The identical structure as SN 35.204-205, with “present” substituted
Length
under 1 minute to read
Northern parallel
A rough counterpart may exist in the Chinese Saṃyukta-āgama (T99), though this reading guide does not assert a specific matching sutra number
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — closes the three-file opening unit
Why this discourse
This discourse closes round three's opening trio, attaching the chain formula to the present — completing past (SN 35.204), future (SN 35.205), and present here — before SN 35.207 begins merging all three time-values into a single line per file, exactly as round two's own opening trio gave way to merged files at SN 35.189.
Reading guide
The present, completing the opening trio
“In the present the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind are impermanent. What's impermanent is suffering…” completes the three time-values this opening trio spells out one file each — past, future, present — before the compression pattern this project has now seen three times in this vagga alone repeats itself.
The third confirmation of a vagga-wide pattern
Round three's own opening three-item unit (SN 35.204-206) is the third time this vagga has opened a round with three separate files before merging the rest — after round one's SN 35.168-170 and round two's SN 35.186-188. The shape is now firmly established: three files first, then compression.
Key terms
paccuppanna — present — this discourse's own time-value, the third and last of round three's opening trio
yadaniccaṁ, taṁ dukkhaṁ — “what's impermanent is suffering” — the chain's own first step, still spelled out here
atīta, anāgata — past, future — SN 35.204's and 35.205's own time-values, now joined by this discourse's present
ajjhattikāyatana — the six interior sense fields — unchanged across all three discourses of this opening trio
peyyāla — an elision mark — the compression that will merge all three time-values into a single line beginning at SN 35.207
The text
The complete discourse, apart from its own closing ellipsis: the declaration and the chain's own first step. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“Mendicants, in the present the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind are impermanent. What’s impermanent is suffering. …”
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Self-check quiz
5 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 5
What time-value does this discourse address, completing round three's opening trio?
Correct: A. Paccuppannaṁ, the third of three, completing past (SN 35.204) and future (SN 35.205).
Question 2 of 5
What compression pattern does SN 35.207 begin, immediately after this discourse?
Correct: A. The same structural pattern this vagga has now used three times: three separate files first, then merged files.
Question 3 of 5
How many times has this vagga now opened a round with three separate files before merging the rest?
Correct: A. The pattern is now firmly established across all three rounds so far.
Question 4 of 5
What sense fields does this discourse address?
Correct: A. Ajjhattikāyatana, exactly as in SN 35.204-205; only the time-value changes.
Question 5 of 5
What formula step does this discourse's own text still spell out, before the ellipsis?
Correct: A. The same single visible step as SN 35.205, with the rest compressed.
