The Parayana Vagga - Bhadravudha's Question

24. How this Dhamma has been known to the Buddha?

A: Subdue craving & clinging — all — above, below, across, in between. For whatever people cling to in the world, it's through that that Mara pursues them. So a monk, mindful, seeing these people clinging to entanglement as entangled in Death's realm, should cling to nothing in all the world, every world.

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Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The Parayana Vagga - Jatukannin's Question

23. Tell me the state of peace. Tell me as it actually is. Teach me to know the Dhamma, the abandoning here of birth & aging.

A: Subdue greed for sensual pleasures, & see renunciation as rest. Let there be nothing grasped or rejected by you. Burn up what's before, and have nothing for after. If you don't grasp at what's in between, you will go about, calm. One completely devoid of greed for name & form has no effluents by which he would go under Mara's sway.

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Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The Parayana Vagga - Kappa's Question

22. For one stranded in the middle of the lake, in the flood of great danger — birth — overwhelmed with aging & death: Tell me the island and show me the island so that this may not happen again.

A: Having nothing, clinging to no thing: That is the island, there is no other. That's Unbinding, the total ending of aging & death. Those knowing this, mindful, fully unbound in the here & now, don't serve as Mara's servants, don't come under Mara's sway.

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Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The Parayana Vagga - Todeyya's Questions

20. One in whom there dwell no sensualities; one in whom no craving is found; one who has crossed over perplexity — his emancipation: what is it like?

A: One in whom there dwell no sensualities; one in whom no craving is found; one who has crossed over perplexity — his emancipation is not other than that.



21. Is he without desire, or desiring? Discerning or still acquiring discernment? Describe the sage to me so that I may recognize what he is like.

A: He's without desire, not desiring; discerning, not still acquiring discernment. Recognize the sage as having nothing, unentangled in sensuality & becoming.

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Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The Parayana Vagga - Hemaka's Question

19. Teach me the Dhamma demolishing craving, knowing which, living mindfully, one would cross over beyond entanglement in the world.

A: With regard to things that are dear — seen, heard, sensed, & cognized — there is: the dispelling of passion & desire, the undying state of Unbinding. Those knowing this, mindful, fully unbound in the here & now, are forever calmed, have crossed over beyond entanglement in the world.



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Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The Parayana Vagga - Nanda's Questions

16. Do they call one a sage for possessing knowledge or possessing a way of life?

A: Not on account of his views, learning, or knowledge do the skilled here call one a sage. Those who live disarmed, undesiring, untroubled: those are called sages.



17. Whatever priests & contemplatives describe purity in terms of views & learning, describe purity in terms of precepts & practices, describe purity in terms of manifold ways: have they living there in that way, crossed over birth & aging?

A: Whatever priests & contemplatives describe purity in terms of views & learning, describe purity in terms of precepts & practices, describe purity in terms of manifold ways: none of them, living there in that way, have crossed over birth & aging.


18. Whatever priests & contemplatives describe purity in terms of views & learning, describe purity in terms of precepts & practices, describe purity in terms of manifold ways: if they've not crossed over the flood, then who in the world of beings divine & human has crossed over birth & aging?

A: Not all priests & contemplatives are shrouded in birth & aging. Those here who've abandoned what's seen, heard, & sensed, precepts & practices — all — who've abandoned their manifold ways — again, all — who, comprehending craving, are effluent-free: they are the ones who've crossed over the flood.






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Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The Parayana Vagga - Upasiva's Questions

12. Tell me the support to rely on for crossing over this flood.

A: Mindfully focused on nothingness, relying on 'There isn't,' you should cross over the flood. Abandoning sensual pleasures, abstaining from conversations, keep watch for the ending of craving, night & day.



13. One free from passion for all sensual pleasures relying on nothingness, letting go of all else, released in the highest emancipation of perception: Does he stay there unaffected?

A: One free from passion for all sensual pleasures relying on nothingness, letting go of all else, released in the highest emancipation of perception: He stays there unaffected.



14. If he stays there unaffected for many years, right there would he be cooled & released? Would his consciousness be like that?

A: As a flame overthrown by the force of the wind goes to an end that cannot be classified, so the sage free from naming activity goes to an end that cannot be classified.



15. He who has reached the end: Does he not exist, or is he for eternity free from dis-ease? Please declare this to me.

A: One who has reached the end has no criterion by which anyone would say that — for him it doesn't exist. When all phenomena are done away with, all means of speaking are done away with as well.

translated from the Pali by

Thanissaro Bhikkhu