Reading guide
A third catechism: permanent, suffering, self
The same three-question form SN 35.32 already used to close Sabbavagga — is the eye (and each remaining field) permanent or impermanent? if impermanent, suffering or happiness? if impermanent and suffering, fit to be regarded as self? — here recast onto the six fields of contact, closing this triad's own third and final escalation.
The full liberation formula, restored
Unlike SN 35.71's own “end of suffering” and SN 35.72's own “no more future lives,” this discourse closes on the complete sequence: disillusionment, fading desire, freedom, the knowledge of that freedom, and the standard declaration that rebirth is ended.
A colophon confirming the second fifty's own second vagga
This file's own closing colophon, “Migajālavaggo dutiyo” (“Migajālavagga is the second”), confirms — following the same pattern already established at SN 22.52, SN 35.52, and SN 35.62 — that this vagga is the second vagga of Saḷāyatanasaṃyutta's own second paṇṇāsaka, immediately after Avijjāvagga opened it at SN 35.53.
Eleven discourses, named in verse
This file's own closing uddāna names all eleven discourses of this vagga in order — two with Migajāla, four with Samiddhi, Upasena, Upavāṇa, and three on the six fields of contact — left untranslated in Sujato's own English exactly as at SN 35.62, so this reading guide describes rather than quotes its content.
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, anyone who doesn’t truly understand the six fields of contact’s origin, disappearance, gratification, drawback, and escape has not completed the spiritual journey and is far from this teaching and training.” When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha, “Here, sir, I’m discouraged, really discouraged. For I don’t truly understand the six fields of contact’s origin, disappearance, gratification, drawback, and escape.”
§2“What do you think, mendicant? Is the eye permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, sir.” “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?” “Suffering, sir.” “But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?” “No, sir.”
§3“Is the ear … nose … tongue … body … mind permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, sir.” “But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?” “Suffering, sir.” “But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: ‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?” “No, sir.”
§4“Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed. They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”
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