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← Saṃyutta Nikāya

The Nine Discourses on Sights, Etc.

SN 18.12-20 · Rūpādisuttanavaka

Weathered stepping stones cross a clear mountain stream towards a grassy bank, with an autumn leaf on the nearest stone.

At Sāvatthī.

“What do you think, Rāhula? Are sights permanent or impermanent?”

“Impermanent, sir.” … “… sounds … smells … tastes … touches … ideas …”

“… 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 ideas …”

“… intention regarding sights … intention regarding sounds … intention regarding smells … intention regarding tastes … intention regarding touches … intention regarding ideas …”

“… craving for sights … craving for sounds … craving for smells … craving for tastes … craving for touches … craving for ideas …”

“… 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?”

“Impermanent, sir.” …

“Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”

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About this edition

Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader. This source combines a range of related numbered discourses.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.