“Mendicants, before my awakening—when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening—I thought: “Pubbeva me, bhikkhave, sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato etadahosi: ‘Alas, this world has fallen into trouble. It’s born, grows old, dies, passes away, and is reborn, ‘kicchaṁ vatāyaṁ loko āpanno jāyati ca jīyati ca mīyati ca cavati ca upapajjati ca. yet it doesn’t understand how to escape from this suffering, from old age and death. Atha ca panimassa dukkhassa nissaraṇaṁ nappajānāti jarāmaraṇassa. Oh, when will an escape be found from this suffering, from old age and death?’ Kudāssu nāma imassa dukkhassa nissaraṇaṁ paññāyissati jarāmaraṇassā’ti?

Then it occurred to me: Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi: ‘When what exists is there old age and death? What is a requirement for old age and death?’ ‘kimhi nu kho sati jarāmaraṇaṁ hoti, kiṁpaccayā jarāmaraṇan’ti? Then, through rational application of mind, I penetrated with wisdom: Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘When rebirth exists there’s old age and death. Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death.’ ‘jātiyā kho sati jarāmaraṇaṁ hoti, jātipaccayā jarāmaraṇan’ti.

Then it occurred to me: Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi: ‘When what exists is there rebirth? … ‘kimhi nu kho sati jāti hoti …pe… continued existence … bhavo … grasping … upādānaṁ … craving … taṇhā … feeling … vedanā … contact … phasso … the six sense fields … saḷāyatanaṁ … name and form … nāmarūpaṁ … consciousness … viññāṇaṁ … ‘When what exists are there choices? What is a requirement for choices?’ saṅkhārā honti, kiṁpaccayā saṅkhārā’ti? Then, through rational application of mind, I penetrated with wisdom: Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘When ignorance exists there are choices. Ignorance is a requirement for choices.’ ‘avijjāya kho sati saṅkhārā honti, avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā’ti.

And so, ignorance is a requirement for choices. Iti hidaṁ avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;

Choices are a requirement for consciousness. … saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe… That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. ‘Origination, origination.’ Such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in me regarding teachings not learned before from another. ‘Samudayo, samudayo’ti kho me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

Then it occurred to me: Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no old age and death? When what ceases do old age and death cease?’ ‘kimhi nu kho asati jarāmaraṇaṁ na hoti, kissa nirodhā jarāmaraṇanirodho’ti? Then, through rational application of mind, I penetrated with wisdom: Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘When rebirth doesn’t exist there’s no old age and death. When rebirth ceases, old age and death cease.’ ‘jātiyā kho asati jarāmaraṇaṁ na hoti, jātinirodhā jarāmaraṇanirodho’ti.

Then it occurred to me: Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etadahosi: ‘When what doesn’t exist is there no rebirth? … ‘kimhi nu kho asati jāti na hoti …pe… continued existence … bhavo … grasping … upādānaṁ … craving … taṇhā … feeling … vedanā … contact … phasso … the six sense fields … saḷāyatanaṁ … name and form … nāmarūpaṁ … consciousness … viññāṇaṁ … ‘When what doesn’t exist are there no choices? When what ceases do choices cease?’ saṅkhārā na honti, kissa nirodhā saṅkhāranirodho’ti? Then, through rational application of mind, I penetrated with wisdom: Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, yoniso manasikārā ahu paññāya abhisamayo: ‘When ignorance doesn’t exist there are no choices. When ignorance ceases, choices cease.’ ‘avijjāya kho asati saṅkhārā na honti, avijjānirodhā saṅkhāranirodho’ti.

And so, when ignorance ceases, choices cease. Iti hidaṁ avijjānirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe… That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases. evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hoti. ‘Cessation, cessation.’ Such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in me regarding teachings not learned before from another.” ‘Nirodho, nirodho’ti kho me, bhikkhave, pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādī”ti. Dasamo.

Buddhavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Desanā vibhaṅgapaṭipadā ca, Vipassī sikhī ca vessabhū; Kakusandho koṇāgamano kassapo, Mahāsakyamuni ca gotamoti.