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The Great Sutra Treasury - Southern Transmission 20
The Connected Discourses are studied in parallel with the Miscellaneous Āgama, the Numerical Discourses, and the Minor Collection. Today, we focus on the suttas in S III, beginning with Anuradha (S III 116 / Miscellaneous Āgama 100), which discusses where to find the Tathāgata; then Vakkali (S III 119 / 1265), telling the story of Venerable Vakkali and liberation before his suicide; next, Khemaka (S III 126 / Miscellaneous Āgama 103), which clearly points out that even though one contemplates form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness as non-self, there still remain the latent tendencies (anusaya) of self-conceit, self-desire, and self-view until one deeply penetrates the truth of arising and passing away.
Following are Channa (S III 132), summarizing the Middle Way and Dependent Origination; Rāhula (S III 136 / Miscellaneous Āgama 23–24), concerning self; Lotus (S III 113), likening the white lotus to being unstained by mud; Water Bubble (S III 114 / 265), comparing the five aggregates to bubbles and foam; Axe Handle (S III 152 / 263), emphasizing the diligent practice that gradually wears away afflictions; Dog Leash (S III 149 / 267), illustrating the six sense bases as prisons; and Perception of Impermanence (S III 115), seeing impermanence as the foremost tool to eradicate craving.
Moving to the Connected Discourses with the Laṭukikopama, there is Mara (S III 188), warning of Māra at the six sense doors; Beings (S III 189), comparing the play of form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness to sandcastles; Vacchagotta, discussing the ten unanswered wrong views; teaching the combination of shamatha and vipashyana; entering the chapter on the Six Sense Bases, emphasizing that the six sense bases and six sense objects are loka (the world), fire (S IV 19), paloka (decay), suññatā (emptiness), sandiṭṭhika (immediate benefit), distinguishing between single and dual dwelling, and encouraging contemplation of impermanence to easily enter the stream.