Saṁyutta Nikāya — Discursos Conectados — 35.152 — What’s the Goal of the Spiritual Life?

1“Mendicants, if wanderers who follow another religion were to ask you: ‘Reverends, what’s the goal of leading the spiritual life under the ascetic Gotama?’

2You should answer them: ‘The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand suffering.’

3If wanderers of other religions were to ask you: ‘Reverends, what is that suffering?’

4You should answer them: ‘The eye is suffering. The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this. Sights … Eye consciousness … Eye contact … The pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on eye contact is also suffering. The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this.

5The ear … nose … tongue … body … mind … The pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises dependent on mind contact is also suffering. The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this. This is that suffering. The goal of leading the spiritual life under the Buddha is to completely understand this.’

6When questioned by wanderers of other religions, that’s how you should answer them.”