Advice from Nandaka 9.1-19

Nandakovādasutta 9.1-19

Language: Pāli

9.1

Seyyathāpi, bhaginiyo, telappadīpassa jhāyato telampi aniccaṃ vipariṇāmadhammaṃ, vaṭṭipi aniccā vipariṇāmadhammā, accipi aniccā vipariṇāmadhammā, ābhāpi aniccā vipariṇāmadhammā.

Suppose there was an oil lamp burning. The oil, wick, flame, and light were all impermanent and perishable.
Advice from Nandaka

9.2

Yo nu kho, bhaginiyo, evaṃ vadeyya:

Now, suppose someone was to say:
Advice from Nandaka

9.3

‘amussa telappadīpassa jhāyato telampi aniccaṃ vipariṇāmadhammaṃ, vaṭṭipi aniccā vipariṇāmadhammā, accipi aniccā vipariṇāmadhammā;

‘While this oil lamp is burning, the oil, the wick, and the flame are all impermanent and perishable.
Advice from Nandaka

9.4

yā ca khvāssa ābhā sā niccā dhuvā sassatā avipariṇāmadhammā’ti;

But the light is permanent, lasting, eternal, and imperishable.’
Advice from Nandaka

9.5

sammā nu kho so, bhaginiyo, vadamāno vadeyyā”ti?

Would they be speaking rightly?”
Advice from Nandaka

9.6

“No hetaṃ, bhante”.

“No, sir.
Advice from Nandaka

9.7

“Taṃ kissa hetu”?

Why is that?
Advice from Nandaka

9.8

“Amussa hi, bhante, telappadīpassa jhāyato telampi aniccaṃ vipariṇāmadhammaṃ, vaṭṭipi aniccā vipariṇāmadhammā, accipi aniccā vipariṇāmadhammā;

Because that oil lamp’s oil, wick, and flame are all impermanent and perishable,
Advice from Nandaka

9.9

pagevassa ābhā aniccā vipariṇāmadhammā”ti.

let alone the light.”
Advice from Nandaka

9.10

“Evameva kho, bhaginiyo, yo nu kho evaṃ vadeyya:

“In the same way, suppose someone was to say:
Advice from Nandaka

9.11

‘cha khome ajjhattikā āyatanā aniccā;

‘These six interior sense fields are impermanent.
Advice from Nandaka

9.12

yañca kho cha ajjhattike āyatane paṭicca paṭisaṃvedeti sukhaṃ vā dukkhaṃ vā adukkhamasukhaṃ vā taṃ niccaṃ dhuvaṃ sassataṃ avipariṇāmadhamman’ti;

But the feeling—whether pleasant, painful, or neutral—that I experience due to these six interior sense fields is permanent, lasting, eternal, and imperishable.’
Advice from Nandaka