SA 287（二八七） 城邑

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "I remember in my past lives before I attained perfect enlightenment, when I was alone in a quiet place, diligently practicing meditation, I had this thought: 'What exists because of what? What is the condition for what?' I then contemplated correctly, and realized that birth exists because of existence, and birth is the condition for existence. In the same way, existence, grasping, craving, feeling, contact, the six sense bases, and name-and-form exist because of what? What is the condition for name-and-form?' I then contemplated correctly, and realized that name-and-form exists because of consciousness, and consciousness is the condition for name-and-form. When I contemplated in this way, I could not go beyond consciousness, that is, name-and-form arises based on consciousness, the six sense bases arise based on name-and-form, contact arises based on the six sense bases, feeling arises based on contact, craving arises based on feeling, grasping arises based on craving, existence arises based on grasping, birth arises based on existence, and aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, and distress arise based on birth. In this way, the great mass of suffering arises.

"I then thought, 'What does not exist, then old age and death do not exist? What ceases, then old age and death cease?' I then contemplated correctly, and realized that birth does not exist, then old age and death do not exist, and the cessation of birth causes the cessation of old age and death. In the same way, existence, grasping, craving, feeling, contact, the six sense bases, name-and-form, consciousness, and formations..."

I then thought, 'What does not exist, then formations do not exist? What ceases, then formations cease?' I then contemplated correctly, and realized that ignorance does not exist, then formations do not exist, and the cessation of ignorance causes the cessation of formations. The cessation of formations causes the cessation of consciousness, the cessation of consciousness causes the cessation of name-and-form, the cessation of name-and-form causes the cessation of the six sense bases, the cessation of the six sense bases causes the cessation of contact, the cessation of contact causes the cessation of feeling, the cessation of feeling causes the cessation of craving, the cessation of craving causes the cessation of grasping, the cessation of grasping causes the cessation of existence, the cessation of existence causes the cessation of birth, and the cessation of birth causes the cessation of old age, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, and distress. In this way, the great mass of suffering ceases.

I then thought, 'I have attained the path of the ancient sages, the path of the ancient sages, the trace of the path of the ancient sages. The ancient sages went from here, and I now follow them.' It is like a person wandering in a wilderness, searching for a path through the wilderness, suddenly encountering an ancient path where people have walked before. They then follow that path, gradually proceeding, and see an ancient city, an ancient royal palace, gardens, ponds, and forests that are pure. They think, 'I should go and inform the king.' They then go and inform the king, 'Great King, you should know that while I was wandering in the wilderness, searching for a path through the wilderness, I suddenly saw an ancient path where people have walked before. I then followed that path. After following that path, I saw an ancient city, an ancient royal palace, gardens, ponds, and forests that are pure. Great King, you should go and dwell there.' The king then goes there and dwells there, enjoying abundance, peace, and a flourishing population.

"Now I am like this, having attained the path of the ancient sages, the path of the ancient sages, the trace of the path of the ancient sages. The ancient sages went from here, and I have attained to follow them. That is, the eightfold noble path: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. I saw from that path old age and death, the origin of old age and death, the cessation of old age and death, the path leading to the cessation of old age and death. I saw birth, existence, grasping, craving, feeling, contact, the six sense bases, name and form, consciousness, formations, the origin of formations, the cessation of formations, the path leading to the cessation of formations. I personally knew and personally awakened to these teachings, and attained perfect enlightenment. For the sake of bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, upāsikās, and other non-Buddhist śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, householders, and renunciants, those four assemblies heard the Dharma, correctly inclined, believed and delighted in it, understood the Dharma well, and increased their pure conduct, benefiting many, revealing and manifesting it."

Having spoken this sūtra, the bhikṣus heard what the Buddha said and joyfully practiced it.