Unpenetrated Appaṭividitṅ Sutta (SN 1:7)

- suttas - - evening talks - short morning talks - lectures - guided meditations - talk collections - other themes - chants - - - - à¹à¸à¸¢ - Franā§ais - Espaā±ol - - Portuguāªs - РÑÑÑкий - - - УкÑаÑнÑÑка Submit Search - Home - Suttas - SN - SN 1:7 Unpenetrated ## Browse Suttas Go to Saṃyutta Nikṅya index SN index ## Unpenetrated Appaṭividitṅ Sutta  (SN 1:7) In light of the question as to how best to translate Buddha, this sutta offers evidence in support of the translation, "awakened." The verses draw a direct connection between two words derived from the same root: the adjective sambuddha, a variant of buddha, and the verb pṅbujjhati, which in context clearly means to awaken from sleep. * * * Standing to one side, a devatṅ addressed the Blessed One with a verse: "Those in whom phenomena are unpenetrated, who may be led by the teachings of others: Asleep are they; they havenât awakened. Itâs time for them to awaken." The Buddha: "Those in whom phenomena are well-penetrated, may not be led by the teachings of others. Awakened through right knowing, they go among the discordant harmoniously."1 Note 1. "Dissonant" and "harmoniously" translate visama and sama, which literally mean, "uneven" and "even." Throughout ancient cultures, the terminology of music was used to describe the moral quality of people and actions. Discordant intervals or poorly-tuned musical instruments were metaphors for evil; harmonious intervals and well-tuned instruments, metaphors for good. In Pali, the term sama—"even"—described an instrument tuned on-pitch. There is a famous passage (AN 6:55) where the Buddha reminds Soṃa Koḍivisa—who had been over-exerting himself in the practice—that a lute sounds appealing only if the strings are neither too taut or too lax, but "evenly" tuned. This image would have special resonances with the Buddha's teaching on the middle way. It also adds meaning to the term samaṃa—monk or contemplative—which the texts frequently mention as being derived from sama. The word sṅmaā±ā±a—"evenness," the quality of being in tune—also means the quality of being a contemplative: The true contemplative is always in tune with what is proper and good. This verse has an added play on words, in that the term "well-penetrated" can also mean "well-tuned." See also: MN 41; MN 61; MN 97; AN 6:55; AN 6:63 - --> - - - -