Sutta Nipāta 56

Anthology of Discourses 5.2

1 “By what is the world shrouded?” said Venerable Ajita.

“Why does it not shine?

Tell me, what is its sullying?

What is its greatest fear?”

2 “The world is shrouded in ignorance.” replied the Buddha.

“Avarice and negligence make it not shine.

Muttered prayer is its sullying, I say.

Suffering is its greatest fear.”

3 “The streams flow everywhere,” said Venerable Ajita.

“What is there to block them?

And tell me the restraint of streams—

by what are they locked out?”

4 “The streams in the world,” replied the Buddha,

“are blocked by mindfulness.

I tell you the restraint of streams—

they are locked out by wisdom.”

5 “That wisdom and mindfulness,” said Venerable Ajita,

“and that which is name and form, good fellow;

when questioned, please tell me of this:

where does this all cease?”

6 “This question which you have asked,

I shall answer you, Ajita.

Where name and form

cease with no residue left behind—

with the cessation of consciousness,

here they cease.”

7 “There are those who have appraised the teaching,

and many kinds of trainees here.

Now you, being alert, are asked

to tell me their behavior, good fellow.”

8 “Not greedy for sensual pleasures,

their mind would be unclouded.

Skilled in all things,

a mendicant would wander mindful.”