The World
Loka Sutta (SN 35:82)
Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One: “‘The world, the world [loka],’ it is said. In what respect does the word ‘world’ apply?”
“Insofar as it disintegrates [lujjati], monk, it is called the ‘world.’ Now what disintegrates? The eye disintegrates. Forms disintegrate. Eye-consciousness disintegrates. Eye-contact disintegrates. And whatever there is that arises in dependence on eye-contact—experienced as pleasure, pain or neither-pleasure-nor-pain—that too disintegrates.
“The ear disintegrates. Sounds disintegrate…
“The nose disintegrates. Aromas disintegrate…
“The tongue disintegrates. Tastes disintegrate…
“The body disintegrates. Tactile sensations disintegrate…
“The intellect disintegrates. Ideas disintegrate. Intellect-consciousness disintegrates. Intellect-contact disintegrates. And whatever there is that arises in dependence on intellect-contact—experienced as pleasure, pain or neither-pleasure-nor-pain—that too disintegrates.
“Insofar as it disintegrates, it is called the ‘world.’”
[Because the word loka can also mean ‘cosmos,’ this discourse can also be translated as follows:]
Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One: “‘The cosmos, the cosmos [loka],’ it is said. In what respect does the word ‘cosmos’ apply?”
“Insofar as it disintegrates [lujjati], monk, it is called the ‘cosmos.’ Now what disintegrates? The eye disintegrates. Forms disintegrate. Eye-consciousness disintegrates. Eye-contact disintegrates. And whatever there is that arises in dependence on eye-contact—experienced as pleasure, pain or neither-pleasure-nor-pain—that too disintegrates.
“The ear disintegrates. Sounds disintegrate…
“The nose disintegrates. Aromas disintegrate…
“The tongue disintegrates. Tastes disintegrate…
“The body disintegrates. Tactile sensations disintegrate…
“The intellect disintegrates. Ideas disintegrate. Intellect-consciousness disintegrates. Intellect-contact disintegrates. And whatever there is that arises in dependence on intellect-contact—experienced as pleasure, pain or neither-pleasure-nor-pain—that too disintegrates.
“Insofar as it disintegrates, it is called the ‘cosmos.’”1
Note
1. For alternative definition of “world/cosmos,” see AN 9:38.
