Translating Classical Buddhism to Modern English

The Related Discourses

1. The Aggregates

（六八） 說六入處 98-109 (68). Teaching the Six Sense Fields
如是我聞： 一時，佛住舍衛國、祇樹、給孤獨園。 1. Thus I have heard:1 One time, the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in Jeta’s Grove of Śrāvastī.
爾時，世尊告諸比丘： 「常當修習方便禪思，內寂其心⋯如實觀察。 云何如實觀察？ 如實知： 『此色』、『此色集』、『此色滅』。 『此受⋯想⋯行⋯識』、『此識集』、『此識滅』。 2. It was then that the Bhagavān addressed the monks, “You must always cultivate the methods of meditating and having an inner peace in your heart. [Why is that? A monk who has always cultivated the methods of meditating and had inner peace in his heart] truly [98] examines … [99] discerns … [100] discerns in various ways … [101] knows … [102] knows in detail … [103] knows in various ways … [104] is familiar with, [105] cultivates, [106] cultivates often, [107] enters, [108] contacts, and [109] realizes something.2 What does he truly examine? He truly knows: ‘This is form.’ ‘This is form’s formation.’ ‘This is form’s cessation.’ ‘This is feeling … conception … volition … awareness.’ ‘This is the formation of awareness.’ ‘This is the cessation of awareness.’
「云何色集，受⋯想⋯行⋯識集？ 緣眼及色眼識生。 三事和合生觸。 緣觸生受，緣受生愛⋯乃至⋯純大苦聚生。 是名色集。 如是，緣耳⋯鼻⋯舌⋯身⋯意⋯ 緣意及法生意識。 三事和合生觸。 緣觸生受，緣受生愛⋯如是乃至⋯純大苦聚生。 是名色集，受⋯想⋯行⋯識集。 3. “What is the formation of form … feeling … conception … volition … the formation of awareness? Visual awareness arises dependent on the eye and forms. These three things unite to produce contact. Feeling arises dependent on contact, craving arises dependent on feeling … up to … the whole mass of suffering arises. This is called form’s formation. In this way, dependent on the ear … nose … tongue … body … mind … Mental awareness arises dependent on the mind and ideas. These three things unite to produce contact. Feeling arises dependent on contact, craving arises dependent on feeling … up to … the whole mass of suffering arises. This is called the formation of form … feeling … conception … volition … the formation of awareness.
「云何色滅，受⋯想⋯行⋯識滅？ 緣眼及色眼識生。 三事和合生觸。 觸滅則受滅⋯乃至⋯純大苦聚滅。 如是耳⋯鼻⋯舌⋯身⋯意⋯ 緣意及法意識生。 三事和合生觸。 觸滅則受滅。 受滅⋯乃至⋯純大苦聚滅。 是名色滅，受⋯想⋯行⋯識滅。 4. “What is the cessation of form … feeling … conception … volition … the cessation of awareness? Visual awareness arises dependent on the eye and forms. These three things unite to produce contact. When contact ceases, then feeling ceases … up to … the whole mass of suffering ceases. In this way, the ear … nose … tongue … body … mind … Mental awareness arises dependent on the mind and ideas. These three things unite to produce contact. When contact ceases, then feeling ceases. When feeling ceases … up to … the whole mass of suffering ceases. This is called the cessation of form … feeling … conception … volition … the cessation of awareness.
「是故，比丘，常當修習方便禪思，內寂其心⋯」 5. “Therefore, monks, you must always cultivate the methods of meditating and having an inner peace in your heart. [Monks, abide in meditating and having inner peace in your heart. Be diligent in these methods, and truly examine … up to … realize these things.]”3
佛說此經已，諸比丘聞佛所說歡喜，奉行。 6. After the Buddha spoke this sūtra, the monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved.
（如「觀察」⋯乃至⋯「作證」十二經，亦如是廣說。） (Like [98] “examine,” [likewise is [99] “discern,” [100] “discern in various ways,” [101] “know,” [102] “know in detail,” [103] “know in various ways,” [104] “be familiar with,” [105] “cultivate,” [106] “cultivate often,” [107] “enter,” [108] “contact,” and] [109] “realize” are twelve sūtras recited in full.4)
Summary Verse
  • 受與生及樂、
    亦說六入處，
    一一十二種
    禪定三昧經。
  • [62-73] Feeling, [74-85] birth, [86-97] delight,
    And [98-109] teaching the six sense fields
    Are each twelve sūtras
    On meditation and samādhi.

Notes

  1. This is sūtra no. 68 in the Taisho edition and nos. 98-109 in Yinshun (T99.2.18a6-25, Y30.110a1-13). The basic template is similar to SN 22.5-6. However, in this case, that template has been replicated with twelve different synonymous verbs for understanding the nature of the aggregates.

    This pattern is repeated with SĀ 1.62-73 (65), SĀ 1.74-85 (66), and SĀ 1.86-97 (67). Each of these sets of twelve sūtras change the subject that’s understood and replicate the template with the same twelve synonyms for understanding. Thus, four variations are multiplied in twelve ways to arrive at a total of 48 sūtras. [back]

  2. It seems that a portion of this introductory statement has been lost in the original Chinese. I’ve reconstructed it based on the previous three groups of sūtras that share the same introduction. [back]

  3. I’ve reconstructed this conclusion based on SĀ 1.62-73, which has a full conclusion that follows a format found in many EBTs that draws a general moral or principle from the proceeding lecture. Here, it has been abbreviated to the initial statement only. [back]

  4. This translator’s note has also been abbreviated. I’ve expanded it back to the original list of alternate verbs found in the note to SĀ 1.62-73 that began this series of sūtras. [back]

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 10 February 2026

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