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The Teachings of the Buddha, (Translation by Myanmar Authors)

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Na santi Sutta
Nala Vagga, Devata Samyutta
Sagatha Vagga Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

SOURCE: "FIVE SAMYUTTAS FROM SAGATHAVAGGA SAMYUTTA"
Translated by U Tin U (Myaung), Yangon
Edited by the Editorial Committee, Burma (Myanmar) Tipitaka Association, 1998

4. Na santi Sutta
Discourse on Non-existence of permanent Sense-objects

        34. At one time the Bhagava was staying at the Jetavana monastery of Anathapindika in Savatthi. During that time, soon after the middle watch of the night, many devas of exceeding beauty, who became devas by (practising and) imparting the doctrine of the virtuous, approached the Bhagava, illuminating the entire Jetavana monastery. They made their obeisance to the Bhagava and stood at a suitable place. Having stood thus, one of them spoke thus in verse in the presence of the Bhagava:

        "Among people there do not exist permanent sense pleasures.

        In this world there are desirable sense-objects. The man who is bound by them, and who is intoxicated by them, cannot proceed from the thirty-one planes of existences which are the domain of death to Nibbana."

        (The Bhagava said:)

        "Due to Craving, the mental and physical aggregates come about;

        due to craving, dukkha comes about.

        When Craving is removed, there will be no mental and physical aggregates.

        When the mental and physical aggregates disappear, there will be no dukkha.

        "In the world it is not just the various pleasant things that can be called sense-pleasures.

        In fact the craving that arises from a man's thinking is also sense-pleasure.

        In the world these various pleasant things exist by themselves.

        however, the wise remove any craving for them.

        "Dukkha does not fall on one who gives up anger, who gives up conceit, who overcomes all fetters, who is not attached to the complex of mental and physical phenomena and who is unperturbed.2

        One who can no longer be called a person with attachment, a person with hatred, a person with bewilderment, one who is without conceit, one who has cut off craving for this mind-matter complexs, one who has cut off the (four) bonds, one who is free from suffering and is without longing, --- the rebirth of such a one (after death and dissolution) when searched for by devas or human beings can not be found in this world, or in another world, or in the world of devas, or in any abode of existence.3"

        (The Venerable Mogharaja asked thus:)

        'If that person who is liberated (from defilements) cannot be found by devas and human beings in this world or any other world, should those who worship such a person who excells mankind and who conducts himself for the benefit of mankind be praised?"

        (The Bhagava said:)

        "Bhikkhu (Mogharaja), those who worship such a liberated one (i.e., an arahat) deserve praise. Bhikkhu, those worshippers too, comprehending the Four Ariya Truths, and removing doubt, can escape the craving that cleaves."

End of the Na Santi Sutta,

the fourth in this vaga.


        1. Nibbana apunagamana: lit,. from where there is no return.

        2. Unperturbed: akificanam: due to absence of living defilements.

        3. Such a one is an arahat.