佛說水沫所漂經

Thus have I heard. At one time, the Bhagavā was dwelling in the residence of Aṅgada (which King Pasenadi had built) beside the river Ganges, together with more than five hundred great bhikkhus.

At that time there was a mass of foam drifting along the current of the river. The World-Honored One saw it and said to the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, do you all see that mass of foam drifting along the current of the river Ganges?" The bhikkhus replied: "We do, World-Honored One." The World-Honored One said: "If a man with eyes were to observe, examine, reflect upon, and analyze this mass of foam, then, having observed, reflected upon, and analyzed it, he would see that this mass of foam is without substance, without coming, without going, and without solidity.

Just like this foam, all forms that we behold—in the past, the future, and the present, whether great or small, whether far or near—are likewise without solidity, having nothing whatsoever to lean upon. If a man with eyes were to observe, examine, reflect upon, and analyze them, then, having examined, contemplated, and analyzed them, he would see that form is without substance, without coming, without going, without ownership, and also without solidity.

What is there in the aggregate of form that is solid?

"As the rains of summer produce a great many bubbles upon the water, and these bubbles arise and pass away, arise and pass away. If a man with eyes were to observe, examine, reflect upon, and analyze them, then, having examined, contemplated, and analyzed them, he would see that these water-bubbles are without substance, without coming, without going, and also without solidity. Just like these water-bubbles, the feelings within us—in the future, the past, and the present, whether great or small, whether good or bad, whether far or near—are likewise without solidity.

If a man with eyes were to observe, examine, reflect upon, and analyze them, then, having observed, reflected upon, and analyzed them, he would see that the feelings within us are also without substance, without coming, without going, and without solidity. What is there in the aggregate of feeling that is solid?

"Consider how, in the days of summer, when the sun stands at high noon in a sky without the least cloud, a strong wind blows and stirs up the dust and sand, forming the image of a wild horse galloping and flying across the sky. A man with eyes would observe, examine, contemplate, and analyze it. Having observed, contemplated, and analyzed it, he would see that this wild horse is without substance, without coming, without going, and without solidity.

Just like this wild horse, the perceptions within us—in the past, the future, and the present, whether great or small, whether good or bad, whether far or near—have nothing whatsoever that is solid. A man with eyes would observe, examine, contemplate, and analyze them, and having examined, contemplated, and analyzed them, he would see that the perceptions within us are without substance, without coming, without going, and without firmness.

Thus, what is there in the aggregate of perception that is solid?

"Consider a man who, coming from a city or from a village, wishing to find good timber to make a truly sturdy implement, goes into the forest to seek good wood. He sees a banana tree, fresh and green and fair, which everyone who beholds it delights in, a tree without branches. He fells the tree, cuts it into three or four lengths, and then peels away its sheaths layer by layer, seeking the hard core of the tree—but he finds none.

How then could he hope to find timber truly hard and firm? A man with eyes would observe, examine, contemplate, and analyze it, and having observed, contemplated, and analyzed it, he would see that this banana tree is without substance, without coming, without going, without solidity. Just like this banana tree, the formations within us—in the past, the future, and the present, whether great or small, whether good or bad, whether far or near—have nothing whatsoever that is solid.

A man with eyes would observe, examine, contemplate, and analyze them, and having observed, contemplated, and analyzed them, he would see that the formations within us are without substance, without coming, without going, and also without solidity. The aggregate of formations has nothing whatsoever that is solid.

"Again, consider a skilled master of illusion who, together with his disciples, performs magic before the multitude. A man with eyes would observe, examine, contemplate, and analyze it, and having observed, contemplated, and analyzed it, he would see that these illusions are without substance, without coming, without going, and without firmness. Just like these illusions, all the consciousness within us—in the past, the future, and the present, whether great or small, whether good or bad, whether far or near—has nothing whatsoever that is solid.

A man with eyes would observe, examine, contemplate, and analyze it, and having observed, contemplated, and analyzed it, he would see that the consciousness within us is without substance, without coming, without going, and without firmness. The aggregate of consciousness has nothing whatsoever that is solid."

Then the World-Honored One spoke these verses:

The bhikkhus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, rejoiced and reverently practiced it.

The Buddha taught the Sutta on That Which Drifts as Foam upon the Water.