2.35. Inseparability of Dharmas (T1670B2.35)

The king asked Nāgasena, “When those conditions come together, can they be separated again, as this is union, this is wisdom, this is thought, this is mind, and this is motion?”

Then Nāgasena said, “If they come together, they cannot be separated again. Suppose the king were to ask his cook to make delicious soup in which there was water, meat, onion, garlic, ginger, salt and glutinous rice. Then the king were to ask his cook, ‘Pick out for me as before cooking, the flavors of water and then of the meat, of the onion, of the ginger, of the salt and of the glutinous rice from the delicious soup that you have made.’ But the soup has already been made, could the cook pick out the flavors one by one and give them to the king?”

“No, once the soup has been made with all these flavors, they could not be separated one from the other.” Then Nāgasena said to the king, “All these things are also the same. Once they have been united together, they cannot be separated, as this is painful and pleasant feelings, this is wisdom, this is motion and this is thought.”

“Excellent, Nāgasena.”

Nāgasena Bhikṣu Sūtra, translated by Venerable Guang Xing. Buddha’s Light Edition English Sutra Translation Series, 2008. This publication is part of translation program of the Woodenfish Project.

The full text, with detailed notes, textual and historical discussion, and comparison between Pali and Chinese texts, is available for download in two separate files, Translation and Notes.

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This SuttaCentral edition was prepared by Bhikkhu Sujato.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.