A Stream-Enterer Has Abandoned Confusion in the Case of ‘Nothing Matters’

Monks, when what exists, by clinging to what, by adhering to what, does such a view as this arise: There is nothing given, nothing offered, nothing presented in charity; no fruit or result of wholesome and unwholesome actions; no this world, no other world; no mother, no father; no beings who are reborn spontaneously; no Ascetics and Brāhmins faring and practicing rightly in the world who, having realized this world and the other world for themselves by direct knowledge (experience), make them known to others. This person consists of the four great elements. When one dies, earth returns to and merges with the earth-body; water returns to and merges with the water-body; fire returns to and merges with the fire-body; wind returns to and merges with the wind-body; the sense bases are transferred to space. [Four] men with support for the body as the fifth, carry away the corpse. The formal funeral speech last as far as the charnel ground; the bones whiten; burnt offerings end with ashes. Giving is a doctrine of unwise.

When anyone asserts the doctrine that there is [giving and the like], it is empty, false and frivolous speech. Unwise and the wise are alike cut off and perish with the breakup of the body; after death they do not exist?

‘Venerable Sir, our Teachings are rooted in The Perfectly Enlightened One, take recourse in The Perfectly Enlightened One. It would be good if The Perfectly Enlightened One would clear up the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from him, the Monks will remember it.’

Then listen and attend closely, Monks, I will speak.

When there is form, Monks, by clinging to form, by adhering to form, such a view as this arises: There is nothing given, nothing offered, nothing presented in charity; no fruit or result of wholesome and unwholesome actions; no this world, no other world; no mother, no father; no beings who are reborn spontaneously; no Ascetics and Brāhmins faring and practicing rightly in the world who, having realized this world and the other world for themselves by direct knowledge (experience), make them known to others. This person consists of the four great elements. When one dies, earth returns to and merges with the earth-body; water returns to and merges with the water-body; fire returns to and merges with the fire-body; wind returns to and merges with the wind-body; the sense bases are transferred to space. [Four] men with support for the body as the fifth, carry away the corpse. The formal funeral speech last as far as the charnel ground; the bones whiten; burnt offerings end with ashes. Giving is a doctrine of unwise.

When anyone asserts the doctrine that there is [giving and the like], it is empty, false and frivolous speech. Unwise and the wise are alike cut of and perish with the breakup of the body; after death they do not exist?

What do you think, Monks, is form permanent or impermanent?

‘Impermanent, Venerable Sir.’

Is what is impermanent discontentedness or peacefulness?

‘Discontentedness, Venerable Sir.’

But without clinging to what is impermanent, discontentedness, and subject to change, could such a view as this arise: There is nothing given, nothing offered, nothing presented in charity; no fruit or result of wholesome and unwholesome actions; no this world, no other world; no mother, no father; no beings who are reborn spontaneously; no Ascetics and Brāhmins faring and practicing rightly in the world who, having realized this world and the other world for themselves by direct knowledge (experience), make them known to others. This person consists of the four great elements. When one dies, earth returns to and merges with the earth-body; water returns to and merges with the water-body; fire returns to and merges with the fire-body; wind returns to and merges with the wind-body; the sense bases are transferred to space. [Four] men with support for the body as the fifth, carry away the corpse. The formal funeral speech last as far as the charnel ground; the bones whiten; burnt offerings end with ashes. Giving is a doctrine of unwise.

When anyone asserts the doctrine that there is [giving and the like], it is empty, false and frivolous speech. Unwise and the wise are alike cut off and perish with the breakup of the body; after death they do not exist?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

(In the case of feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness, the discourses are identical except for the reference to each of the aggregates previously mentioned.)

That which is seen, heard, sensed, recognized, attained, sought after, and ranged over by the mind: is that permanent or impermanent?

‘Impermanent, Venerable Sir.’

Is what is impermanent discontentedness or peacefulness?

‘Discontentedness, Venerable Sir.’

But without clinging to what is impermanent, discontentedness, and subject to change, could such a view as this arise: There is nothing given, nothing offered, nothing presented in charity; no fruit or result of wholesome and unwholesome actions; no this world, no other world; no mother, no father; no beings who are reborn spontaneously; no Ascetics and Brāhmins faring and practicing rightly in the world who, having realized this world and the other world for themselves by direct knowledge (experience), make them known to others. This person consists of the four great elements. When one dies, earth returns to and merges with the earth-body; water returns to and merges with the water-body; fire returns to and merges with the fire-body; wind returns to and merges with the wind-body; the sense bases are transferred to space. [Four] men with support for the body as the fifth, carry away the corpse. The formal funeral speech last as far as the charnel ground; the bones whiten; burnt offerings end with ashes. Giving is a doctrine of unwise.

When anyone asserts the doctrine that there is [giving and the like], it is empty, false and frivolous speech. Unwise and the wise are alike cut off and perish with the breakup of the body; after death they do not exist?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

When, Monks, a Noble Disciple has abandoned confusion in these six cases, and when, further, he has abandoned confusion about discontentedness, the cause of discontentedness, the elimination of discontentedness, and the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness, he is then called a Noble Disciple who is a Stream-Enterer, no longer bound to the nether world, fixed in destination, with Enlightenment as his destination.

(Reference: SN 24.5)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how if a Practitioner understands that The Five Aggregates and “that which is seen, heard, sensed, recognized, attained, sought after, and ranged over by the mind” are impermanent, then they would not have the view that:

“There is nothing given, nothing offered, nothing presented in charity; no fruit or result of wholesome and unwholesome actions; no this world, no other world; no mother, no father; no beings who are reborn spontaneously; no Ascetics and Brāhmins faring and practicing rightly in the world who, having realized this world and the other world for themselves by direct knowledge (experience), make them known to others. This person consists of the four great elements. When one dies, earth returns to and merges with the earth-body; water returns to and merges with the water-body; fire returns to and merges with the fire-body; wind returns to and merges with the wind-body; the sense bases are transferred to space. [Four] men with support for the body as the fifth, carry away the corpse. The formal funeral speech last as far as the charnel ground; the bones whiten; burnt offerings end with ashes. Giving is a doctrine of unwise.

When anyone asserts the doctrine that there is [giving and the like], it is empty, false and frivolous speech. Unwise and the wise are alike cut off and perish with the breakup of the body; after death they do not exist?”.

A Stream-Enterer will have eliminated their confusion about “these six cases” and has eliminated any confusion or ignorance (unknowing of true reality) related to discontentedness. The Buddha explains this as “When, Monks, a Noble Disciple has abandoned confusion in these six cases, and when, further, he has abandoned confusion about discontentedness”.

The way a Practitioner eliminates their ignorance, or confusion, about discontentedness is to deeply understand and practice The Four Noble Truths. The Buddha points to this by describing a Stream-Enterer will “abandon confusion about discontentedness, the cause of discontentedness, the elimination of discontentedness, and the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness, he is then called a Noble Disciple who is a Stream-Enterer”. This is a reference to The Four Noble Truths.

Detailed explanation of The Four Noble Truths is available in this same book series found in Chapter 4 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).