leaves would wear away, its<br />

bark would wear away, its sapwood would wear away, so that on a later<br />

occasion—divested <strong>of</strong> branches, leaves, bark, and sapwood—it would stand<br />

as pure heartwood. In <strong>the</strong> same way, Master Gotama’s words are divested<br />

<strong>of</strong> branches, leaves, bark, and sapwood and stand as pure heartwood.<br />

“Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent! Just as if he were to place<br />

upright what had been overturned, were to reveal what was hidden, were<br />

to show <strong>the</strong> way to one who was lost, or were to hold up a lamp in <strong>the</strong> dark<br />

so that those with eyes could see forms, in <strong>the</strong> same way Master Gotama<br />

has – through many lines <strong>of</strong> reasoning—made <strong>the</strong> Dhamma clear. I go to<br />

Master Gotama for refuge, to <strong>the</strong> Dhamma, and to <strong>the</strong> Sangha <strong>of</strong> monks.<br />

May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone to him<br />

for refuge, from this day forward, for life.”<br />

3.4 Majjhima Nikāya<br />

Chachakka Sutta<br />

(The Six Sextets)<br />

I have heard that on one occasion <strong>the</strong> Blessed One was staying near Savatthi<br />

in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s Monastery. There he addressed <strong>the</strong><br />

monks: “Monks!”<br />

“Yes, lord,” <strong>the</strong> monks responded to him.<br />

“Monks, I will teach you <strong>the</strong> Dhamma admirable in <strong>the</strong> beginning, admirable<br />

in <strong>the</strong> middle, admirable in <strong>the</strong> end; I will expound <strong>the</strong> holy life<br />

both in its particulars and in its essence, entirely complete, surpassingly<br />

pure—in o<strong>the</strong>r words, <strong>the</strong> six sextets. Listen and pay close attention. I will<br />

speak.”<br />

“As you say, lord,” <strong>the</strong> monks responded.<br />

The Blessed One said: “The six internal media should be known. The six<br />

external media should be known. The six classes <strong>of</strong> consciousness should<br />

be known. The six classes <strong>of</strong> contact should be known. The six classes <strong>of</strong><br />

feeling should be known. The six classes <strong>of</strong> craving should be known.<br />

“ ‘The six internal media should be known.’ Thus it was said. In reference<br />

to what was it said? The eye-medium, <strong>the</strong> ear-medium, <strong>the</strong> nose-medium,

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