Ru-Yi Meditation Center
Saṃyutta Nikāya · Discourse 46.32

Skillful (2nd)

Dutiyakusalasutta — Nīvaraṇavagga

Setting
Continuing directly from SN 46.31
Speakers
The Buddha, addressing the mendicants directly
Form
The identical claim already met at SN 46.31, one term substituted
Length
<1 minute to read
Northern parallel
No individual parallel confirmed by this project's own check
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — short, the second of a paired discourse

Why this discourse

The identical “rooted in... and meeting at...” formula returns, now naming rational application of mind (yoniso manasikāra) rather than diligence as the root of every skillful quality — a second, complementary candidate for what all skillful qualities ultimately trace back to.

Reading guide

Two roots, not a contradiction

Read together, SN 46.31 and this discourse name two distinct qualities — diligence and rational application of mind — both said to be the root of every skillful quality, using the identical formula. Rather than a contradiction, this pairing suggests both operate together as complementary foundations, echoing the similar pairing of good friendship and rational application of mind already met at SN 46.12-13.

Key terms

yonisomanasikāramūlakā yonisomanasikārasamosaraṇā — “rooted in rational application of mind and meeting at rational application of mind” — this discourse's own substitution for SN 46.31's own diligence
yonisomanasikārasampanno bhikkhu pāṭikaṅkho — “a mendicant accomplished in rational application of mind can expect” — the discourse's own claim of reliable expectation, mirroring SN 46.31's own
sati... upekkhā — the seven awakening factors, named in brief succession as this discourse's own object
vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ — the base formula, applied here to each awakening factor in turn
dutiyaṁ — “the second” — the Pāli root's own closing numeral for this discourse

The text

The complete discourse. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

§1“Mendicants, whatever qualities are skillful, part of the skillful, on the side of the skillful, all of them are rooted in rational application of mind and meet at rational application of mind, and rational application of mind is said to be the best of them. A mendicant accomplished in rational application of mind can expect to develop and cultivate the seven awakening factors. And how does a mendicant with rational application of mind develop and cultivate the seven awakening factors? It’s when a mendicant develops the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how a mendicant with rational application of mind develops and cultivates the seven awakening factors.”

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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 does this discourse name as the root of every skillful quality, distinct from SN 46.31's own claim?
Correct: A. A complementary root, paired with SN 46.31's own diligence, using the identical formula.
Question 2 of 3
How should these two paired discourses (SN 46.31-32) most likely be understood?
Correct: A. Echoing the similar pairing of good friendship and rational application of mind at SN 46.12-13.
Question 3 of 3
Where else in this saṃyutta was a similar two-condition pairing already met?
Correct: A. A recurring pattern of naming two complementary conditions with the identical formula.
Answered 0 of 3 · Correct 0

Further reading

← PreviousSN 46.31 · Skillful (1st)