Learned Sutavantasutta

At one time Venerable Sāriputta and Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita were staying near Varanasi, in the deer park at Isipatana. Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ca sāriputto āyasmā ca mahākoṭṭhiko bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita came out of retreat, went to Venerable Sāriputta, bowed, sat down to one side, and said: Atha kho āyasmā mahākoṭṭhiko sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā …pe… etadavoca:

“Reverend Sāriputta, what things should a learned mendicant rationally apply the mind to?” “Sutavatāvuso sāriputta, bhikkhunā katame dhammā yoniso manasi kātabbā”ti?

“A learned mendicant should rationally apply the mind to these five grasping aggregates as impermanent … as not-self. “Sutavatāvuso koṭṭhika, bhikkhunā pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā. What five? Katame pañca? That is, the grasping aggregates of form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness. Seyyathidaṁ—rūpupādānakkhandho …pe… viññāṇupādānakkhandho. A learned mendicant should rationally apply the mind to these five grasping aggregates as impermanent … as not-self. Sutavatāvuso koṭṭhika, bhikkhunā ime pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā. It’s possible that a learned mendicant who rationally applies the mind to the five grasping aggregates will realize the fruit of stream-entry.” Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, vijjati—yaṁ sutavā bhikkhu ime pañcupādānakkhandhe aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi karonto sotāpattiphalaṁ sacchikareyyā”ti.

“But Reverend Sāriputta, what things should a mendicant stream-enterer rationally apply the mind to?” “Sotāpannena panāvuso sāriputta, bhikkhunā katame dhammā yoniso manasi kātabbā”ti?

“A mendicant stream-enterer should also rationally apply the mind to these five grasping aggregates as impermanent … as not-self. “Sotāpannenapi kho āvuso koṭṭhika, bhikkhunā ime pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā. It’s possible that a mendicant stream-enterer who rationally applies the mind to the five grasping aggregates will realize the fruit of once-return.” … Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, āvuso, vijjati—yaṁ sotāpanno bhikkhu ime pañcupādānakkhandhe aniccato …pe… anattato yoniso manasi karonto sakadāgāmiphalaṁ …pe… “It’s possible that a mendicant once-returner who rationally applies the mind to the five grasping aggregates will realize the fruit of non-return.” … anāgāmiphalaṁ …pe… “It’s possible that a mendicant non-returner who rationally applies the mind to the five grasping aggregates will realize the fruit of perfection.” arahattaphalaṁ sacchikareyyā”ti.

“But Reverend Sāriputta, what things should a perfected one rationally apply the mind to?” “Arahatā panāvuso sāriputta, katame dhammā yoniso manasi kātabbā”ti?

“Reverend Koṭṭhita, a perfected one should rationally apply the mind to the five grasping aggregates as impermanent, as suffering, as diseased, as a boil, as a dart, as gloom, as an affliction, as alien, as breaking apart, as empty, as not-self. “Arahatāpi khvāvuso koṭṭhika, ime pañcupādānakkhandhā aniccato dukkhato rogato gaṇḍato sallato aghato ābādhato parato palokato suññato anattato yoniso manasi kātabbā. A perfected one has nothing more to do, and nothing that needs improvement. Natthi, khvāvuso, arahato uttari karaṇīyaṁ, katassa vā paticayo; Still, these things, when developed and cultivated, lead to blissful meditation in this life, and also to mindfulness and situational awareness.” api ca kho ime dhammā bhāvitā bahulīkatā diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārāya ceva saṁvattanti satisampajaññāya cā”ti.