Sn42.11
With Bhadraka
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Mallas, near the Mallian town called Uruvelakappa. Then Bhadraka the village chief went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
āPlease, sir, teach me the origin and cessation of suffering.ā
āChief, if I were to teach you about the origin and ending of suffering in the past, saying āthis is how it was in the past,ā you might have doubts or uncertainties about that. If I were to teach you about the origin and ending of suffering in the future, saying āthis is how it will be in the future,ā you might have doubts or uncertainties about that. Rather, chief, I will teach you about the origin and ending of suffering as I am sitting right here and you are sitting right there. Listen and pay close attention, I will speak.ā
āYes, sir,ā Bhadraka replied. The Buddha said this:
āWhat do you think, chief? Are there any people here in Uruvelakappa who, if they were executed, imprisoned, fined, or condemned, it would cause you sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress?ā
āThere are, sir.ā
āBut are there any people here in Uruvelakappa who, if they were executed, imprisoned, fined, or condemned, it would not cause you sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress?ā
āThere are, sir.ā
āWhatās the cause, chief, whatās the reason why, if this was to happen to some people it could cause you sorrow, while if it happens to others it does not?ā
āThe people regarding whom this would give rise to sorrow are those I desire and love. The people regarding whom this would not give rise to sorrow are those I donāt desire and love.ā
āWith this present phenomenon that is seen, known, immediate, attained, and fathomed, you may infer to the past and future: āAll the suffering that arose in the past was rooted and sourced in desire. For desire is the root of suffering. All the suffering that will arise in the future will be rooted and sourced in desire. For desire is the root of suffering.āā
āItās incredible, sir, itās amazing! How well said this was by the Buddha! āAll the suffering that arises is rooted and sourced in desire. For desire is the root of suffering.ā
I have a boy called CiravÄsi, who resides in a house away from here. I rise early and send someone, saying: āGo, my man, and check on my boy CiravÄsi.ā Until they get back I worry: āI hope nothingās wrong with CiravÄsi!āā
āWhat do you think, chief? If CiravÄsi was executed, imprisoned, fined, or condemned, would it cause you sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress?ā
āHow could it not, sir?ā
āThis too is a way to understand: āAll the suffering that arises is rooted and sourced in desire. For desire is the root of suffering.ā
What do you think, chief? Before youād seen or heard of CiravÄsiās mother, did you have any desire or love or fondness for her?ā
āNo, sir.ā
āThen was it because you saw or heard of her that you had desire or love or fondness for her?ā
āYes, sir.ā
āWhat do you think, chief? If CiravÄsiās mother was executed, imprisoned, fined, or condemned, would it cause you sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress?ā
āHow could it not, sir?ā
āThis too is a way to understand: āAll the suffering that arises is rooted and sourced in desire. For desire is the root of suffering.āā