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Translator: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Linked Discourses 1.61 · 7. Overcome

“What overcomes everything?

What is it that nothing excels?

What is the one thing

that has everything under its sway?”

“Name overcomes everything. ^[1]

Nothing excels name. ^[2]

Name is the one thing

that has everything under its sway.” ^[3]

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[1] Compare Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇa 20.2.32, Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 4.6.5.3.

[2] This contradicts Chāndogya Upaniṣad 7.1.5, which states, “Surely there is that which excels name” (nāmno vāva bhūyo ’stīti), which it says is the “speech” that makes the scripture known.

[3] The Buddha is refuting the doctrine that “name” (and form) come to an end in the ocean of infinite consciousness (see too DN 15:22.6).