Re: Trans. & Philosophy of SN-1:18:5 [Ko.t.thita Sutta]

Dear All,

I noticed that so far Ven. Bodhi's translation has not been mentioned at
all so I attach a copy of his translation. It might be of use. More later.
Regards,
Bh Nyanatusita

232 (5) Kotthita
On one occasion the Venerable Sariputta and the Venerable Mahakotthita
were dwelling at Baranasi in the Deer Park at Isipatana. Then, in the
evening, the Venerable Mahakotthita emerged from seclusion and
approached the Venerable Sariputta. He exchanged greetings with the
Venerable Sariputta and, when they had concluded their greetings and
cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said to him:
"How is it, friend Sariputta, is the eye the fetter of forms or are
forms the fetter of the eye? Is the ear the fetter of sounds or are
sounds the fetter of the ear?… [163] Is the mind the fetter of mental
phenomena or are mental phenomena the fetter of the mind?"
"Friend Kotthita, the eye is not the fetter of forms nor are forms the
fetter of the eye, but rather the desire and lust that arises there in
dependence on both: that is the fetter there. The ear is not the fetter
of sounds nor are sounds the fetter of the ear, but rather the desire
and lust that arises there in dependence on both: that is the fetter
there…. The mind is not the fetter of mental phenomena nor are mental
phenomena the fetter of the mind, but rather the desire and lust that
arises there in dependence on both: that is the fetter there.
"Suppose, friend, a black ox and a white ox were yoked together by a
single rope or yoke. Would one be speaking rightly if one were to say:
'The black ox is the fetter of the white ox; the white ox is the fetter
of the black ox'?"
"No, friend. The black ox is not the fetter of the white ox nor is the
white ox the fetter of the black ox, but rather the single rope or yoke
by which the two are yoked together: that is the fetter there."
"So too, friend, the eye is not the fetter of forms … nor are mental
phenomena the fetter of the mind, but rather the desire and lust that
arises there in dependence on both: that is the fetter there.
"If, friend, the eye was the fetter of forms or if forms were the fetter
of the eye, this living of the holy life could not be discerned for the
complete destruction of suffering. But since the eye is not the fetter
of forms nor are forms the fetter of the eye [164]—but rather the desire
and lust that arises there in dependence on both is the fetter there—the
living of the holy life is discerned for the complete destruction of
suffering.
"If, friend, the ear was the fetter of sounds or if sounds were the
fetter of the ear … If the mind was the fetter of mental phenomena or if
mental phenomena were the fetter of the mind, this living of the holy
life could not be discerned for the complete destruction of suffering.
But since the mind is not the fetter of mental phenomena nor are mental
phenomena the fetter of the mind—but rather the desire and lust that
arises there in dependence on both is the fetter there—the living of the
holy life is discerned for the complete destruction of suffering.
"In this way too, friend, it may be understood how that is so: There
exists in the Blessed One the eye, the Blessed One sees a form with the
eye, yet there is no desire and lust in the Blessed One; the Blessed One
is well liberated in mind. There exists in the Blessed One the ear, the
Blessed One hears a sound with the ear … There exists in the Blessed One
the nose, the Blessed One smells an odour with the nose … There exists
in the Blessed One the tongue, the Blessed One savours a taste with the
tongue … There exists in the Blessed One the body, the Blessed One feels
a tactile object with the body … There exists in the Blessed One the
mind, the Blessed One cognizes [165] a mental phenomenon with the mind,
yet there is no desire and lust in the Blessed One; the Blessed One is
well liberated in mind.
"In this way, friend, it can be understood how the eye is not the fetter
of forms nor forms the fetter of the eye, but rather the desire and lust
that arises there in dependence on both is the fetter there; how the ear
is not the fetter of sounds nor sounds the fetter of the ear…; how the
mind is not the fetter of mental phenomena nor mental phenomena the
fetter of the mind, but rather the desire and lust that arises there in
dependence on both is the fetter there."


Jim Anderson wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
> In reading the Pali text of the Ko.t.thikasutta (S IV 162ff), I find the
> following passage spoken by Saariputta somewhat hard to comprehend:
>
> ya~n ca tattha tad ubhaya.m pa.ticca uppajjati chandaraago ta.m tattha
> sa.myojana.m || || (S IV 163 PTS ed.)
>
> The difficulty is what to make of "ya~n ca tattha" and "ta.m tattha".
>
> Here are three translations:
>
> 1) "but that desire and lust that arise owing to these two. That is the
> bond." (transl. by F.L. Woodward, Kindred Sayings, Part 4, p.101)
>
> 2) "Whatever desire & passion arises in dependence on the two of them:
> That is the fetter there." (transl. by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, from
> accesstoinsight. org)
>
> 3) ",... but that based on these two desire and lust arise, and they
> are the
> fetter." (transl. by M.O. Walshe, from accesstoinsight. org)
>
> These translations seem somewhat off.
>
> Best wishes,
> Jim
>
>