[MADwanker]

Dear forum

I recently read this sutta for the first time.

I found it interesting because it simply describes Dependent Origination in four links and uses the simple word 'acquisition' (upadhi).

For me, 'acquisition' is to take possession of or appropriate things and regard them as "I", "me" or "mine".


SN 12.66 - Sammasa Sutta - Exploration

Bhikkhus, do you engage in inward exploration?

Here bhikkhus, when engaged in inward exploration, a bhikkhu explores thus:

There are many diverse kinds of suffering that arise in the world [headed by] aging-and-death.

What is the source of this suffering, what is its origin, from what is it born and produced? When what exists does aging-and-death come to be? When what does not exist does aging-and-death not come to be?

As he explores he understands thus:

This suffering has acquisition as its source, acquisition as its origin; it is born and produced from acquisition. When there is acquisition, aging-and-death comes to be; when there is no acquisition, aging-and-death does not come to be.

Then, engaging further in inward exploration, he explores thus:

What is the source of this acquisition, what is its origin, from what is it born and produced? When what exists does acquisition come to be? When what does not exist does acquisition not come to be?

As he explores he understands thus:

Acquisition has craving as its source, craving as its origin; it is born and produced from craving. When there is craving , acquisition comes to be; when there is no craving, acquisition not come to be.

Then, engaging further in inward exploration, he explores thus:

When craving arises, where does it arise? When it settles down, upon what does it settle?

As he explores he understands thus:

Whatever in the world has a pleasant and agreeable nature: it is here that this craving arises when it arises; it is here that it settles when it settles down. And what in the world has a pleasant and agreeable nature? The eye has a pleasant and agreeable nature in the world; it is here that this craving arises when it arises; it is here that it settles when it settles down. So too the ear, the nose, the tongue, the body and the mind have a pleasant and agreeable nature in the world; it is here that this craving arises when it arises; it is here that it settles when it settles down.

Bhikkhus, whatever ascetics and brahmins regard that in the world with a pleasant and agreeable nature as permanent, as happiness, as self, as healthy, as secure; they nurture craving. In nurturing craving, they nurture acquisition. In nurturing acquisition, they nurture suffering. In nurturing suffering, they are not freed from birth, aging and death; they are not freed from sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair; they are not freed from suffering, I say.

Bhikkhus, whatever ascetics and brahmins regard that in the world with a pleasant and agreeable nature as impermanent, as suffering, as not-self, as a disease, as fearful; they have abandoned craving. In abandoning craving, they abandon acquisition. In abandoning acquisition, they abandon suffering. In abandoning suffering, they are freed from birth, aging and death; they are freed from sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair; they are freed from suffering, I say.

Suppose, bhikkhus, there was a bronze cup of a beverage having fine colour, aroma and taste but it was mixed with poison. Then a man would come along, oppressed and afflicted by the heat, tired, parched and thirsty. They would tell him: "Good man, this beverage in the bronze cup has a fine colour, aroma and taste but it is mixed with poison. Drink it if you wish. If you drink it, it will gratify you with its colour, aroma and taste but by drinking it you will meet with death or deadly suffering." Suddenly, without reflecting, he would drink the beverage - he would not reject it - and thereby he would meet death or deadly suffering.

Suppose, bhikkhus, there was a bronze cup of a beverage having fine colour, aroma and taste but it was mixed with poison. Then a man would come along, oppressed and afflicted by the heat, tired, parched and thirsty. They would tell him: "Good man, this beverage in the bronze cup has a fine colour, aroma and taste but it is mixed with poison. Drink it if you wish. If you drink it, it will gratify you with its colour, aroma and taste but by drinking it you will meet with death or deadly suffering." Then the man would think: "I can quench my thirst with water, whey, porridge or soup, but I should not drink that beverage, since to do so would lead to my harm and suffering for a long time". Having reflected, he would not drink the beverage but would reject it. Thereby he would not meet death or deadly suffering.

~~~

Excerpts from translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi