Saṃyutta Nikāya — The Connected Discourses – page 5
1,822 texts · page 5 of 19 (texts 401–500)
SN 15.4: Mother’s Milk
The mother’s milk you have drunk in transmigration is greater than the waters in the oceans.
SN 15.5: A Mountain
A great mountain would erode before the end of the eon.
SN 15.6: A Mustard Seed
A city filled with mustard seeds might be emptied before the end of an eon.
SN 15.7: Disciples
Even recollecting 100,000 eons per day you’ll never remember the beginning of transmigration.
SN 15.8: The Ganges
There have been more eons than the sands in the Ganges river.
SN 15.9: A Stick
Like a stick falling on this side or that, beings are reborn in different realms.
SN 15.10: A Single Individual
The bones you’ve left behind in transmigration are greater than a mountain.
SN 15.11: In a Sorry State
When you see someone suffer, know that you too have experienced that.
SN 15.12: In a Good Way
When you see someone happy, know that you too have experienced that.
SN 15.13: Thirty Mendicants
The blood you have shed from being slaughtered or beheaded in transmigration is greater than the waters in the oceans.
SN 15.14: Mother
It is not easy to find a being who has not been your mother.
SN 15.15: Father
It is not easy to find a being who has not been your father.
SN 15.16: Brother
It is not easy to find a being who has not been your brother.
SN 15.17: Sister
It is not easy to find a being who has not been your sister.
SN 15.18: Son
It is not easy to find a being who has not been your son.
SN 15.19: Daughter
It is not easy to find a being who has not been your daughter.
SN 15.20: Mount Vepulla
The Buddha recounts how peoples of the past had different names for the mountains of Rājagaha. Yet now they have all gone
SN 16.1: Content
Kassapa is content with robes, alms-food, lodging, and medicines.
SN 16.2: Imprudent
Sāriputta approaches Kassapa and asks how it is that only someone who is keen and conscientious can realize freedom.
SN 16.3: Like the Moon
Kassapa approaches families like the moon, with humility, keeping his distance, and not getting involved. So when he teaches, it is with pure intentions.
SN 16.4: Visiting Families
Some mendicants approach families in the hope of receiving fine gifts or respect—but not Kassapa.
SN 16.5: Old Age
The Buddha points out that Kassapa has grown old, and urges him to give up his ascetic life and stay in a comfortable monastery.
SN 16.6: Advice
The Buddha invites Kassapa to teach the mendicants, but he is reluctant, since certain students of Anuruddha and Ānanda have been competing to see who can teach better.
SN 16.7: Advice (2nd)
The Buddha invites Kassapa to teach the mendicants, but he is reluctant, saying that the mendicants have become stubborn and their good qualities are declining.
SN 16.8: Advice (3rd)
The Buddha invites Kassapa to teach the mendicants, but he is reluctant, saying that the senior mendicants used to set a good example, but now instead of respecting good practice, they respect fame and fortune.
SN 16.9: Absorptions and Insights
The Buddha asserts that just as he has full mastery of all the meditation attainments and higher spiritual realizations, so does Kassapa.
SN 16.10: The Nuns’ Quarters
When Kassapa is persuaded by Ānanda to go with him to teach the nuns, the nun Thullatissā compares him unfavorably to Ānanda, prompting Kassapa to issue a warning and make a bold claim of his spiritual mastery. This discourse appears to be set after the Buddha’s passing.
SN 16.11: Robes
When several of Ānanda’s students disrobe, Kassapa admonishes him, calling him “boy”. The nun Thullanandā hears of this and criticizes Kassapa, claiming he formerly followed another teacher. But Kassapa refutes this, and gives an account of his going forth and first encounter with the Buddha.
SN 16.12: The Realized One After Death
Sāriputta asks Kassapa about whether a Realized One survives death.
SN 16.13: The Counterfeit of the True Teaching
Kassapa asks the Buddha why there are now more rules but fewer awakened mendicants. The Buddha replies that it is due to the arising of the counterfeit Dhamma, giving five factors that lead to decline
SN 17.1: Grim
Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, obstructing spiritual progress.
SN 17.2: A Hook
Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which catch you like fish on a hook.
SN 17.3: A Turtle
Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which hit you like a harpoon hits a careless turtle.
SN 17.4: A Fleecy Sheep
Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which snare you like a long-haired goat in a briar patch.
SN 17.5: A Dung Beetle
A mendicant who is proud on account of their material possessions, honor, and praise is like a dung beetle proud of their ball of dung.
SN 17.6: A Bolt of Lightning
Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, like a lightning strike.
SN 17.7: A Poisoned Arrow
Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, like a poison dart.
SN 17.8: A Jackal
A mendicant who is proud on account of their material possessions, honor, and praise is never at peace, like a mangy jackal.
SN 17.9: Gale-force Winds
A mendicant who is proud on account of their material possessions, honor, and praise is never at peace, like a bird in a gale.
SN 17.10: With Verses
Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, and attachment to them leads to a bad rebirth.
SN 17.11: A Gold Cup
Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which can corrupt the mind even of a pure mendicant.
SN 17.12: A Silver Pot
Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which can corrupt the mind even of a pure mendicant.
SN 17.13–20: A Gold Ingot, Etc.
Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which can corrupt the mind even of a pure mendicant.
SN 17.21: A Female
Material possessions, honor, and praise can be even more tempting than a woman.
SN 17.22: The Finest Lady in the Land
Material possessions, honor, and praise can be even more tempting than the finest lady in the land.
SN 17.23: An Only Son
A laywoman should wish that if her son remains in the household life, he should be like Citta and Hatthaka. But if he becomes a monk, may material possessions, honor, and praise not come to him!
SN 17.24: An Only Daughter
A laywoman should wish that if her daughter remains in the household life, she should be like Khujjuttarā and Veḷukaṇḍakiyā. But if she becomes a nun, may material possessions, honor, and praise not come to her!
SN 17.25: Ascetics and Brahmins
Someone who doesn’t fully understand material possessions, honor, and praise is no true ascetic.
SN 17.26: Ascetics and Brahmins (2nd)
Someone who doesn’t fully understand material possessions, honor, and praise is no true ascetic.
SN 17.27: Ascetics and Brahmins (3rd)
Someone who doesn’t fully understand material possessions, honor, and praise is no true ascetic.
SN 17.28: Skin
Material possessions, honor, and praise cut to the bone.
SN 17.29: A Rope
Material possessions, honor, and praise cut to the bone, like a rope.
SN 17.30: A Mendicant With Defilements Ended
Material possessions, honor, and praise are even a problem for a perfected one, as they interfere with their meditation.
SN 17.31: Schism
Devadatta provoked a schism due to material possessions, honor, and praise.
SN 17.32: Skillful Root
Devadatta’s wholesome root was cut off due to material possessions, honor, and praise.
SN 17.33: Skillful Quality
Devadatta’s wholesome nature was cut off due to material possessions, honor, and praise.
SN 17.34: Bright Quality
Devadatta’s bright nature was cut off due to material possessions, honor, and praise.
SN 17.35: Shortly After He Left
Material possessions, honor, and praise led to Devadatta’s downfall, like the fruit of a plantain.
SN 17.36: Five Hundred Carts
Prince Ajātasattu supplied devadatta with 500 carts of offerings, leading to his downfall.
SN 17.37: Mother
Even someone who would not lie for the sake of their mother would so so when corrupted by material possessions.
SN 17.38–43: Father, Etc.
Even someone who would not lie for the sake of their father and other relatives would so so when corrupted by material possessions.
SN 18.1: The Eye, Etc.
The Buddha answers Rāhula’s request by teaching on the internal sense organs in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.2: Sights, Etc.
The Buddha answers Rāhula’s request by teaching on the external sense objects in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.3: Consciousness
The Buddha answers Rāhula’s request by teaching on sense consciousness in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.4: Contact
The Buddha answers Rāhula’s request by teaching on sense contact in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.5: Feeling
The Buddha answers Rāhula’s request by teaching on feelings in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.6: Perceptions
The Buddha answers Rāhula’s request by teaching on perceptions in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.7: Intention
The Buddha answers Rāhula’s request by teaching on intentions in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.8: Craving
The Buddha answers Rāhula’s request by teaching on cravings in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.9: Elements
The Buddha answers Rāhula’s request by teaching on the four material elements in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.10: The Aggregates
The Buddha answers Rāhula’s request by teaching on the five aggregates in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.11: The Eye, Etc.
The Buddha teaches Rāhula about the internal sense organs in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.12–20: The Nine Discourses on Sights, Etc.
The Buddha teaches Rāhula about the senses, aggregates, and elements in light of the three characteristics.
SN 18.21: Tendency
Rāhula asks how to see so that conceit no longer occurs. The Buddha teaches him to investigate the five aggregates in terms of not-self.
SN 18.22: Rid of Conceit
Rāhula asks how to see so conceit no longer occurs and one is peaceful. The Buddha teaches him to investigate the five aggregates in terms of not-self
SN 19.1: A Skeleton
While walking for alms down Vulture’s Peak, Venerable Moggallāna smiled at something invisible. Later, he told the Buddha it was a skeleton flying through the air, being pecked at by vultures. The Buddha confirmed that the man he had seen had been a butcher in his past life
SN 19.2: A Piece of Meat
SN 19.3: A Piece of Flesh
SN 19.4: A Flayed Man
SN 19.5: Sword Hairs
SN 19.6: Spear Hairs
SN 19.7: Arrow Hairs
SN 19.8: Needle Hairs
SN 19.9: Needle Hairs (2nd)
SN 19.10: Pot Balls
SN 19.11: Over His Head
SN 19.12: A Dung Eater
SN 19.13: A Flayed Woman
SN 19.14: A Fishwife
SN 19.15: A Sweltering Woman
SN 19.16: A Headless Trunk
SN 19.17: A Bad Monk
SN 19.18: A Bad Nun
SN 19.19: A Bad Trainee Nun
SN 19.20: A Bad Novice Monk
SN 19.21: A Bad Novice Nun
SN 20.1: A Roof Peak
As rafters depend on the roof-peak, unwholesome qualities depend on ignorance.
SN 20.2: A Fingernail
As the dirt in a fingernail is smaller than the great earth, the beings reborn as humans are few.
SN 20.3: Families
As a family with few men and many women is easily attacked, non-human beings may attack a mendicant without love.
SN 20.4: Cauldrons
Love is more beneficial than generosity.