MN1 — The Root of All Things Discourse
Thus have I heard:
At one time the Blessed One was staying in Ukkattha, in the Subhaga Forest at the root of a royal sal tree.
There the Blessed One addressed the disciples:
Disciples.
Venerable Sir, those disciples replied to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
I will teach you the root of all things. Listen to it, pay close attention, I will speak.
Yes, Venerable Sir, those disciples replied to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
Here an unlearned ordinary person, who has not seen the noble ones, who is unskilled in the noble teachings, who is undisciplined in the noble teachings, who has not seen the good people, who is unskilled in the teachings of the good people, who is undisciplined in the teachings of the good people: perceives earth as earth; having perceived earth as earth, he conceives earth, he conceives in earth, he conceives from earth, he conceives earth is mine, he delights in earth.
Why is that?
I say it is because it has not been fully understood by him.
He perceives water as water;
having perceived water as water, he conceives water, he conceives in water, he conceives from water, he conceives water is mine, he delights in water.
Why is that?
I say it is because it has not been fully understood by him.
He perceives fire as fire;
having perceived fire as fire, he conceives fire, he conceives in fire, he conceives from fire, he conceives fire is mine, he delights in fire.
Why is that?
I say it is because it has not been fully understood by him.
He perceives air as air;
having perceived air as air, he conceives air, he conceives in air, he conceives from air, he conceives air is mine, he delights in air.
Why is that?
I say it is because it has not been fully understood by him.
He perceives beings as beings;
having perceived beings as beings, he conceives beings, he conceives in beings, he conceives from beings, he conceives beings are mine, he delights in beings.
Why is that?
I say it is because it has not been fully understood by him.
He perceives gods as gods;
having perceived gods as gods, he conceives gods, he conceives in gods, he conceives from gods, he conceives gods are mine, he delights in gods.
Why is that?
I say it is because it has not been fully understood by him.
He perceives the Creator as the Creator;
having perceived the Creator as the Creator, he conceives the Creator, he conceives in the Creator, he conceives from the Creator, he conceives the Creator is mine, he delights in the Creator.
Why is that?
I say it is because it has not been fully understood by him.
One perceives Brahma as Brahma;
having perceived Brahma as Brahma, one conceives Brahma, conceives in Brahma, conceives from Brahma, conceives Brahma is mine, delights in Brahma.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
One perceives the Radiant as the Radiant;
having perceived the Radiant as the Radiant, one conceives the Radiant, conceives in the Radiant, conceives from the Radiant, conceives The Radiant is mine, delights in the Radiant.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
One perceives the Beautiful as the Beautiful;
having perceived the Beautiful as the Beautiful, one conceives the Beautiful, conceives in the Beautiful, conceives from the Beautiful, conceives The Beautiful is mine, delights in the Beautiful.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
One perceives the Fruitful as the Fruitful;
having perceived the Fruitful as the Fruitful, one conceives the Fruitful, conceives in the Fruitful, conceives from the Fruitful, conceives The Fruitful is mine, delights in the Fruitful.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
One perceives the Overcomer as the Overcomer;
having perceived the Overcomer as the Overcomer, one conceives the Overcomer, conceives in the Overcomer, conceives from the Overcomer, conceives The Overcomer is mine, delights in the Overcomer.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
One perceives the Sphere of Infinite Space as the Sphere of Infinite Space;
having perceived the Sphere of Infinite Space as the Sphere of Infinite Space, one conceives the Sphere of Infinite Space, conceives in the Sphere of Infinite Space, conceives from the Sphere of Infinite Space, conceives The Sphere of Infinite Space is mine, delights in the Sphere of Infinite Space.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
One perceives the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness as the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness;
having perceived the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness as the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness, one conceives the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness, conceives in the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness, conceives from the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness, conceives The Sphere of Infinite Consciousness is mine, delights in the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
One perceives the Sphere of Nothingness as the Sphere of Nothingness;
having perceived the Sphere of Nothingness as the Sphere of Nothingness, one conceives the Sphere of Nothingness, conceives in the Sphere of Nothingness, conceives from the Sphere of Nothingness, conceives The Sphere of Nothingness is mine, delights in the Sphere of Nothingness.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
Neither-perception-nor-non-perception is perceived as neither-perception-nor-non-perception;
Having perceived neither-perception-nor-non-perception as neither-perception-nor-non-perception, one conceives neither-perception-nor-non-perception, conceives in neither-perception-nor-non-perception, conceives from neither-perception-nor-non-perception, conceives neither-perception-nor-non-perception is mine, delights in neither-perception-nor-non-perception.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
The seen is perceived as seen;
Having perceived the seen as seen, one conceives the seen, conceives in the seen, conceives from the seen, conceives the seen is mine, delights in the seen.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
The heard is perceived as heard;
Having perceived the heard as heard, one conceives the heard, conceives in the heard, conceives from the heard, conceives the heard is mine, delights in the heard.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
The sensed is perceived as sensed;
Having perceived the sensed as sensed, one conceives the sensed, conceives in the sensed, conceives from the sensed, conceives the sensed is mine, delights in the sensed.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
The cognized is perceived as cognized;
Having perceived the cognized as cognized, one conceives the cognized, conceives in the cognized, conceives from the cognized, conceives the cognized is mine, delights in the cognized.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
Oneness is perceived as oneness;
Having perceived oneness as oneness, one conceives oneness, conceives in oneness, conceives from oneness, conceives oneness is mine, delights in oneness.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
Diversity is perceived as diversity;
Having perceived diversity as diversity, one conceives diversity, conceives in diversity, conceives from diversity, conceives diversity is mine, delights in diversity.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
The all is perceived as the all;
Having perceived the all as the all, one conceives the all, conceives in the all, conceives from the all, conceives the all is mine, delights in the all.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
Nibbana is perceived as nibbana;
Having perceived nibbana as nibbana, one conceives nibbana, conceives in nibbana, conceives from nibbana, conceives nibbana is mine, delights in nibbana.
What is the reason for that?
I say, It is because it has not been fully understood.
The section on the ordinary person is concluded.
And that disciple, Disciples, who is a trainee, with a mind not yet attained, aspiring for the supreme security from bondage, he too directly knows the earth as earth;
having directly known the earth as earth, he should not conceive himself as earth, he should not conceive himself in earth, he should not conceive himself apart from earth, he should not conceive earth to be mine, he should not delight in earth.
Why is that?
I say it is to be fully understood by him.
Water...
Fire...
Air...
Beings...
Deities...
Pajapati...
Brahma...
Radiant...
Beautiful...
Fruitful...
Overcoming...
The realm of infinite space...
The realm of infinite consciousness...
The realm of nothingness...
The realm of neither perception nor non-perception...
What is seen...
What is heard...
What is sensed...
What is cognized...
Unity...
Diversity...
All...
He directly knows Nibbana as Nibbana;
having directly known Nibbana as Nibbana, he should not conceive himself as Nibbana, he should not conceive himself in Nibbana, he should not conceive himself apart from Nibbana, he should not conceive Nibbana to be mine, he should not delight in Nibbana.
Why is that?
I say it is to be fully understood by him.
The section on the trainee is concluded.
And that disciple, Disciples, who is an Arahant, with taints destroyed, who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached his own goal, destroyed the fetters of being, and is completely liberated through final knowing, he too directly knows the earth as earth;
having directly known the earth as earth, he does not conceive himself as earth, he does not conceive himself in earth, he does not conceive himself apart from earth, he does not conceive earth to be mine, he does not delight in earth.
Why is that?
I say it is fully understood by him.
Water...
Fire...
Air...
Beings...
Deities...
Pajapati...
Brahma...
Radiant...
Beautiful...
Fruitful...
Overcoming...
The realm of infinite space...
The realm of infinite consciousness...
The realm of nothingness...
The realm of neither perception nor non-perception...
What is seen...
What is heard...
What is sensed...
What is cognized...
Unity...
Diversity...
All...
He directly knows Nibbana as Nibbana;
having directly known Nibbana as Nibbana, he does not conceive himself as Nibbana, he does not conceive himself in Nibbana, he does not conceive himself apart from Nibbana, he does not conceive Nibbana to be mine, he does not delight in Nibbana.
Why is that?
I say it is fully understood by him.
The section on the one with taints destroyed is concluded.
And that disciple, Disciples, who is an Arahant, with taints destroyed, who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached his own goal, destroyed the fetters of being, and is completely liberated through final knowing, he too directly knows the earth as earth;
He understands the earth as earth, but he does not conceive the earth, he does not conceive in the earth, he does not conceive from the earth, he does not conceive earth is mine, he does not delight in the earth.
Why is that?
Because of the destruction of lust, through the absence of lust.
Water...
Fire...
Air...
Beings...
Deities...
Pajapati...
Brahma...
Radiant...
Beautiful...
Fruitful...
Overcoming...
The realm of infinite space...
The realm of infinite consciousness...
The realm of nothingness...
The realm of neither perception nor non-perception...
What is seen...
What is heard...
What is sensed...
What is known...
Oneness...
Diversity...
All...
He understands Nibbana as Nibbana; having understood Nibbana as Nibbana, he does not conceive Nibbana, he does not conceive in Nibbana, he does not conceive from Nibbana, he does not conceive Nibbana is mine, he does not delight in Nibbana.
Why is that?
Because of the destruction of lust, through the absence of lust.
The section on the fourth method of the destruction of the taints is completed.
And that disciple, Disciples, who is an Arahant, with taints destroyed, who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached the true goal, destroyed the fetters of being, and is completely liberated through final knowing, he too understands the earth as earth; having understood the earth as earth, he does not conceive the earth, he does not conceive in the earth, he does not conceive from the earth, he does not conceive earth is mine, he does not delight in the earth.
Why is that?
Because of the destruction of hatred, through the absence of hatred.
Water...
Fire...
Air...
Beings...
Deities...
Pajapati...
Brahma...
Radiant...
Beautiful...
Fruitful...
Overcoming...
The realm of infinite space...
The realm of infinite consciousness...
The realm of nothingness...
The realm of neither perception nor non-perception...
What is seen...
What is heard...
What is sensed...
What is known...
Oneness...
Diversity...
All...
He understands Nibbana as Nibbana; having understood Nibbana as Nibbana, he does not conceive Nibbana, he does not conceive in Nibbana, he does not conceive from Nibbana, he does not conceive Nibbana is mine, he does not delight in Nibbana.
Why is that?
Because of the destruction of hatred, through the absence of hatred.
The section on the fifth method of the destruction of the taints is completed.
And that disciple, Disciples, who is an Arahant, with taints destroyed, who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached the true goal, destroyed the fetters of being, and is completely liberated through final knowing, he too understands the earth as earth; having understood the earth as earth, he does not conceive the earth, he does not conceive in the earth, he does not conceive from the earth, he does not conceive earth is mine, he does not delight in the earth.
Why is that?
Because of the destruction of delusion, due to being free from delusion.
Water...
Fire...
Air...
Elements...
Deities...
Lord of beings...
Brahma...
Radiant realm...
Beautiful realm...
Fruitful realm...
Overcoming...
Realm of infinite space...
Realm of infinite consciousness...
Realm of nothingness...
Realm of neither perception nor non-perception...
Seen...
Heard...
Sensed...
Known...
Unity...
Diversity...
All...
He knows Nirvana as Nirvana;
Having known Nirvana as Nirvana, he does not conceive Nirvana, he does not conceive in Nirvana, he does not conceive from Nirvana, he does not conceive Nirvana is mine, he does not delight in Nirvana.
Why is that?
Because of the destruction of delusion, due to being free from delusion.
With the destruction of the taints, the sixth level of understanding is completed.
The Tathagata the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, knows the earth as earth;
Having known the earth as earth, he does not conceive the earth, he does not conceive in the earth, he does not conceive from the earth, he does not conceive the earth is mine, he does not delight in the earth.
Why is that?
I say it is because it has been fully understood by the Tathagata.
Water...
Fire...
Air...
Elements...
Deities...
Lord of beings...
Brahma...
Radiant realm...
Beautiful realm...
Fruitful realm...
Overcoming...
Realm of infinite space...
Realm of infinite consciousness...
Realm of nothingness...
Realm of neither perception nor non-perception...
Seen...
Heard...
Sensed...
Known...
Unity...
Diversity...
All...
He knows Nirvana as Nirvana;
Having known Nirvana as Nirvana, he does not conceive Nirvana, he does not conceive in Nirvana, he does not conceive from Nirvana, he does not conceive Nirvana is mine, he does not delight in Nirvana.
Why is that?
I say it is because it has been fully understood by the Tathagata.
With the Tathagata, the seventh level of understanding is completed.
The Tathagata the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, knows the earth as earth;
Having known the earth as earth, he does not conceive the earth, he does not conceive in the earth, he does not conceive from the earth, he does not conceive the earth is mine, he does not delight in the earth.
Why is that?
Because delight is the root of suffering:
Thus knowing, Existence is birth, aging, and death of the being.
Therefore I say that the Tathagata, having completely destroyed craving, with dispassion, cessation, relinquishment, and renunciation, has fully awakened to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment.
Water …
Fire …
Air …
Beings …
Deities …
Pajapati …
Brahma …
Radiant …
Beautiful …
Fruitful …
Master …
Realm of Infinite Space …
Realm of Infinite Consciousness …
Realm of Nothingness …
Realm of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception …
Seen …
Heard …
Sensed …
Known …
Unity …
Diversity …
All …
He knows Nirvana as Nirvana;
Having known Nirvana as Nirvana, he does not conceive Nirvana, he does not conceive in Nirvana, he does not conceive from Nirvana, he does not conceive Nirvana is mine, he does not delight in Nirvana.
What is the reason for this?
Delight is the root of suffering:
Thus knowing, From becoming comes birth, from birth comes aging and death.
Therefore The Tathagata, through the complete destruction, fading away, cessation, giving up, and relinquishment of all craving, is fully awakened to unsurpassed perfect enlightenment, I say.
Thus the section on the eightfold analysis of the Tathagata is concluded.
The Blessed One said this.
The disciples did not delight in the Blessed One's words.
The Root of All Things Discourse is concluded.