sn.35.82 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The World

Then a certain bhikkhu approached the Blessed One … and said to him: “Venerable sir, it is said, ‘the world, the world.’ In what way, venerable sir, is it said ‘the world’?”

“It is disintegrating, bhikkhu, therefore it is called the world. And what is disintegrating? The eye, bhikkhu, is disintegrating, forms are disintegrating, eye-consciousness is disintegrating, eye-contact is disintegrating, and whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as condition … that too is disintegrating. The ear is disintegrating … The mind is disintegrating … Whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition … that too is disintegrating. It is disintegrating, bhikkhu, therefore it is called the world.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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A Question On the World

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and said to him:
“Sir, they speak of this thing called ‘the world’.
How is the world defined?”
“It wears away, mendicant, that’s why it’s called ‘the world’.
And what is wearing away?
The eye is wearing away.
Sights … eye consciousness … eye contact is wearing away. The painful, pleasant, or neutral feeling that arises conditioned by eye contact is also wearing away.
The ear … nose … tongue … body …
The mind … thoughts … mind consciousness … mind contact is wearing away. The painful, pleasant, or neutral feeling that arises conditioned by mind contact is also wearing away.
It wears away, mendicant, that’s why it’s called ‘the world’.”