#2. The Second Chapter

Rāhula asks how to see so conceit no longer occurs and one is peaceful. The Buddha teaches him to investigate the five aggregates in terms of not-selfAt Sāvatthī. Then Venerable Rāhula went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Sir, how does one know and see so that the mind is rid of ego, possessiveness, and conceit for this conscious body and all external stimuli; and going beyond discrimination, it’s peaceful and well freed? [Read More]

Rāhula asks how to see so that conceit no longer occurs. The Buddha teaches him to investigate the five aggregates in terms of not-self.At Sāvatthī. Then Venerable Rāhula went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Sir, how does one know and see so that there’s no ego, possessiveness, or underlying tendency to conceit for this conscious body and all external stimuli?” “Rāhula, one truly sees any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; coarse or fine; inferior or superior; far or near: all form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self. [Read More]

The Buddha teaches Rāhula about the senses, aggregates, and elements in light of the three characteristics.At Sāvatthī. “What do you think, Rāhula? Are sights permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, sir.” … “… sounds … smells … tastes … touches … thoughts …” “… eye consciousness … ear consciousness … nose consciousness … tongue consciousness … body consciousness … mind consciousness …” “… eye contact … ear contact … nose contact … tongue contact … body contact … mind contact …” “… feeling born of eye contact … feeling born of ear contact … feeling born of nose contact … feeling born of tongue contact … feeling born of body contact … feeling born of mind contact …” “… perception of sights … perception of sounds … perception of smells … perception of tastes … perception of touches … perception of thoughts …” “… intention regarding sights … intention regarding sounds … intention regarding smells … intention regarding tastes … intention regarding touches … intention regarding thoughts …” “… craving for sights … craving for sounds … craving for smells … craving for tastes … craving for touches … craving for thoughts …” “… the earth element … the water element … the fire element … the air element … the space element … the consciousness element …” “… form … feeling … perception … choices … Is consciousness permanent or impermanent? [Read More]

The Buddha teaches Rāhula about the internal sense organs in light of the three characteristics.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī. Then Venerable Rāhula went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: “What do you think, Rāhula? Is the eye permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, sir.” “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?” “Suffering, sir. [Read More]

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which can corrupt the mind even of a pure mendicant.At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, when I’ve comprehended the mind of a certain person, I understand: ‘This venerable would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of a gold coin.’ … ‘… for the sake of a hundred gold coins.’ … ‘… for the sake of a gold doubloon.’ … ‘… for the sake of a hundred gold doubloons. [Read More]

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which can corrupt the mind even of a pure mendicant.At Sāvatthī. “Possessions, honor, and popularity are brutal … When I’ve comprehended the mind of a certain person, I understand: ‘This venerable would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of a silver bowl filled with gold powder.’ But some time later I see them tell a deliberate lie because their mind is overcome and overwhelmed by possessions, honor, and popularity. [Read More]

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which can corrupt the mind even of a pure mendicant.At Sāvatthī. “Possessions, honor, and popularity are brutal … When I’ve comprehended the mind of a certain person, I understand: ‘This venerable would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of a golden bowl filled with silver powder.’ But some time later I see them tell a deliberate lie because their mind is overcome and overwhelmed by possessions, honor, and popularity. [Read More]

The Buddha recounts how peoples of the past had different names for the mountains of Rājagaha. Yet now they have all goneAt one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this: “Mendicants, transmigration has no known beginning. No first point is found of sentient beings roaming and transmigrating, hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving. [Read More]

It is not easy to find a being who has not been your daughter.At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, transmigration has no known beginning. No first point is found of sentient beings roaming and transmigrating, hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving. It’s not easy to find a sentient being who in all this long time has not previously been your daughter. Why is that? Transmigration has no known beginning. No first point is found of sentient beings roaming and transmigrating, hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving. [Read More]