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Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Linked Discourses

Vol 1:
Verses
SN1-11
Vol 2:
Causation
SN12-21
Vol 3:
Aggregates
SN22-34
Vol 4:
Sense Bases
SN35-44
Vol 5:
Great Book
SN45-56

12. Nidānasaṁyutta: On Causation

I. The Buddhas — SN12.4: About Vipassī

1At Sāvatthī.

“Mendicants, Vipassī the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha had this thought before his awakening, when he was still unawakened but intent on awakening: ‘Alas, this world has fallen into trouble. It’s born, grows old, dies, passes away, and is reborn, yet it doesn’t understand how to escape from this suffering, from old age and death. Oh, when will an escape be found from this suffering, from old age and death?’

2Then Vipassī, the one intent on awakening, thought: ‘When what exists is there old age and death? What is a condition for old age and death?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When rebirth exists there’s old age and death. Rebirth is a condition for old age and death.’

3Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there rebirth? What is a condition for rebirth?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When continued existence exists there’s rebirth. Continued existence is a condition for rebirth.’

4Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there continued existence? What is a condition for continued existence?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When grasping exists there’s continued existence. Grasping is a condition for continued existence.’

5Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there grasping? What is a condition for grasping?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When craving exists there’s grasping. Craving is a condition for grasping.’

6Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there craving? What is a condition for craving?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When feeling exists there’s craving. Feeling is a condition for craving.’

7Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there feeling? What is a condition for feeling?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When contact exists there’s feeling. Contact is a condition for feeling.’

8Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there contact? What is a condition for contact?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When the six sense fields exist there’s contact. The six sense fields are a condition for contact.’

9Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists are there the six sense fields? What is a condition for the six sense fields?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When name and form exist there are the six sense fields. Name and form are a condition for the six sense fields.’

10Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists are there name and form? What is a condition for name and form?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When consciousness exists there are name and form. Consciousness is a condition for name and form.’

11Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists is there consciousness? What is a condition for consciousness?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When choices exist there’s consciousness. Choices are a condition for consciousness.’

12Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what exists are there choices? What is a condition for choices?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When ignorance exists there are choices. Ignorance is a condition for choices.’


13And so, ignorance is a condition for choices.

Choices are a condition for consciousness. … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. ‘Origination, origination.’ While Vipassī was intent on awakening, such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in him regarding teachings not learned before from another.

14Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no old age and death? When what ceases do old age and death cease?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When rebirth doesn’t exist there’s no old age and death. When rebirth ceases, old age and death cease.’

15Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no rebirth? When what ceases does rebirth cease?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When continued existence doesn’t exist there’s no rebirth. When continued existence ceases, rebirth ceases.’

16Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no continued existence? When what ceases does continued existence cease?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When grasping doesn’t exist there’s no continued existence. When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases.’

17Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no grasping? When what ceases does grasping cease?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When craving doesn’t exist there’s no grasping. When craving ceases, grasping ceases.’

18Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no craving? When what ceases does craving cease?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When feeling doesn’t exist there’s no craving. When feeling ceases, craving ceases.’

19Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no feeling? When what ceases does feeling cease?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When contact doesn’t exist there’s no feeling. When contact ceases, feeling ceases.’

20Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no contact? When what ceases does contact cease?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When the six sense fields don’t exist there’s no contact. When the six sense fields cease, contact ceases.’

21Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist are there no six sense fields? When what ceases do the six sense fields cease?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When name and form don’t exist there are no six sense fields. When name and form cease, the six sense fields cease.’

22Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist are there no name and form? When what ceases do name and form cease?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When consciousness doesn’t exist there are no name and form. When consciousness ceases, name and form cease.’

23Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no consciousness? When what ceases does consciousness cease?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When choices don’t exist there’s no consciousness. When choices cease, consciousness ceases.’

24Then Vipassī thought: ‘When what doesn’t exist are there no choices? When what ceases do choices cease?’ Then, through proper attention, Vipassī comprehended with wisdom: ‘When ignorance doesn’t exist there are no choices. When ignorance ceases, choices cease.’

25And so, when ignorance ceases, choices cease. When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases. ‘Cessation, cessation.’ Such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in Vipassī, the one intent on awakening, regarding teachings not learned before from another.”


26(The text should be expanded in this way for each of the seven Buddhas.)

1Sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati

… pe … "vipassissa, bhikkhave, bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato etadahosi: ‘kicchaṁ vatāyaṁ loko āpanno jāyati ca jīyati ca mīyati ca cavati ca upapajjati ca. Atha ca panimassa dukkhassa nissaraṇaṁ nappajānāti jarāmaraṇassa. Kudāssu nāma imassa dukkhassa nissaraṇaṁ paññāyissati jarāmaraṇassā’ti?

2Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati jarāmaraṇaṁ hoti, kiṁpaccayā jarāmaraṇan’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘jātiyā kho sati jarāmaraṇaṁ hoti, jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇan’ti.

3Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati jāti hoti, kiṁpaccayā jātī’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘bhave kho sati jāti hoti, bhavapaccayā jātī’ti.

4Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati bhavo hoti, kiṁpaccayā bhavo’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘upādāne kho sati bhavo hoti, upādānapaccayā bhavo’ti.

5Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati upādānaṁ hoti, kiṁpaccayā upādānan’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘taṇhāya kho sati upādānaṁ hoti, taṇhāpaccayā upādānan’ti.

6Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati taṇhā hoti, kiṁpaccayā taṇhā’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘vedanāya kho sati taṇhā hoti, vedanāpaccayā taṇhā’ti.

7Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati vedanā hoti, kiṁpaccayā vedanā’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘phasse kho sati vedanā hoti, phassapaccayā vedanā’ti.

8Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati phasso hoti, kiṁpaccayā phasso’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘saḷāyatane kho sati phasso hoti, saḷāyatanapaccayā phasso’ti.

9Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati saḷāyatanaṁ hoti, kiṁpaccayā saḷāyatanan’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘nāmarūpe kho sati saḷāyatanaṁ hoti, nāmarūpapaccayā saḷāyatanan’ti.

10Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati nāmarūpaṁ hoti, kiṁpaccayā nāmarūpan’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘viññāṇe kho sati nāmarūpaṁ hoti, viññāṇapaccayā nāmarūpan’ti.

11Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati viññāṇaṁ hoti, kiṁpaccayā viññāṇan’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘saṅkhāresu kho sati viññāṇaṁ hoti, saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇan’ti.

12Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho sati saṅkhārā honti, kiṁpaccayā saṅkhārā’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘avijjāya kho sati saṅkhārā honti, avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā’ti.


13Iti hidaṁ avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;

saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ … pe … evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. ‘Samudayo, samudayo’ti kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

14Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati jarāmaraṇaṁ na hoti, kissa nirodhā jarāmaraṇanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘jātiyā kho asati jarāmaraṇaṁ na hoti, jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇanirodho’ti.

15Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati jāti na hoti, kissa nirodhā jātinirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘bhave kho asati jāti na hoti, bhavanirodhā jātinirodho’ti.

16Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati bhavo na hoti, kissa nirodhā bhavanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘upādāne kho asati bhavo na hoti, upādānanirodhā bhavanirodho’ti.

17Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati upādānaṁ na hoti, kissa nirodhā upādānanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘taṇhāya kho asati upādānaṁ na hoti, taṇhānirodhā upādānanirodho’ti.

18Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati taṇhā na hoti, kissa nirodhā taṇhānirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘vedanāya kho asati taṇhā na hoti, vedanānirodhā taṇhānirodho’ti.

19Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati vedanā na hoti, kissa nirodhā vedanānirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘phasse kho asati vedanā na hoti, phassanirodhā vedanānirodho’ti.

20Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati phasso na hoti, kissa nirodhā phassanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘saḷāyatane kho asati phasso na hoti, saḷāyatananirodhā phassanirodho’ti.

21Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati saḷāyatanaṁ na hoti, kissa nirodhā saḷāyatananirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘nāmarūpe kho asati saḷāyatanaṁ na hoti, nāmarūpanirodhā saḷāyatananirodho’ti.

22Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati nāmarūpaṁ na hoti, kissa nirodhā nāmarūpanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘viññāṇe kho asati nāmarūpaṁ na hoti, viññāṇanirodhā nāmarūpanirodho’ti.

23Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati viññāṇaṁ na hoti, kissa nirodhā viññāṇanirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘saṅkhāresu kho asati viññāṇaṁ na hoti, saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho’ti.

24Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa etadahosi: ‘kimhi nu kho asati saṅkhārā na honti, kissa nirodhā saṅkhāranirodho’ti? Atha kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘avijjāya kho asati saṅkhārā na honti, avijjānirodhā saṅkhāranirodho’ti.

25Iti hidaṁ avijjānirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho … pe … evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotīti. ‘Nirodho, nirodho’ti kho, bhikkhave, vipassissa bodhisattassa pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādī"ti.

Catutthaṁ.


26(Sattannampi buddhānaṁ evaṁ vitthāretabbo.)