1At Sāvatthī. Then a certain bhikkhu approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said to him: "Venerable sir, it would be good if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief, so that, having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute."

"Bhikkhu, if one has an underlying tendency towards something, then one is measured in accordance with it; [n.49] Spk explains anumīyati as if it were equivalent to Skt anumṛyate, "to die along with": "When the underlying tendency is dying, the form to which it tends dies along with it (anumarati!); for when the object is breaking up, the mental factors that take it as object cannot persist." This of course is ludicrous, for anumiyati is doubtlessly from anu + ma; CPD defines the verb as meaning "to be measured after," which I follow here. This statement then sheds light on the famous passage at SN44.1 (IV 376–77 = MN I 487–88) declaring that the Tathāgata, freed from reckoning in terms of form, etc. (rūpasaṅkhāvimutto), is immeasurable (appameyyo) like the great ocean. if one is measured in accordance with something, then one is reckoned in terms of it. If one does not have an underlying tendency towards something, then one is not measured in accordance with it; if one is not measured in accordance with something, then one is not reckoned in terms of it."

"Understood, Blessed One! Understood, Fortunate One!"

2"In what way, bhikkhu, do you understand in detail the meaning of what was stated by me in brief?"

"If, venerable sir, one has an underlying tendency towards form, then one is measured in accordance with it; if one is measured in accordance with it, then one is reckoned in terms of it. If one has an underlying tendency towards feeling … towards perception … towards volitional formations … towards consciousness, then one is measured in accordance with it; if one is measured in accordance with it, then one is reckoned in terms of it.

"If, venerable sir, one does not have an underlying tendency towards form, then one is not measured in accordance with it; sn.iii.37 if one is not measured in accordance with it, then one is not reckoned in terms of it. If one does not have an underlying tendency towards feeling … towards perception … towards volitional formations … towards consciousness, then one is not measured in accordance with it; if one is not measured in accordance with it, then one is not reckoned in terms of it.

"It is in such a way, venerable sir, that I understand in detail the meaning of what was stated by the Blessed One in brief."

3"Good, good, bhikkhu! It is good that you understand in detail the meaning of what was stated by me in brief. If, bhikkhu, one has an underlying tendency towards form … as above in full … then one is not reckoned in terms of it. It is in such a way that the meaning of what was stated by me in brief should be understood in detail."

Then that bhikkhu, having delighted and rejoiced in the Blessed One's words, rose from his seat … And that bhikkhu became one of the arahants.

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā … pe … ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "sādhu me, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan"ti.

"Yaṁ kho, bhikkhu, anuseti taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Yaṁ nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchatī"ti.

"Aññātaṁ, bhagavā, aññātaṁ, sugatā"ti.

2"Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsī"ti?

"Rūpañce, bhante, anuseti taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. vedanāñce anuseti … saññañce anuseti … saṅkhāre ce anuseti … viññāṇañce anuseti taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Rūpañce, bhante, nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. vedanāñce nānuseti … saññañce nānuseti … saṅkhāre ce nānuseti … viññāṇañce nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Imassa khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmī"ti.

3"Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu. Sādhu kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsi. Rūpañce, bhikkhu, anuseti taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. vedanāñce, bhikkhu … saññañce, bhikkhu … saṅkhāre ce, bhikkhu … viññāṇañce, bhikkhu, anuseti taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ anumīyati tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. Rūpañce, bhikkhu, nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati. vedanāñce nānuseti … saññañce nānuseti … saṅkhāre ce nānuseti … viññāṇañce nānuseti na taṁ anumīyati; yaṁ nānumīyati na tena saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

Imassa kho, bhikkhu, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo"ti … pe … aññataro ca pana so bhikkhu arahataṁ ahosīti.

Catutthaṁ.