Saṁyutta Nikāya — Discursos Conectados — 35.121 — Advice to Rāhula

1At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

2Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “The qualities that ripen in freedom have ripened in Rāhula. Why don’t I lead him further to the ending of defilements?”

3Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he addressed Venerable Rāhula, “Rāhula, get your sitting cloth. Let’s go to the Dark Forest for the day’s meditation.”

4“Yes, sir,” replied Rāhula. Taking his sitting cloth he followed behind the Buddha.

5Now at that time many thousands of deities followed the Buddha, thinking, “Today the Buddha will lead Rāhula further to the ending of defilements!”

6Then the Buddha plunged deep into the Dark Forest and sat at the root of a tree on the seat spread out. Rāhula bowed to the Buddha and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

7“What do you think, Rāhula? Is the eye permanent or impermanent?”

8“Impermanent, sir.”

9“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

10“Suffering, sir.”

11“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

12“No, sir.”

13“Are sights … eye consciousness … eye contact permanent or impermanent?”

14“Impermanent, sir.” …

15“Anything included in feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness that arises dependent on eye contact: is that permanent or impermanent?”

16“Impermanent, sir.”

17“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

18“Suffering, sir.”

19“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

20“No, sir.”

21“Is the ear … nose … tongue … body … mind permanent or impermanent?”

22“Impermanent, sir.”

23“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

24“Suffering, sir.”

25“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

26“No, sir.”

27“Are ideas … mind consciousness … mind contact permanent or impermanent?”

28“Impermanent, sir.” …

29“Anything included in feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness that arises dependent on mind contact: is that permanent or impermanent?”

30“Impermanent, sir.”

31“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

32“Suffering, sir.”

33“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

34“No, sir.”

35“Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with the eye, sights, eye consciousness, and eye contact. And they grow disillusioned with anything included in feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness that arises dependent on eye contact.

36They grow disillusioned with the ear … nose … tongue … body …

37They grow disillusioned with the mind, ideas, mind consciousness, and mind contact. And they grow disillusioned with anything included in feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness that arises dependent on mind contact.

38Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.

39They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”

40That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Rāhula approved what the Buddha said. And while this discourse was being spoken, Rāhula’s mind was freed from defilements by not grasping.

41And the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in those thousands of deities:

42“Everything that is liable to arise is liable to cease.”