Sutta Nipāta 5.7 Upasīvamāṇavapucchā “Eko ahaṁ sakka mahantamoghaṁ, (iccāyasmā upasīvo) Anissito no visahāmi tārituṁ; Ārammaṇaṁ brūhi samantacakkhu, Yaṁ nissito oghamimaṁ tareyyaṁ”.

The Questions of the Student Upasīva

Alone, O Sakyan, I am unable to cross the great flood unsupported, said the venerable Upasīva. Tell me an object of support, O All-Seeing One, relying upon which I might cross this flood.

“Ākiñcaññaṁ pekkhamāno satimā, (upasīvāti bhagavā) Natthīti nissāya tarassu oghaṁ; Kāme pahāya virato kathāhi, Taṇhakkhayaṁ nattamahābhipassa”.

Mindfully attending nothingness, said the Blessed One, Upasīva, relying on there is nothing, cross the flood. Abandoning sensual pleasures, abstaining from conversation, look day and night to the destruction of craving.

“Sabbesu kāmesu yo vītarāgo, (iccāyasmā upasīvo) Ākiñcaññaṁ nissito hitvā maññaṁ; Saññāvimokkhe parame vimutto, Tiṭṭhe nu so tattha anānuyāyī”.

One who is free from passion for all sensual pleasures, said the venerable Upasīva, relying on nothingness, having left behind all else, released in the highest liberation of perception:would he remain there without falling away?

“Sabbesu kāmesu yo vītarāgo, (upasīvāti bhagavā) Ākiñcaññaṁ nissito hitvā maññaṁ; Saññāvimokkhe parame vimutto, Tiṭṭheyya so tattha anānuyāyī”.

One who is free from passion for all sensual pleasures, said the Blessed One, Upasīva, relying on nothingness, having left behind all else, released in the highest liberation of perception:he would remain there without falling away.

“Tiṭṭhe ce so tattha anānuyāyī, Pūgampi vassānaṁ samantacakkhu; Tattheva so sītisiyā vimutto, Cavetha viññāṇaṁ tathāvidhassa”.

If he were to remain there without falling away, even for a multitude of years, O All-Seeing One, and were to become cool and released right there, would the consciousness of such a one pass away?

“Accī yathā vātavegena khittā, (upasīvāti bhagavā) Atthaṁ paleti na upeti saṅkhaṁ; Evaṁ munī nāmakāyā vimutto, Atthaṁ paleti na upeti saṅkhaṁ”.

Just as a flame tossed by the force of the wind, said the Blessed One, Upasīva, goes out and can no longer be reckoned, so too a sage released from the mental body goes out and can no longer be reckoned.

“Atthaṅgato so uda vā so natthi, Udāhu ve sassatiyā arogo; Taṁ me munī sādhu viyākarohi, Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo”.

Has he gone out, or does he simply not exist? Or is he eternally free from illness? Explain this to me clearly, O Sage, for this Dhamma is known to you.

“Atthaṅgatassa na pamāṇamatthi, (upasīvāti bhagavā) Yena naṁ vajjuṁ taṁ tassa natthi; Sabbesu dhammesu samohatesu, Samūhatā vādapathāpi sabbe”ti.

For one who has gone out, there is no measure, said the Blessed One, Upasīva. That by which he might be described no longer exists for him. When all phenomena have been uprooted, all pathways of speech are uprooted as well.

Upasīvamāṇavapucchā chaṭṭhī.

The Questions of the Student Upasīva, the sixth.