Cetanā Sutta
In Sāvatthi.
1. Intending and Inclining #
“Wanderers,
when there is intention,
when there is planning
and when there is inclining;
there is a support for the sustenance of consciousness.[i]
When there is an object,
consciousness becomes established.[ii]
When fimly established, consciousness grows
into future becoming and production.[iii]
When there is future becoming and production,
birth, aging and death, sadness, grief, trouble, depression and anxiety
will come into being.[iv]
Then, this whole mass of trouble arises.[v]
2. Not intending but Still Inclining #
Wanderers,
When there is no intention,
when there is no planning
but if there is still inclining;[vi]
there is a support for the sustenance of consciousness.
When there is an object,
consciousness becomes established.
When fimly established, consciousness grows
into future becoming and production.
When there is future becoming and production,
birth, aging and death, sadness, grief, trouble, depression and anxiety
will come into being.
Then, this whole mass of trouble arises.
3. Not Intending And Not Inclining #
Wanderers,
when there is no intention,
when there is no planning
and there is no inclining;[vii]
there is no support for the sustenance of consciousness.[viii]
When there is no object,
consciousness does not become established.[ix]
Not being fimly established,
consciousness does not grow,
and there is no future becoming or production.[x]
When there is no future becoming and production
birth, aging and death, sadness, grief, trouble, depression and anxiety
will come to an end.
Then, this whole mass of trouble comes to an end.
[i] “Yañca, bhikkhave, ceteti yañca pakappeti yañca anuseti, ārammaṇametaṁ hoti viññāṇassa ṭhitiyā. Profound passage which could be translated in different ways. ārammaṇametaṁ hoti viññāṇassa ṭhitiyā “There is a foundation for consciousness to become established” “there is a reason or support for the continuance of consciousness” “There is a basis for the contunuation of consciousness.” Definitions: ārammaṇa 1 nt. base; basis; foundation; support; lit. supporting; ārammaṇa 2 nt. chance; opportunity; lit. supporting; ārammaṇa 3 nt. object; cause; reason; lit. supporting; ārammaṇa 4 nt. meditation object; theme of meditation; lit. supporting; ārammaṇa 5 nt. object of the senses; sense-object; lit. supporting ārammaṇa 6 adj. based on; founded on; supported by; sustained by; taking as an object; lit. supporting; ārammaṇa 7 adj. starting point; lit. supporting. ṭhiti 1 fem. stability; constancy; continuity; endurance; persistence; longevity; lit. standing; ṭhiti 2 fem. state; station; support; lit. standing; ṭhiti 3 fem. existence; happening; occurrence; lit. standing; ṭhiti 4 fem. (abhi) presence (uppāda, ṭhiti, bhaṅga 3 moments of arising, presence & dissolution); ṭhiti 5 fem. stagnation, stationariness; ṭhitiyā fem. for the continuity (of); for the endurance (of); for the longevity (of); lit. for standing
[ii] Ārammaṇe sati patiṭṭhā viññāṇassa hoti. Note: The word Ārammaṇa can be translated to “object” for a more practical understanding in meditation practice.
[iii] Tasmiṁ patiṭṭhite viññāṇe virūḷhe āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hoti. I translate punabbhava here as becoming since it would be the closest literal translation and do not imply the principle of re-birth. Same for abhinibbatti, I choose production for now which seems to be neutral and practical.
[iv] Āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbattiyā sati āyatiṁ jāti jarāmaraṇaṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā sambhavanti.
[v] Evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.
[vi] No ce, bhikkhave, ceteti no ce pakappeti, atha ce anuseti,
[vii] no ceva ceteti no ca pakappeti no ca anuseti,
[viii] ārammaṇametaṁ na hoti viññāṇassa ṭhitiyā. There is no support for the continuation of consioucness
[ix] Ārammaṇe asati patiṭṭhā viññāṇassa na hoti.
[x] Tadappatiṭṭhite viññāṇe avirūḷhe āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti na hoti.
