Linked Discourses 35.70

1. With Migajāla

Upavāṇa on What is Apparent in the Present Life

Then Venerable Upavāṇa went up to the Buddha …

and said to him:

“Sir, they speak of ‘a teaching apparent in the present life’.

In what way is the teaching apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves?”

“Upavāṇa, take a mendicant who sees a sight with their eyes. They experience both the sight and the desire for the sight.

There is desire for sights in them, and they understand that.

Since this is so,

this is how the teaching is apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.

Next, take a mendicant who hears … smells … tastes … touches …

Next, take a mendicant who knows an idea with their mind. They experience both the idea and the desire for the idea.

There is desire for ideas in them, and they understand that.

Since this is so,

this is how the teaching is apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.

Take a mendicant who sees a sight with their eyes. They experience the sight but no desire for the sight.

There is no desire for sights in them, and they understand that.

Since this is so,

this is how the teaching is apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.

Next, take a mendicant who hears … smells … tastes … touches …

Next, take a mendicant who knows an idea with their mind. They experience the idea but no desire for the idea.

There is no desire for ideas in them, and they understand that.

Since this is so, this is how the teaching is apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.”