1Then a certain bhikkhu approached the Blessed One … and said to him: "Venerable sir, is there one thing through the abandoning of which ignorance is abandoned by a bhikkhu and true knowledge arises?"

2"There is one thing, bhikkhu, through the abandoning of which ignorance is abandoned by a bhikkhu and true knowledge arises."

3"And what is that one thing, venerable sir?" sn.iv.50

4"Ignorance, bhikkhu, is that one thing through the abandoning of which ignorance is abandoned by a bhikkhu and true knowledge arises." [n.42] Though it may sound redundant to say that ignorance must be abandoned in order to abandon ignorance, this statement underscores the fact that ignorance is the most fundamental cause of bondage, which must be eliminated to eliminate all the other bonds.

5"But, venerable sir, how should a bhikkhu know, how should he see, for ignorance to be abandoned by him and true knowledge to arise?"

6"Bhikkhu, when a bhikkhu knows and sees the eye as impermanent, ignorance is abandoned by him and true knowledge arises. When he knows and sees forms as impermanent … When he knows and sees as impermanent whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition … ignorance is abandoned by him and true knowledge arises.

"When, bhikkhu, a bhikkhu knows and sees thus, ignorance is abandoned by him and true knowledge arises."

1Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami … pe … ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "atthi nu kho, bhante, eko dhammo yassa pahānā bhikkhuno avijjā pahīyati, vijjā uppajjatī"ti?

2"Atthi kho, bhikkhu, eko dhammo yassa pahānā bhikkhuno avijjā pahīyati, vijjā uppajjatī"ti.

3"Katamo pana, bhante, eko dhammo yassa pahānā bhikkhuno avijjā pahīyati, vijjā uppajjatī"ti?

4"Avijjā kho, bhikkhu, eko dhammo yassa pahānā bhikkhuno avijjā pahīyati, vijjā uppajjatī"ti.

5"Kathaṁ pana, bhante, jānato, kathaṁ passato bhikkhuno avijjā pahīyati, vijjā uppajjatī"ti?

6"Cakkhuṁ kho, bhikkhu, aniccato jānato passato bhikkhuno avijjā pahīyati, vijjā uppajjati. Rūpe … cakkhuviññāṇaṁ … cakkhusamphassaṁ … yampidaṁ, cakkhusamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tampi aniccato jānato passato bhikkhuno avijjā pahīyati, vijjā uppajjati … pe … manaṁ aniccato jānato passato bhikkhuno avijjā pahīyati, vijjā uppajjati. Dhamme … manoviññāṇaṁ … manosamphassaṁ … yampidaṁ manosamphassapaccayā uppajjati vedayitaṁ sukhaṁ vā dukkhaṁ vā adukkhamasukhaṁ vā tampi aniccato jānato passato bhikkhuno avijjā pahīyati, vijjā uppajjati.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhu, jānato evaṁ passato bhikkhuno avijjā pahīyati, vijjā uppajjatī"ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.