Dighanikaya 14.1_4

14.1_4

Titthiyā khandhapaṭipāṭiyā anussaranti, paṭipāṭiṃ muñcitvā na sakkonti. Paṭipāṭiyā anussarantāpi asaññabhavaṃ patvā khandhappavattiṃ na passanti, jāle patitā kuṇṭhā viya, kūpe patitā paṅguḷā viya ca honti. Te tattha ṭhatvā ‘‘ettakameva, ito paraṃ natthī’’ti diṭṭhiṃ gaṇhanti. Iti titthiyānaṃ pubbenivāsānussaraṇaṃ andhānaṃ yaṭṭhikoṭigamanaṃ viya hoti. Yathā hi andhā yaṭṭhikoṭiggāhake satiyeva gacchanti, asati tattheva nisīdanti, evameva titthiyā khandhapaṭipāṭiyāva anussarituṃ sakkonti, paṭipāṭiṃ vissajjetvā na sakkonti.

Sectarians recollect by following the sequence of aggregates; having abandoned the sequence, they cannot. Even when recollecting by sequence, on reaching the realm of non-percipient beings, they do not see the continuity of aggregates; they become like maimed people fallen into a net, or like cripples fallen into a pit. Standing there, they adopt the view: ‘It is only this much; there is nothing beyond this.’ Thus, the sectarians’ recollection of past lives is like the walking of blind people with the tip of a cane. For just as blind people walk only when there is someone holding the tip of a cane, and sit right there when there is not, even so sectarians are able to recollect only by following the sequence of aggregates; having released the sequence, they cannot.