The Monk Bhikkhu Sutta (SN 22:36)

- 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 22:36 The Monk ## Browse Suttas Go to Saṃyutta Nikṅya index SN index ## The Monk Bhikkhu Sutta  (SN 22:36) Some people have said that the Buddhaâs teachings on the aggregates constitute his analysis of what we truly are; and that because the aggregates are impermanent and interdependent, we have an impermanent, interdependent self. This sutta, however, shows that we can be analyzed into the aggregates only if we feel obsession or attachment for them. If we donât feel these things, thereâs no way we can be measured, classified, or defined. * * * Near Sṅvatthī. Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One: "It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief such that, having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, secluded, heedful, ardent, & resolute." "Monk, whatever one stays obsessed with,1 thatâs what one is measured by. Whatever one is measured by, thatâs how one is classified. Whatever one doesnât stay obsessed with, thatâs not what one is measured by. Whatever one isnât measured by, thatâs not how one is classified." "I understand, O Blessed One! I understand, O One Well-Gone!" "And how, monk, do you understand the detailed meaning of what I have said in brief?" "If one stays obsessed with form, lord, thatâs what one is measured by. Whatever one is measured by, thatâs how one is classified. "If one stays obsessed with feeling.⦠"If one stays obsessed with perception.⦠"If one stays obsessed with fabrications.⦠"If one stays obsessed with consciousness, thatâs what one is measured by. Whatever one is measured by, thatâs how one is classified.2 "But if one doesnât stay obsessed with form, lord, thatâs not what one is measured by. Whatever one isnât measured by, thatâs not how one is classified. "If one doesnât stay obsessed with feeling.⦠"If one doesnât stay obsessed with perception.⦠"If one doesnât stay obsessed with fabrications.⦠"If one doesnât stay obsessed with consciousness, thatâs not what one is measured by. Whatever one isnât measured by, thatâs not how one is classified.3 "Lord, this is how I understand the detailed meaning of what you have said in brief." "Good, monk. Very good. Itâs good that this is how you understand the detailed meaning of what I have said in brief. "If one stays obsessed with form, monk, thatâs what one is measured by. Whatever one is measured by, thatâs how one is classified. "If one stays obsessed with feeling.⦠"If one stays obsessed with perception.⦠"If one stays obsessed with fabrications.⦠"If one stays obsessed with consciousness, thatâs what one is measured by. Whatever one is measured by, thatâs how one is classified. "But if one doesnât stay obsessed with form, monk, thatâs not what one is measured by. Whatever one isnât measured by, thatâs not how one is classified. "If one doesnât stay obsessed with feeling.⦠"If one doesnât stay obsessed with perception.⦠"If one doesnât stay obsessed with fabrications.⦠"If one doesnât stay obsessed with consciousness, thatâs not what one is measured by. Whatever one isnât measured by, thatâs not how one is classified. "This is how the detailed meaning of what I have said in brief should be seen." Then the monk, delighting in and approving of the Blessed Oneâs words, got up from his seat and bowed down to the Blessed One, circled around him, keeping the Blessed One to his right, and departed. Then, dwelling alone, secluded, heedful, ardent, & resolute, he in no long time entered & remained in the supreme goal of the holy life for which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, directly knowing & realizing it for himself in the here & now. He knew: "Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for the sake of this world." And thus he became another one of the arahants. Notes 1. The obsessions are: the obsession of sensual passion, the obsession of resistance, the obsession of views, the obsession of uncertainty, the obsession of conceit, the obsession of passion for becoming, and the obsession of ignorance. See AN 7:12. 2. See SN 23:2 3. See MN 72 - --> - - - -