{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn12.65/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn12.65","id":"suttacentral_sn12.65","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn12.65/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At S\u0101vatth\u012b. \u201cMendicants, before my awakening\u2014when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening\u2014I thought: \u2018Alas, this world has fallen into trouble. It\u2019s born, grows old, dies, passes away, and is reborn, yet it doesn\u2019t 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?\u2019 Then it occurred to me: \u2018When what exists is there old age and death? What is a requirement for old age and death?\u2019 Then, through rational application of mind, I penetrated with wisdom: \u2018When rebirth exists there\u2019s old age and death. Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death.\u2019 Then it occurred to me: \u2018When what exists is there rebirth? \u2026 continued existence \u2026 grasping \u2026 craving \u2026 feeling \u2026 contact \u2026 the six sense fields \u2026 name and form \u2026 What is a requirement for name and form?\u2019 Then, through rational application of mind, I penetrated with wisdom: \u2018When consciousness exists there are name and form. Consciousness is a requirement for name and form.\u2019 Then it occurred to me: \u2018When what exists is there consciousness? What is a requirement for consciousness?\u2019 Then, through rational application of mind, I penetrated with wisdom: \u2018When name and form exist there\u2019s consciousness. Name and form are requirements for consciousness.\u2019 Then it occurred to me: This consciousness turns back from name and form, and doesn\u2019t go beyond that. This is the extent to which one may be reborn, grow old, die, pass away, or reappear. That is: name and form are requirements for consciousness. Consciousness is a requirement for name and form. Name and form are requirements for the six sense fields. The six sense fields are requirements for contact. \u2026 That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. \u2018Origination, origination.\u2019 Such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in me regarding teachings not learned before from another. Then it occurred to me: \u2018When what doesn\u2019t exist is there no old age and death? When what ceases do old age and death cease?\u2019 Then, through rational application of mind, I penetrated with wisdom: \u2018When rebirth doesn\u2019t exist there is no old age and death. When rebirth ceases old age and death cease.\u2019 Then it occurred to me: \u2018When what doesn\u2019t exist is there no rebirth \u2026 continued existence \u2026 grasping \u2026 craving \u2026 feeling \u2026 contact \u2026 six sense fields \u2026 name and form? When what ceases do name and form cease?\u2019 Then, through rational application of mind, I penetrated with wisdom: \u2018When consciousness doesn\u2019t exist there is no name and form. When consciousness ceases name and form cease.\u2019 Then it occurred to me: \u2018When what doesn\u2019t exist is there no consciousness? When what ceases does consciousness cease?\u2019 Then, through rational application of mind, I penetrated with wisdom: \u2018When name and form don\u2019t exist, there is no consciousness. When name and form cease, consciousness ceases.\u2019 Then it occurred to me: I have discovered the path to awakening. That is: When name and form cease, consciousness ceases. When consciousness ceases, name and form cease. When name and form cease, the six sense fields cease. When the six sense fields cease, contact ceases. \u2026 That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases. \u2018Cessation, cessation.\u2019 Such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in me regarding teachings not learned before from another. Suppose a person was walking through a forest. They\u2019d see an ancient path, an ancient route traveled by humans in the past. Following it along, they\u2019d see an ancient city, an ancient capital, inhabited by humans in the past. It was lovely, complete with parks, groves, lotus ponds, and embankments. Then that person would inform a king or their chief minister: \u2018Please sir, you should know this. While walking through a forest I saw an ancient path, an ancient route traveled by humans in the past. Following it along I saw an ancient city, an ancient capital, inhabited by humans in the past. It was lovely, complete with parks, groves, lotus ponds, and embankments. Sir, you should rebuild that city!\u2019 Then that king or their chief minister would have that city rebuilt. And after some time that city was successful and prosperous, populous and full of people, attained to growth and expansion. In the same way, I saw an ancient path, an ancient route traveled by fully awakened Buddhas in the past. And what is that ancient path, the ancient route traveled by fully awakened Buddhas in the past? It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. This is that ancient path, the ancient route traveled by fully awakened Buddhas in the past. Following it along, I directly knew old age and death, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. Following it along, I directly knew rebirth \u2026 continued existence \u2026 grasping \u2026 craving \u2026 feeling \u2026 contact \u2026 the six sense fields \u2026 name and form \u2026 consciousness \u2026 Following it along, I directly knew choices, their origin, their cessation, and the practice that leads to their cessation. Having directly known this, I told the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen. And that\u2019s how this spiritual life has become successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and fully revealed among gods and humans.\u201d","title":"The City","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":901}