SĀ 1.6 Not Knowing

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SĀ 1.6 is sutra 6 of the first saṃyukta in the CSA edition of the Saṃyukta Āgama. It's also sutra 3 of the Taisho edition (T99.1a28-b5).

Introduction

After SĀ 1.1-5 have covered the basic nature of the five aggregates as impermanent, painful, empty, and not self, SĀ 1.6 moves on to describe the lack of insight into their nature as an obstacle to ending suffering. The next three sutras are variants of this sutra, using slightly different wording to communicate the same meaning.

As we will see in SĀ 1.7-9, the end of suffering is synonymous with the mind's liberation from the five aggregates. Not being liberated means being afraid of birth, old age, illness, and death; so, liberation doesn't just mean psychological liberation in the here-and-now, but it also includes liberation from future rebirth.

Translation

§ Chinese English Translation
[1];六(三) SĀ 1.6 Not Knowing (T99.3)
1. 如是我聞:一時,佛住舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。 Thus I have heard:[2] One time, the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in Jeta’s Grove of Śrāvastī.
2. 爾時,世尊告諸比丘:「於色不知,不明、不斷、不離欲,則不能斷苦。如是受、想、行、識,不知、不明、不斷、不離欲,則不能斷苦。 It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “When you don’t know, understand, stop, and become free of desire for form, you can’t stop suffering. Thus, when you don’t know, understand, stop and become free of desire for feeling … perception … volition … consciousness, you can’t stop suffering.
3. 諸比丘!於色若知、若明、若斷、若離欲,則能斷苦。如是受、想、行、識,若知、若明、若斷、若離欲,則能堪任斷苦」。 “Monks, if you know, understand, stop, and become free of desire for form, you can stop suffering. Thus, if you know, understand, stop, and become free of desire for feeling … perception … volition … consciousness, you can stop suffering.”
4. 時諸比丘聞佛所說,歡喜奉行。 When the monks heard what the Buddha taught, they rejoiced and approved.

Parallels

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Notes

  1. 《相應部》(二二)〈蘊相應〉二四經。(印順法師)
  2. This sūtra is parallel with SN 22.24 and SĀ 2.6.