Cetanaa Sutta
Volition
translated from the Pali by
Maurice O'Connell Walshe
[1] [At Saavatthii the Blessed One said:] "Monks, what a man wills, what he plans, what he dwells on forms the basis for the continuation of consciousness.[2] This basis being present, consciousness has a lodgment. Consciousness being lodged there and growing, rebirth of renewed existence takes place in the future, and from this renewed existence arise birth, decay-and-death, grief, lamentation, suffering, sorrow and despair. Such is the uprising of this entire mass of suffering.
"Even if a man does not will and plan, yet if he dwells on something this forms a basis for the continuation of consciousness:... rebirth... takes place...
"But if a man neither wills nor plans nor dwells on anything, no basis is formed for the continuation of consciousness. This basis being absent, consciousness has no lodgment. Consciousness not being lodged there and not growing, no rebirth of renewed existence takes place in the future, and so birth, decay-and-death, grief, lamentation, suffering, sorrow and despair are destroyed. Such is the cessation of this entire mass of suffering."
Notes
1. Cetanaa. This is equated in AN vi, 13 with kamma. [Cf. AN 6.63, sect. [5]: "... Intention, I tell you, is kamma."]
2. Consciousness (defined as "karmic consciousness" in SA [SN Commentary]) is dependent on the formations (sankhaaraa) of which volition (n. 1) is one.
