SN35.152 — The Discourse on the Purpose of the Holy Life
Disciples, if wanderers of other sects were to ask you:
Friends, for what purpose is the holy life lived under the ascetic Gotama?
Being asked thus you should answer those wanderers of other sects thus:
Friends, it is for the full understanding of suffering that the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.
But if those wanderers of other sects were to ask you:
But, friends, what is that suffering for the full understanding of which the holy life is lived under the ascetic Gotama?
Being asked thus you should answer those wanderers of other sects thus:
Friends, the eye is suffering; for the full understanding of this, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.
Forms are suffering; for the full understanding of these, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.
Eye-consciousness is suffering; for the full understanding of this, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.
Eye-contact is suffering; for the full understanding of this, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.
Whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as condition: whether pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant: that too is suffering; for the full understanding of this, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One …
the tongue is suffering …
the mind is suffering; for the full understanding of this, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One …
whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition: whether pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant: that too is suffering; for the full understanding of this, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.
This, friends, is the suffering for the full understanding of which the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.
Being asked thus you should answer those wanderers of other sects thus.