Reading guide
A stock epithet, grounded
“Apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant” is a standing formula describing the Dhamma; here Upavāṇa asks what it actually cashes out to, in practice.
Desire present, and known as present
The first half: a mendicant who sees a sight, hears a sound (and so through touch), or knows an idea, and experiences desire for it, simply knows that desire is there — this knowing itself is what makes the teaching “apparent in the present life.”
Desire absent, and known as absent
The second half mirrors the first exactly, for a mendicant who experiences no desire for what's sensed — the same immediate self-knowledge, now of an absence rather than a presence.
Immediate, not eventual
Neither half appeals to what will happen later or what happened before — the teaching's own “apparent in the present life” quality rests entirely on this moment's own introspectable knowing.
Key terms
The text
§1Then 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?”
§2“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 …
§3Next, 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.
§4Take 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 …
§5Next, 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.”
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