8.
The Discourse on Impossible States
48.
"There are, monks, these five unobtainable states by an ascetic or a brahmin or a god or Māra or Brahmā or anyone in the world.
Which five?
'May what is subject to ageing not age' - this is an unobtainable state by an ascetic or a brahmin or a god or Māra or Brahmā or anyone in the world.
'May what is subject to disease not fall ill' - etc.
'May what is subject to death not die' -
'May what is subject to destruction not be destroyed' -
'May what is subject to loss not perish' - this is an unobtainable state by an ascetic or a brahmin or a god or Māra or Brahmā or anyone in the world.
"For an ignorant worldling, monks, what is subject to ageing ages. He, when what is subject to ageing has aged, does not consider thus - 'It is not only for me that what is subject to ageing ages, but rather for all beings who come and go, who pass away and are reborn, what is subject to ageing ages. And if I, when what is subject to ageing has aged, were to grieve, be wearied, lament, beat my breast and wail, fall into confusion, food would not be agreeable to me, ugliness would come upon my body, my activities would not proceed, my enemies would be delighted, and my friends would be unhappy.' He, when what is subject to ageing has aged, grieves, is wearied, laments, beats his breast and wails, falls into confusion. This is called, monks - 'An ignorant worldling, pierced by the poisoned dart of sorrow, torments only himself.'
"Furthermore, monks, for an ignorant worldling, what is subject to disease falls ill - etc. what is subject to death dies - what is subject to destruction is destroyed - what is subject to loss perishes. He, when what is subject to loss has perished, does not consider thus - 'It is not only for me that what is subject to loss perishes, but rather for all beings who come and go, who pass away and are reborn, what is subject to loss perishes. And if I, when what is subject to loss has perished, were to grieve, be wearied, lament, beat my breast and wail, fall into confusion, food would not be agreeable to me, ugliness would come upon my body, my activities would not proceed, my enemies would be delighted, and my friends would be unhappy.' He, when what is subject to loss has perished, grieves, is wearied, laments, beats his breast and wails, falls into confusion. This is called, monks - 'An ignorant worldling, pierced by the poisoned dart of sorrow, torments only himself.'
"But for a learned noble disciple, monks, what is subject to ageing ages. He, when what is subject to ageing has aged, considers thus - 'It is not only for me that what is subject to ageing ages, but rather for all beings who come and go, who pass away and are reborn, what is subject to ageing ages. And if I, when what is subject to ageing has aged, were to grieve, be wearied, lament, beat my breast and wail, fall into confusion, food would not be agreeable to me, ugliness would come upon my body, my activities would not proceed, my enemies would be delighted, and my friends would be unhappy.' He, when what is subject to ageing has aged, does not grieve, is not wearied, does not lament, does not beat his breast and wail, does not fall into confusion. This is called, monks - 'A learned noble disciple has pulled out the poisoned dart of sorrow, by which pierced the ignorant worldling torments only himself. Without sorrow, without the dart, the noble disciple brings only himself to final quenching.'
"Furthermore, monks, for a learned noble disciple, what is subject to disease becomes diseased... etc. what is subject to death dies - what is subject to destruction is destroyed - what is subject to loss perishes. He, when what is subject to loss has perished, considers thus: 'It is not only for me that what is subject to loss perishes, but rather for all beings who come and go, who pass away and are reborn, what is subject to loss perishes. And if I, when what is subject to loss has perished, were to grieve, be wearied, lament, beat my breast and wail, fall into confusion, food would not be agreeable to me, ugliness would come upon my body, my activities would not proceed, my enemies would be delighted, and my friends would be unhappy.' He, when what is subject to loss has perished, does not grieve, is not wearied, does not lament, does not beat his breast and wail, does not fall into confusion. This is called, monks - 'A learned noble disciple has pulled out the poisoned dart of sorrow, by which pierced the ignorant worldling torments only himself. Sorrowless, free from the dart, the noble disciple completely quenches himself.'"
"These, monks, are the five unobtainable states by an ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or Brahmā or anyone in the world."
Is any benefit obtained here, even a little;
Knowing him grieving and suffering,
His enemies become pleased.
Does not tremble, one who knows the judgment of benefit;
His enemies become unhappy,
Seeing his face unchanged, as before.
By giving, or by tradition;
In whatever way, wherever one might obtain benefit,
In that way, there one should strive.
Is unobtainable by me or by another;
Not grieving, one should endure,
'Action is firm, what can I do now?'" The eighth.