The Buddha describes the three quests of sensual pleasure, renewed existence, and spiritual life.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Awakened One, as I have heard:
“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā. Katamā tisso? Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā— imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā”ti.
“There are these three |quests::searches, pursuits [esanā]||, bhikkhus.::::.| What are the three? The quest for seeking sensual pleasure, the quest for seeking existence, and the quest for |seeking renunciation::seeking spiritual life, seeking religious beliefs [brahmacariyesanā]|. These are the three quests.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Samāhito sampajāno,
sato buddhassa sāvako;
Esanā ca pajānāti,
esanānañca sambhavaṁ.
“|Collected::composed, settled [samāhita]| and |clearly aware::clearly comprehending [sampajāna]|,
the |mindful::remembering to be present with continuous effort, observing the body in and of itself, feelings in and of itself, mind in and of itself, mental qualities in and of themselves [sata]| disciple of the Buddha,
understands quests,
and the source of quests.
Yattha cetā nirujjhanti,
maggañca khayagāminaṁ;
Esanānaṁ khayā bhikkhu,
nicchāto parinibbuto”ti.
Where these [quests] |cease::finish, vanish, reach an end [nirujjhati]|,
and the way of practice |leading to their cessation::leading to their wearing away [khayagāmī]|,
with the cessation of quests, the bhikkhu
is |satiated::free from craving, desireless [nicchāta]| and |completely quenched [of mental defilements]::completely cooled mental defilements [parinibbuta]|.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Awakened One, as I have heard:
“There are these three |quests::searches, pursuits [esanā]||, bhikkhus.::::.| What are the three? The quest for seeking sensual pleasure, the quest for seeking existence, and the quest for |seeking renunciation::seeking spiritual life, seeking religious beliefs [brahmacariyesanā]|. These are the three quests.”
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“|Collected::composed, settled [samāhita]| and |clearly aware::clearly comprehending [sampajāna]|,
the |mindful::remembering to be present with continuous effort, observing the body in and of itself, feelings in and of itself, mind in and of itself, mental qualities in and of themselves [sata]| disciple of the Buddha,
understands quests,
and the source of quests.
Where these [quests] |cease::finish, vanish, reach an end [nirujjhati]|,
and the way of practice |leading to their cessation::leading to their wearing away [khayagāmī]|,
with the cessation of quests, the bhikkhu
is |satiated::free from craving, desireless [nicchāta]| and |completely quenched [of mental defilements]::completely cooled mental defilements [parinibbuta]|.”
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, esanā. Katamā tisso? Kāmesanā, bhavesanā, brahmacariyesanā— imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso esanā”ti.
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
“Samāhito sampajāno,
sato buddhassa sāvako;
Esanā ca pajānāti,
esanānañca sambhavaṁ.
Yattha cetā nirujjhanti,
maggañca khayagāminaṁ;
Esanānaṁ khayā bhikkhu,
nicchāto parinibbuto”ti.
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.