Not Knowing (2) (SA191)

Thus I have heard: One time, the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in Jeta’s Grove of Śrāvastī.

It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “If someone doesn’t know and understand and doesn’t stop and become free of desire for the eye, it isn’t possible for them to transcend the suffering of birth, old age, illness, and death. Not knowing and understanding or stopping and becoming free of desire for the ear … nose … tongue … body … mind, it isn’t possible to transcend the suffering of birth, old age, illness, and death.

“Monks, if someone knows and understands and stops and becomes free of desire for the eye, it’s possible for them to transcend the suffering of birth, old age, illness, and death. If they know and understand and stop and become free of desire for the ear … nose … tongue … body … mind, it’s possible for them to transcend the suffering of birth, old age, illness, and death.”

After the Buddha spoke this sūtra, the monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved.

This sūtra is part of the Dharma Pearls translation project.

Prepared by Charles Patton for SuttaCentral.