19.

Nineteenth Chapter

(186) 1.

Discussion on Abandoning Defilements

828. Does one give up mental defilements in the past? Yes. Does one cease what has ceased, make depart what has departed, exhaust what is eliminated, make pass away what has passed away, make completely pass away what has completely passed away? That should not be said. Etc. Does one give up mental defilements in the past? Yes. Is not the past ceased? Yes. If the past is ceased, then indeed sir, it should not be said - "One gives up mental defilements in the past." Does one give up mental defilements in the past? Yes. Is not the past non-existent? Yes. If the past does not exist, then indeed sir, it should not be said - "One gives up mental defilements in the past."

829. Does one give up mental defilements in the future? Yes. Does one generate the unborn, does one produce the unproduced, does one bring forth the not generated, does one make manifest what has not become manifest? That should not be said. Etc. Does one give up mental defilements in the future? Yes. Is not the future unborn? Yes. If the future is unborn, then indeed sir, it should not be said - "One gives up mental defilements in the future." Does one give up mental defilements in the future? Yes. Is not the future non-existent? Yes. If the future does not exist, then indeed sir, it should not be said - "One gives up mental defilements in the future."

830. Does one give up mental defilements in the present? Yes. Does one who is lustful give up lust, does one who is hateful give up hate, does one who is deluded give up delusion, does one who is defiled give up mental defilements? That should not be said. Etc. Does one give up lust by lust, give up hate by hate, give up delusion by delusion, give up mental defilements by mental defilements? That should not be said. Etc.

Is lust associated with consciousness, is the path associated with consciousness? Yes. Is there a combination of two consciousnesses? That should not be said. Etc.

Is lust unwholesome, is the path wholesome? Yes. Do wholesome and unwholesome, blameable and unblameable, inferior and superior, mental states with dark and bright counterparts come into presence? That should not be said. Etc.

Do wholesome and unwholesome, blameable and unblameable, inferior and superior, mental states with dark and bright counterparts come into presence? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One - "There are, monks, these four things very far apart! What are the four? The sky, monks, and the earth - this is the first thing very far apart. Etc. Therefore the principle of the good is far from the unvirtuous." Is there such a discourse? Yes. If so, it should not be said - "Wholesome and unwholesome, etc. come into presence."

831. Should it not be said - "One gives up mental defilements in the past, one gives up mental defilements in the future, one gives up mental defilements in the present"? Yes. There is no giving up of mental defilements? That should not be said. Etc. If so, one gives up mental defilements in the past, one gives up mental defilements in the future, one gives up mental defilements in the present.

The Discussion on Abandoning Defilements is finished.

19.

Nineteenth Chapter

(187) 2.

Discussion on Emptiness

832. Is emptiness included in the aggregate of mental activities? Yes. Is the signless included in the aggregate of mental activities? That should not be said. Etc. Is emptiness included in the aggregate of mental activities? Yes. Is the desireless included in the aggregate of mental activities? That should not be said. Etc. Is the signless not to be said - "included in the aggregate of mental activities"? Yes. Is emptiness not to be said - "included in the aggregate of mental activities"? That should not be said. Etc. Is the desireless not to be said - "included in the aggregate of mental activities"? Yes. Is emptiness not to be said - "included in the aggregate of mental activities"? That should not be said. Etc.

Is emptiness included in the aggregate of mental activities? Yes. Is the aggregate of mental activities not impermanent, not conditioned, not dependently arisen, not subject to destruction, not having the nature of falling, not subject to fading away, not having the nature of cessation, not subject to change? That should not be said. Etc. Is the aggregate of mental activities not impermanent, conditioned, dependently arisen, subject to destruction, having the nature of falling, subject to fading away, having the nature of cessation, subject to change? Yes. If the aggregate of mental activities is impermanent, etc. subject to change, then indeed sir, it should not be said - "emptiness is included in the aggregate of mental activities."

833. Is the emptiness of the aggregate of material body included in the aggregate of mental activities? Yes. Is the emptiness of the aggregate of mental activities included in the aggregate of material body? That should not be said. Etc. Of the aggregate of feeling, etc. of the aggregate of perception, Is the emptiness of the aggregate of consciousness included in the aggregate of mental activities? Yes. Is the emptiness of the aggregate of mental activities included in the aggregate of consciousness? That should not be said. Etc.

Is the emptiness of the aggregate of mental activities not to be said - "included in the aggregate of material body"? Yes. Is the emptiness of the aggregate of material body not to be said - "included in the aggregate of mental activities"? That should not be said. Etc. Is the emptiness of the aggregate of mental activities not to be said - "included in the aggregate of feeling, etc. included in the aggregate of perception, included in the aggregate of consciousness"? Yes. Is the emptiness of the aggregate of consciousness not to be said - "included in the aggregate of mental activities"? That should not be said. Etc.

834. Should it not be said - "emptiness is included in the aggregate of mental activities"? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One - "This is empty, monks, activities are empty of a self or of what belongs to a self"! Is there such a discourse? Yes. If so, emptiness is included in the aggregate of mental activities.

The Discussion on Emptiness is finished.

19.

Nineteenth Chapter

(188) 3. Discussion on the Fruit of Asceticism

835. Is the fruit of asceticism unconditioned? Yes. Is Nibbāna shelter, rock cell, refuge, ultimate goal, imperishable, the Deathless? That should not be said. Etc. Is the fruit of asceticism unconditioned, is Nibbāna unconditioned? Yes. Are there two unconditioned? That should not be said. Etc. Are there two unconditioned? Yes. Are there two shelters? Etc. Or intervals? That should not be said. Etc.

836. Is the fruit of asceticism unconditioned? Yes. Is asceticism unconditioned? That should not be said, etc. Is asceticism conditioned? Yes. Is the fruit of asceticism conditioned? That should not be said. Etc.

Is the fruition of stream-entry unconditioned? Yes. Is the path of stream-entry unconditioned? That should not be said. Etc. Is the path of stream-entry conditioned? Yes. Is the fruition of stream-entry conditioned? That should not be said. Etc.

The fruition of once-returning? Etc. The fruition of non-returning, etc. Is the fruition of arahantship unconditioned? Yes. Is the path of arahantship unconditioned? That should not be said. Etc. Is the path of arahantship conditioned? Yes. Is the fruition of arahantship conditioned? That should not be said. Etc.

The fruition of stream-entry is unconditioned, the fruition of once-returning, etc. The fruition of non-returning, etc. The fruition of arahantship is unconditioned, is Nibbāna unconditioned? Yes. Are there five unconditioned things? That should not be said. Etc. Are there five unconditioned things? Yes. Are there five shelters, etc. Or intervals? That should not be said. Etc.

The Discussion on the Fruit of Asceticism is finished.

19.

Nineteenth Chapter

(189) 4.

Discussion on Attainment

837. Is attainment unconditioned? Yes. Is Nibbāna shelter, rock cell, refuge, ultimate goal, imperishable, the Deathless? That should not be said. Etc. Is attainment unconditioned, is Nibbāna unconditioned? Yes. Are there two unconditioned? That should not be said. Etc. Are there two unconditioned? Yes. Are there two shelters? Etc. Or intervals? That should not be said. Etc.

838. Is the attainment of a robe unconditioned? Yes. Nibbāna... etc. The Deathless? That should not be said. Etc. Is the attainment of a robe unconditioned, is Nibbāna unconditioned? Yes. Are there two unconditioned? That should not be said. Etc. Are there two unconditioned? Yes. Are there two shelters? Etc. Or intervals? That should not be said. Etc. Of almsfood... etc. Of lodging... etc. Is the attainment of the requisite of medicines for the sick unconditioned? Yes. Nibbāna... etc. Imperishable, the Deathless? That should not be said. Etc. Is the attainment of the requisite of medicines for the sick unconditioned, is Nibbāna unconditioned? Yes. Are there two unconditioned? That should not be said. Etc. Are there two unconditioned? Yes. Are there two shelters? Etc. Or intervals? That should not be said. Etc.

Is attainment of robe unconditioned? Etc. Of almsfood... etc. Of lodging... etc. Is the attainment of the requisite of medicines for the sick unconditioned, is Nibbāna unconditioned? Yes. Are there five unconditioned things? That should not be said. Etc. Are there five unconditioned things? Yes. Are there five shelters, etc. Or intervals? That should not be said. Etc.

839. Is the attainment of the first meditative absorption unconditioned (thus all should be expanded) of the second meditative absorption... the third meditative absorption... of the fourth meditative absorption... of the plane of infinite space... of the plane of infinite consciousness... of the plane of nothingness... of the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception... of the path of stream-entry... of the fruition of stream-entry... of the path of once-returning... of the fruition of once-returning... of the path of non-returning... of the fruition of non-returning... of the path of arahantship... Is the attainment of the fruition of arahantship unconditioned? Yes. Nibbāna... etc. Imperishable, the Deathless? That should not be said. Etc. Is the attainment of the fruition of arahantship unconditioned, is Nibbāna unconditioned? Yes. Are there two unconditioned? That should not be said. Etc. Are there two unconditioned? Yes. Are there two shelters? Etc. Or intervals? That should not be said. Etc.

Is the attainment of the path of stream-entry unconditioned... Is the attainment of the fruition of stream-entry unconditioned... Is the attainment of the path of arahantship unconditioned... Is the attainment of the fruition of arahantship unconditioned... Is Nibbāna unconditioned? Yes. Are there nine unconditioned? That should not be said. Etc. Are there nine unconditioned? Yes. Are there nine shelters? Etc. Or intervals? That should not be said. Etc.

840. Should it not be said - Is attainment unconditioned? Yes. Is attainment materiality... feeling... perception... activities... Is it consciousness? That should not be said. If so, attainment is unconditioned.

The Discussion on Attainment is finished.

19.

Nineteenth Chapter

(190) 5.

Discussion on Actuality

841. Is the actuality of all phenomena unconditioned? Yes. Nibbāna... etc. The Deathless? That should not be said. Etc. Is the actuality of all phenomena unconditioned, is Nibbāna unconditioned? Yes. Are there two unconditioned? That should not be said. Etc. Are there two unconditioned? Yes. Are there two shelters? Etc. Or intervals? That should not be said. Etc.

842. The materiality of matter - is not materiality unconditioned? Yes. Nibbāna... etc. The Deathless? That should not be said. Etc. The materiality of matter - is not materiality unconditioned, is Nibbāna unconditioned? Yes. Are there two unconditioned? That should not be said. Etc. Are there two unconditioned? Yes. Are there two shelters? Etc. Or intervals? That should not be said. Etc.

The feeling-ness of feeling - is not feeling-ness... etc. The perception-ness of perception - is not perception-ness... etc. The activity-ness of activities - is not activity-ness... etc. The consciousness-ness of consciousness - is not consciousness-ness unconditioned? Yes. Nibbāna... etc. The Deathless? That should not be said, etc.

The materiality of matter - is not materiality... etc. The consciousness-ness of consciousness - is not consciousness-ness unconditioned, is Nibbāna unconditioned? Yes. Are there six unconditioned? That should not be said. Etc. Are there six unconditioned? Yes. Are there six shelters? Etc. Or intervals? That should not be said. Etc.

843. Should it not be said - "The actuality of all phenomena is unconditioned"? Yes. Is the actuality of all phenomena materiality... feeling... perception... activities... Is it consciousness? That should not be said. If so, the actuality of all phenomena is unconditioned.

The Discussion on Actuality is finished.

19.

Nineteenth Chapter

(191) 6.

Discussion on the Wholesome

844. Is the element of Nibbāna wholesome? Yes. Is it with sense-object, is there adverting for it, etc. aspiration? That should not be said. Etc. Is it not without sense-object, is there not adverting for it, etc. aspiration? Yes. If it is without sense-object, there is not adverting for it, etc. aspiration, then indeed sir, it should not be said - "the element of Nibbāna is wholesome".

845. Non-greed is wholesome, with sense-object, is there adverting for it, etc. aspiration? Yes. Is the element of Nibbāna wholesome, with sense-object, is there adverting for it, etc. aspiration? That should not be said, etc. Non-hate is wholesome, etc. non-delusion is wholesome, etc. faith... energy... mindfulness, concentration, etc. Is wisdom wholesome, with sense-object, is there adverting for it, etc. aspiration? Yes. Is the element of Nibbāna wholesome, with sense-object, is there adverting for it, etc. aspiration? That should not be said. Etc.

Is the element of Nibbāna wholesome, without sense-object, is there not adverting for it, etc. aspiration? Yes. Is non-greed wholesome, without sense-object, is there not adverting for it, etc. aspiration? That should not be said. Etc. Is the element of Nibbāna wholesome, without sense-object, is there not adverting for it, etc. aspiration? Yes. Non-hate is wholesome, etc. non-delusion is wholesome, etc. faith... energy... mindfulness, concentration, etc. Is wisdom wholesome, without sense-object, is there not adverting for it, etc. aspiration? That should not be said. Etc.

846. Should it not be said - "the element of Nibbāna is wholesome"? Yes. Is not the element of Nibbāna blameless? Yes. If the element of Nibbāna is blameless, then indeed sir, it should be said - "the element of Nibbāna is wholesome".

The Discussion on the Wholesome is finished.

19.

Nineteenth Chapter

(192) 7.

Discussion on Absolute Fixed Course

847. Is there absolute certainty for a worldling? Yes. Is a matricide absolutely certain, is a patricide... etc. is a killer of a Worthy One... etc. one who causes the blood to flow... etc. is a schismatic absolutely certain? That should not be said. Etc.

848. Is there absolute certainty for a worldling? Yes. Could sceptical doubt arise for an absolutely certain person? Yes. If sceptical doubt could arise for an absolutely certain person, then indeed sir, it should not be said - "There is absolute certainty for a worldling."

Could sceptical doubt not arise for an absolutely certain person? Yes. Has it been abandoned? That should not be said. Etc. Has it been abandoned? Yes. By the path of stream-entry? That should not be said. Etc. By the path of once-returning, etc. by the path of non-returning, etc. By the path of arahantship? That should not be said. Etc.

By which path? By the unwholesome path. Is the unwholesome path leading to liberation, leading to elimination, leading to enlightenment, without mental corruptions, etc. Not subject to defilement? That should not be said. Etc. Is not the unwholesome path not leading to liberation, etc. Subject to defilement? Yes. If the unwholesome path is not leading to liberation, etc. Subject to defilement, then indeed sir, it should not be said - "Sceptical doubt of an absolutely certain person has been abandoned by the unwholesome path."

849. Could annihilationist view arise for a person fixed in destination by eternalist view? Yes. If annihilationist view could arise for a person fixed in destination by eternalist view, then indeed sir, it should not be said - "There is absolute certainty for a worldling."

Could annihilationist view not arise for a person fixed in destination by eternalist view? Yes. Has it been abandoned? That should not be said. Etc. Has it been abandoned? Yes. By the path of stream-entry? That should not be said. Etc. By the path of once-returning, etc. by the path of non-returning, etc. By the path of arahantship? That should not be said. Etc.

By which path? By the unwholesome path. The unwholesome path, etc. then indeed sir, it should not be said - "Annihilationist view of a person fixed in destination by eternalist view has been abandoned by the unwholesome path."

850. Could eternalist view arise for a person fixed in destination by annihilationist view? Yes. If eternalist view could arise for a person fixed in destination by annihilationist view, then indeed sir, it should not be said - "There is absolute certainty for a worldling."

Could eternalist view not arise for a person fixed in destination by annihilationist view? Yes. Has it been abandoned? That should not be said. Etc. Has it been abandoned? Yes. By the path of stream-entry? That should not be said, etc. By the path of once-returning, etc. by the path of non-returning, etc. By the path of arahantship? That should not be said. Etc.

By which path? By the unwholesome path. The unwholesome path, etc. then indeed sir, it should not be said - "Eternalist view of a person fixed in destination by annihilationist view has been abandoned by the unwholesome path."

851. Should it not be said - "There is absolute certainty for a worldling"? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One - "Here, monks, a certain person is endowed with exclusively dark unwholesome mental states, he once submerged remains submerged"! Is there such a discourse? Yes. If so, there is absolute certainty for a worldling.

852. It was said by the Blessed One - "Here, monks, a certain person is endowed with exclusively dark unwholesome mental states, he once submerged remains submerged" - and by that reason is there absolute certainty for a worldling? Yes. It was said by the Blessed One - "Here, monks, a certain person having emerged, sinks down"! Is there such a discourse? Yes. At all times having emerged, does he sink down? That should not be said. Etc.

It was said by the Blessed One - "Here, monks, a certain person is endowed with exclusively dark unwholesome mental states, he once submerged remains submerged" - and by that reason is there absolute certainty for a worldling? Yes. It was said by the Blessed One - "Here, monks, a certain person having emerged, remains standing, having emerged sees with insight and looks around, having emerged crosses over, having emerged has gained a foothold"! Is there such a discourse? Yes. At all times having emerged, has he gained a foothold? That should not be said. Etc.

The Discussion on Absolute Fixed Course is finished.

19.

Nineteenth Chapter

(193) 8.

Treatise on Faculties

853. Is there no mundane faith faculty? Yes. Is there no mundane faith? That should not be said. Etc. Is there no mundane energy faculty? Etc. The mindfulness faculty, etc. The concentration faculty, etc. Is there no wisdom faculty? Yes. Is there no mundane wisdom? That should not be said. Etc.

Is there mundane faith? Yes. Is there mundane faith faculty? That should not be said. Etc. Is there mundane energy? Etc. Mindfulness... etc. concentration, etc. wisdom for one who has attained the cessation of perception and feeling? Yes. Is there mundane wisdom faculty? That should not be said. Etc.

Is there mundane mind, is there mundane mind faculty? Yes. Is there mundane faith, is there mundane faith faculty? That should not be said. Etc. Is there mundane mind, is there mundane mind faculty? Yes. Is there mundane wisdom, is there mundane wisdom faculty? That should not be said. Etc.

Is there mundane pleasure, is there mundane pleasure faculty? Etc. Is there mundane life, is there mundane life faculty? Yes. Is there mundane faith, is there mundane faith faculty? That should not be said. Etc. Is there mundane life, is there mundane life faculty? Yes. Is there mundane wisdom, is there mundane wisdom faculty? That should not be said. Etc.

854. Is there mundane faith, is there no mundane faith faculty? Yes. Is there mundane mind, is there no mundane mind faculty? That should not be said. Etc. Is there mundane wisdom, is there no mundane wisdom faculty? Yes. Is there mundane mind, is there no mundane mind faculty? That should not be said. Etc.

Is there mundane faith, is there no mundane faith faculty? Yes. Is there mundane pleasure, is there no mundane pleasure faculty? Is there mundane life, is there no mundane life faculty? That should not be said. Etc. Is there mundane wisdom, is there no mundane wisdom faculty? Yes. Is there mundane mind, is there no mundane mind faculty? Etc. Is there mundane life, is there no mundane life faculty? That should not be said. Etc.

855. Is there supramundane faith, is there supramundane faith faculty? Yes. Is there mundane faith, is there mundane faith faculty? That should not be said. Etc. Is there supramundane energy? Etc. Is there supramundane wisdom, is there supramundane wisdom faculty? Yes. Is there mundane wisdom, is there mundane wisdom faculty? That should not be said. Etc.

Is there mundane faith, is there no mundane faith faculty? Yes. Is there supramundane faith, is there no supramundane faith faculty? That should not be said. Etc. Is there mundane energy? Etc. Is there mundane wisdom, is there no mundane wisdom faculty? Yes. Is there supramundane wisdom, is there no supramundane wisdom faculty? That should not be said. Etc.

856. There are no mundane five spiritual faculties? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One - "I saw, monks, surveying the world with the Buddha-eye, beings with little dust in their eyes and with much dust in their eyes, with sharp faculties and with soft faculties, of good disposition, easy to instruct, some dwelling seeing the danger in the world beyond and in fault"! Is there such a discourse? Yes. If so, there are mundane five spiritual faculties.

The Treatise on Faculties is concluded.

Nineteenth Chapter.

Its summary:

One gives up mental defilements in the past, one gives up mental defilements in the future, one gives up mental defilements in the present, emptiness is included in the aggregate of mental activities, the fruit of asceticism is unconditioned, attainment is unconditioned, the actuality of all phenomena is unconditioned, the element of Nibbāna is wholesome, there is absolute certainty for a worldling, there are no mundane five spiritual faculties.