SA 251（二五一） 拘𫄨罗

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove in Rājagṛha.

At that time, Venerable Śāriputra and Venerable Mahākauṣṭhila were both staying on Vulture Peak Mountain.

Venerable Mahākauṣṭhila awoke from meditation in the afternoon and went to where Venerable Śāriputra was. After exchanging greetings, he sat to one side and said to Venerable Śāriputra, "I have a question to ask. Do you have the leisure to answer it?"

Śāriputra said, "Ask as you wish. I will answer what I know."

Venerable Mahākauṣṭhila asked Venerable Śāriputra, "What is called ignorance? What is ignorance?"

Venerable Śāriputra said, "So-called ignorance, ignorance is called ignorance. What is ignorance? It is not knowing that the eye is impermanent. This is called ignorance. Not knowing that the eye is a law of arising and ceasing, this is called ignorance. The same is true for the ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Venerable Mahākauṣṭhila, not truly knowing, seeing, not being free from, ignorant, dark, and greatly obscured about these six sense bases of contact is called ignorance."

Venerable Mahākauṣṭhila again asked Venerable Śāriputra, "What is called illumination? What is illumination?"

Śāriputra said, "So-called knowledge, knowledge is illumination. What is known? It is knowing that the eye is impermanent, knowing that the eye is a law of arising and ceasing. The same is true for the ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Venerable Mahākauṣṭhila, truly knowing, seeing, illuminating, awakening, understanding, and being free from about these six sense bases of contact is called illumination."

At that time, the two noble ones each heard what was said, and they rejoiced in turn. They each returned to their respective places.