เผณปิณฺฑูปมํ รูปํ✎ ร่าง
“Pheṇapiṇḍūpamaṁ rūpaṁ,
“Form is like a lump of foam;
—
Saṁyutta Nikāya 22.95
Linked Discourses 22.95
—
10. Pupphavagga
10. Flowers
—
Pheṇapiṇḍūpamasutta
A Lump of Foam
—
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā ayujjhāyaṁ viharati gaṅgāya nadiyā tīre.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Ayodhya on the bank of the Ganges river.
—
Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:
เวท✎ ร่าง
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ayaṁ gaṅgā nadī mahantaṁ pheṇapiṇḍaṁ āvaheyya. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso passeyya nijjhāyeyya yoniso upaparikkheyya. Tassa taṁ passato nijjhāyato yoniso upaparikkhato rittakaññeva khāyeyya, tucchakaññeva khāyeyya, asārakaññeva khāyeyya. Kiñhi siyā, bhikkhave, pheṇapiṇḍe sāro?
“Mendicants, suppose this Ganges river was carrying along a big lump of foam. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in a lump of foam?
อ้างอิงPTS 3.141 · ฉัฏฐสังคายนา 25.127 · พุทธชยันตี 15.242
นา✎ ร่าง
Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yaṁ kiñci rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ …pe… yaṁ dūre santike vā taṁ bhikkhu passati nijjhāyati yoniso upaparikkhati. Tassa taṁ passato nijjhāyato yoniso upaparikkhato rittakaññeva khāyati, tucchakaññeva khāyati, asārakaññeva khāyati. Kiñhi siyā, bhikkhave, rūpe sāro?
In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; coarse or fine; inferior or superior; near or far—examining it rationally. And it appears to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in form?
ปุพฺพุฬ✎ ร่าง
Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, saradasamaye thullaphusitake deve vassante udake udakapubbuḷaṁ uppajjati ceva nirujjhati ca. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso passeyya nijjhāyeyya yoniso upaparikkheyya. Tassa taṁ passato nijjhāyato yoniso upaparikkhato rittakaññeva khāyeyya, tucchakaññeva khāyeyya, asārakaññeva khāyeyya. Kiñhi siyā, bhikkhave, udakapubbuḷe sāro?
Suppose it was autumn, when the heavens rain heavily, and a bubble on the water forms and pops right away. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in a water bubble?
อ้างอิงสยามรัฐ 17.172
—
Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yā kāci vedanā atītānāgatapaccuppannā …pe… yā dūre santike vā taṁ bhikkhu passati nijjhāyati yoniso upaparikkhati. Tassa taṁ passato nijjhāyato yoniso upaparikkhato rittakaññeva khāyati, tucchakaññeva khāyati, asārakaññeva khāyati. Kiñhi siyā, bhikkhave, vedanāya sāro?
In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of feeling at all … examining it rationally. And it appears to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in feeling?
—
Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gimhānaṁ pacchime māse ṭhite majjhanhike kāle marīcikā phandati. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso passeyya nijjhāyeyya yoniso upaparikkheyya. Tassa taṁ passato nijjhāyato yoniso upaparikkhato rittakaññeva khāyeyya, tucchakaññeva khāyeyya …pe… kiñhi siyā, bhikkhave, marīcikāya sāro?
Suppose that in the last month of summer, at noon, a shimmering mirage appears. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in a mirage?
—
Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yā kāci saññā …pe….
In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of perception at all … examining it carefully. And it appears to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in perception?
—
Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno tiṇhaṁ kuṭhāriṁ ādāya vanaṁ paviseyya. So tattha passeyya mahantaṁ kadalikkhandhaṁ ujuṁ navaṁ akukkukajātaṁ. Tamenaṁ mūle chindeyya; mūle chetvā agge chindeyya, agge chetvā pattavaṭṭiṁ vinibbhujeyya. So tassa pattavaṭṭiṁ vinibbhujanto pheggumpi nādhigaccheyya, kuto sāraṁ. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso passeyya nijjhāyeyya yoniso upaparikkheyya. Tassa taṁ passato nijjhāyato yoniso upaparikkhato rittakaññeva khāyeyya, tucchakaññeva khāyeyya, asārakaññeva khāyeyya. Kiñhi siyā, bhikkhave, kadalikkhandhe sāro?
Suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. Wandering in search of heartwood, they’d take a sharp axe and enter a forest. There they’d see a big banana trunk, straight and young and grown unskewed. They’d cut it down at the base, cut off the top, and unroll the coiled sheaths. But they wouldn’t even find sapwood, much less heartwood. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in a banana trunk?
อ้างอิงPTS 3.142 · สยามรัฐ 17.173 · ฉัฏฐสังคายนา 25.128 · พุทธชยันตี 15.244
—
Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye keci saṅkhārā atītānāgatapaccuppannā …pe… ye dūre santike vā taṁ bhikkhu passati nijjhāyati yoniso upaparikkhati. Tassa taṁ passato nijjhāyato yoniso upaparikkhato rittakaññeva khāyati, tucchakaññeva khāyati, asārakaññeva khāyati. Kiñhi siyā, bhikkhave, saṅkhāresu sāro?
In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of choices at all … examining them rationally. And they appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in choices?
—
Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, māyākāro vā māyākārantevāsī vā catumahāpathe māyaṁ vidaṁseyya. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso passeyya nijjhāyeyya yoniso upaparikkheyya. Tassa taṁ passato nijjhāyato yoniso upaparikkhato rittakaññeva khāyeyya, tucchakaññeva khāyeyya, asārakaññeva khāyeyya. Kiñhi siyā, bhikkhave, māyāya sāro?
Suppose an illusionist or their apprentice was to demonstrate an illusion at the crossroads. And a person with clear eyes would see it and contemplate it, examining it rationally. And it would appear to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in an illusion?
—
Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ …pe… yaṁ dūre santike vā, taṁ bhikkhu passati nijjhāyati yoniso upaparikkhati. Tassa taṁ passato nijjhāyato yoniso upaparikkhato rittakaññeva khāyati, tucchakaññeva khāyati, asārakaññeva khāyati. Kiñhi siyā, bhikkhave, viññāṇe sāro?
In the same way, a mendicant sees and contemplates any kind of consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; coarse or fine; inferior or superior; near or far—examining it rationally. And it appears to them as completely vacuous, hollow, and insubstantial. For what substance could there be in consciousness?
—
Evaṁ passaṁ, bhikkhave, sutavā ariyasāvako rūpasmimpi nibbindati, vedanāyapi … saññāyapi … saṅkhāresupi … viññāṇasmimpi nibbindati.
Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with form, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness.
อ้างอิงสยามรัฐ 17.174
—
Nibbindaṁ virajjati; virāgā vimuccati. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti …pe…
Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.
—
nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānāti”.
They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”
—
Idamavoca bhagavā.
That is what the Buddha said.
—
Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
ูปมา✎ ร่าง
vedanā bubbuḷūpamā;
feeling is like a bubble;
มรีจิกูปมา สญฺญา✎ ร่าง
Marīcikūpamā saññā,
perception seems like a mirage;
สงฺขารา กทลูปมา✎ ร่าง
saṅkhārā kadalūpamā;
choices like a banana plant;
มายูปมญฺจ วิญฺญาณํ✎ ร่าง
Māyūpamañca viññāṇaṁ,
and consciousness like an illusion:
เทสิตาทิจฺจพนฺธุนา ๑- ฯ✎ ร่าง
desitādiccabandhunā.
so taught the kinsman of the Sun.
ยถา ๒- ยถา นิชฺฌายติ✎ ร่าง
Yathā yathā nijjhāyati,
However you contemplate them,
อ้างอิงพุทธชยันตี 15.246
โยนิโส อุปปริกฺขติ✎ ร่าง
yoniso upaparikkhati;
examining them rationally,
ริตฺตกํ ตุจฺฉกํ โหติ✎ ร่าง
Rittakaṁ tucchakaṁ hoti,
they’re vacuous and hollow
โย นํ ปสฺสติ โยนิโส ฯ✎ ร่าง
yo naṁ passati yoniso.
when you look at them closely.
อิมญฺจ กายํ อารพฺภ✎ ร่าง
Imañca kāyaṁ ārabbha,
Concerning this body,
อ้างอิงPTS 3.143 · ฉัฏฐสังคายนา 25.129
ภูริปญฺเญน เทสิตํ✎ ร่าง
bhūripaññena desitaṁ;
he of vast wisdom has taught
ปหานํ ๓- ติณฺณํ ธมฺมานํ✎ ร่าง
Pahānaṁ tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ,
that when three things are given up,
รูปํ ปสฺสถ ฉฑฺฑิตํ ฯ✎ ร่าง
rūpaṁ passatha chaḍḍitaṁ.
you’ll see this form discarded.
อายุ อุสฺมา จ วิญฺญาณํ✎ ร่าง
Āyu usmā ca viññāṇaṁ,
When vitality, warmth, and consciousness
ยทา กายํ ชหนฺติมํ✎ ร่าง
yadā kāyaṁ jahantimaṁ;
leave this body,
อปวิฏฺโฐ ตทา เสติ✎ ร่าง
Apaviddho tadā seti,
it lies dumped there,
ปรภตฺตํ อเจตนํ ฯ✎ ร่าง
parabhattaṁ acetanaṁ.
food for others, insentient.
เอตาทิสายํ สนฺตาโน✎ ร่าง
Etādisāyaṁ santāno,
Such is this continuity,
มายายํ พาลลาปินี✎ ร่าง
māyāyaṁ bālalāpinī;
this illusion, this lament of fools.
วธโก เอโก ๔- อกฺขาโต✎ ร่าง
Vadhako esa akkhāto,
It’s said to be a killer,
สาโร เอตฺถ น วิชฺชติ ฯ✎ ร่าง
sāro ettha na vijjati.
for no core is found here.
เอวํ ขนฺเธ อเวกฺเขยฺย✎ ร่าง
Evaṁ khandhe avekkheyya,
An energetic mendicant
ภิกฺขุ อารทฺธวีริโย✎ ร่าง
bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo;
should examine the aggregates like this,
ทิวา วา ยทิ วา รตฺติ✎ ร่าง
Divā vā yadi vā rattiṁ,
with situational awareness and mindfulness
สมฺปชาโน ปฏิสฺสโต ฯ
ป✎ ร่าง
sampajāno paṭissato.
whether by day or by night.
ชเห ๖- สพฺพสํโยคํ✎ ร่าง
Jaheyya sabbasaṁyogaṁ,
They should give up all fetters,
กเรยฺย สรณตฺตโน✎ ร่าง
kareyya saraṇattano;
and make a refuge for themselves.
จเรยฺยาทิตฺตสีโสว✎ ร่าง
Careyyādittasīsova,
They should live as though their head was on fire,
ปตฺถยํ อจฺจุตํ ปทนฺติ ฯ✎ ร่าง
patthayaṁ accutaṁ padan”ti.
aspiring to the state that does not pass.”