The Riddle Tree Kiṃsuka Sutta (SN 35:204) · 莲华归心开放中文佛学资料库

- suttas - - evening talks - short morning talks - lectures - guided meditations - talk collections - other themes - chants - - - - à¹à¸à¸¢ - Franā§ais - Espaā±ol - - Portuguāªs - Ð ÑÑÑÐºÐ¸Ð¹ - - - Ð£ÐºÑÐ°ÑÐ½ÑÑÐºÐ° Submit Search - Home - Suttas - SN - SN 35:204 The Riddle Tree ## Browse Suttas Go to Saṃyutta Nikṅya index SN index ## The Riddle Tree Kiṃsuka Sutta Â (SNÂ 35:204) A certain monk went to another monk and, on arrival, said to him, "To what extent, my friend, is a monkâs vision said to be well-purified?" "When a monk discerns, as it has come to be, the origination & passing away of the six media of sensory contact, my friend, it is to that extent that his vision is said to be well-purified." The first monk, dissatisfied with the other monkâs answer to his question, went to still another monk and, on arrival, said to him, "To what extent, my friend, is a monkâs vision said to be well-purified?" "When a monk discerns, as it has come to be, the origination & passing away of the five clinging-aggregates, my friend, it is to that extent that his vision is said to be well-purified." The first monk, dissatisfied with this monkâs answer to his question, went to still another monk and, on arrival, said to him, "To what extent, my friend, is a monkâs vision said to be well-purified?" "When a monk discerns, as it has come to be, the origination & passing away of the four great elements [earth, water, wind, & fire], my friend, it is to that extent that his vision is said to be well-purified." The first monk, dissatisfied with this monkâs answer to his question, went to still another monk and, on arrival, said to him, "To what extent, my friend, is a monkâs vision said to be well-purified?" "When a monk discerns, as it has come to be, that whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation, my friend, it is to that extent that his vision is said to be well-purified." The first monk, dissatisfied with this monkâs answer to his question, then went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he [reported to the Blessed One his conversations with the other monks. The Blessed One then said:] "Monk, itâs as if there were a man who had never seen a riddle tree.1 He would go to another man who had seen one and, on arrival, would say to him, ), # Right single quote ('â', What, my good man, is a riddle tree like?â "The other would say, ), # Right single quote ('â', A riddle tree is black, my good man, like a burnt stump.â For at the time he saw it, thatâs what the riddle tree was like. "Then the first man, dissatisfied with the other manâs answer, went to still another man who had seen a riddle tree and, on arrival, said to him, ), # Right single quote ('â', What, my good man, is a riddle tree like?â "The other would say, ), # Right single quote ('â', A riddle tree is red, my good man, like a lump of meat.â For at the time he saw it, thatâs what the riddle tree was like. "Then the first man, dissatisfied with this manâs answer, went to still another man who had seen a riddle tree and, on arrival, said to him, ), # Right single quote ('â', What, my good man, is a riddle tree like?â "The other would say, ), # Right single quote ('â', A riddle tree is stripped of its bark, my good man, and has burst pods, like an acacia tree.â For at the time he saw it, thatâs what the riddle tree was like. "Then the first man, dissatisfied with this manâs answer, went to still another man who had seen a riddle tree and, on arrival, said to him, ), # Right single quote ('â', What, my good man, is a riddle tree like?â "The other would say, ), # Right single quote ('â', A riddle tree has thick foliage, my good man, and gives a dense shade, like a banyan.â For at the time he saw it, thatâs what the riddle tree was like. "In the same way, monk, however those intelligent men of integrity were focused when their vision became well purified is the way in which they answered. "Suppose, monk, that there were a royal frontier fortress with strong ramparts, strong walls & arches, and six gates. In it would be a wise, competent, intelligent gatekeeper to keep out those he didnât know and to let in those he did. A swift pair of messengers, coming from the east, would say to the gatekeeper, ), # Right single quote ('â', Where, my good man, is the commander of this fortress?â He would say, ), # Right single quote ('â', There he is, sirs, sitting in the central square.â The swift pair of messengers, delivering their accurate report to the commander of the fortress, would then go back by the route by which they had come. Then a swift pair of messengers, coming from the westâ¦ the northâ¦ the south, would say to the gatekeeper, ), # Right single quote ('â', Where, my good man, is the commander of this fortress?â He would say, ), # Right single quote ('â', There he is, sirs, sitting in the central square.â The swift pair of messengers, delivering their accurate report to the commander of