SN 46.17 — Going to the Far Shore | Ru-Yi Meditation Center

Reading guide

A verse discourse, breaking this vagga's own prose pattern

Every discourse before this one in the Bojjhaṅgasaṃyutta has been prose; this is the first to shift into verse, confirmed by direct reading to closely parallel imagery already well known from the Dhammapada — the rare few who cross from the near shore (saṁsāra) to the far shore (nibbāna), while most simply run back and forth on the near side.

A practical sequence embedded in verse

Beneath the poetic imagery, the verses trace a recognizable sequence: ridding oneself of dark qualities and developing bright ones, leaving home for a seclusion “so hard to enjoy,” finding satisfaction there after leaving sensual pleasures behind, and owning nothing while cleansing mental corruptions — culminating in minds “rightly developed in the awakening factors” who are “quenched in this world.”

Key terms

apāragāminī pajā — “few are those... who cross to the far shore” — the discourse's own opening image, closely echoing Dhammapada verses 85–86

maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ — “Death's dominion so hard to pass” — the obstacle only those who practice the well-explained teaching manage to cross

kaṇhaṁ dhammaṁ vippahāya sukkaṁ bhāvetha paṇḍito — “rid of dark qualities, an astute person should develop the bright” — the verses' own ethical instruction, using light and dark as a moral metaphor

akiñcano — “owning nothing” — the renunciate condition the verses describe as the occasion for cleansing mental corruptions

khīṇāsavā jutimanto te loke parinibbutā — “with defilements ended, brilliant, they are quenched in this world” — the verses' own closing description of those whose minds are rightly developed in the awakening factors

The text

The complete discourse, prose opening and all six verses. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

§1 — the prose statement“Mendicants, when these seven awakening factors are developed and cultivated they lead to going from the near shore to the far shore. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These seven awakening factors, when developed and cultivated, lead to going from the near shore to the far shore.

Verse 1 — few cross to the far shoreFew are those among humans who cross to the far shore. The rest just run around on the near shore.

Verse 2 — crossing Death's own dominionWhen the teaching is well explained, those who practice accordingly are the ones who will cross over Death’s dominion so hard to pass.

Verse 3 — developing the brightRid of dark qualities, an astute person should develop the bright. Leaving home behind for the seclusion so hard to enjoy,

Verse 4 — leaving sensual pleasures behindtry to find satisfaction there, having left behind sensual pleasures. Owning nothing, an astute person should cleanse themselves of mental corruptions.

Verse 5 — minds rightly developed, quenched in this worldAnd those whose minds are rightly developed in the awakening factors; letting go of attachments, they delight in not grasping. With defilements ended, brilliant, they are quenched in this world.”

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Self-check quiz

3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.

Question 1 of 3

What well-known verses does this discourse's own opening line closely echo?

Correct: A. Confirmed by direct comparison of the imagery — the rare few who cross from the near shore to the far shore.

Question 2 of 3

What breaks this vagga's own established pattern, making this discourse structurally distinct from those before it?

Correct: A. Every discourse before this one in this saṃyutta has been prose.

Question 3 of 3

What practical sequence do the verses trace beneath their own poetic imagery?

Correct: A. A recognizable ethical and renunciate sequence embedded within the verse form.

Answered 0 of 3 · Correct 0

Going to the Far Shore

Why this discourse