Text
Snp. 5.17 Piṅgiyamāṇavapucchā Sutta “Questions of the Brahmin Piṅgiya” 1120. “I am now old, all wrinkly and weak, having lost my vigor and youth, with discolored skin,” the brahmin Piṅgiya said: “I can barely see now, in addition to losing my hearing, day by day. “Please, help me Teacher, because I do not want to die like this, all lost and confused. Explain to me the Dhamma, so that I may finally understand birth and death, while still alive, and thus finally rid myself from both.” 1121. The Blessed One replied: “Witnessing how negligent people, infatuated by all things that have form, sooner or later, due to their heedlessness, become tormented and overwhelmed by the very forms they were smitten by. Therefore, Piṅgiya, be diligent and just drop this reliance on matter altogether, so you never come back to this vicious cycle of birth and death, ever again.” 1122. And the brahmin Piṅgiya then said: “Nothing can lie hidden from Your vision! Throughout the four quarters, the sections in between, and whether above or below, there is nothing in any of these directions of the world, which has not been seen, heard, sensed, or cognized by You! “Please, show me the way, so that I can free myself from rebirth, and from getting old.” 1123. The Blessed One said: “Piṅgiya, look around at those who, due to their heedlessness, continue to be tormented and overwhelmed by the very forms they were smitten by, as a result of which they blindly fall victim, to old age and anguish. “So, Piṅgiya, be diligent and just drop craving altogether, and end rebirth, once and for all.”