Selected Lectures on Saṃyukta Āgama, Volume 1

Saṃyukta Āgama, Volume One  Sutra One

The World-Honored One told the bhikṣus: You should contemplate the impermanence of the aggregate of form. One who can truly observe the impermanence of the aggregate of form is engaged in correct contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā). If one can correctly contemplate the impermanence of the aggregate of form, one will give rise to a mind of disenchantment toward the aggregate of form; once a mind of disenchantment toward the aggregate of form has arisen, one will sever one's fondness and craving for the aggregate of form; one whose fondness and craving for the aggregate of form has been completely severed is one whose mind has attained liberation.

In this way, one then contemplates the impermanence of the aggregates of feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness. One who can truly contemplate the impermanence of the four aggregates of feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness is engaged in correct contemplative practice. One who engages in correct contemplative practice will give rise to a mind of disenchantment toward the four aggregates of feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness; one who has given rise to a mind of disenchantment can completely sever one's fondness and craving for the four aggregates of feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness; one whose fondness and craving for the four aggregates of feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness has been completely severed is one whose mind has attained liberation.

Thus, bhikṣus, for one whose mind has attained liberation, if he wishes to personally bear witness that he has attained liberation and can enter Nirvāṇa without remainder (Anupadhiśeṣa-nirvāṇa), he can bear witness himself, without needing anyone else to bear witness for him. He will attest, saying: My birth-and-death transmigration through immeasurable kalpas has come to an end with this present life; there will be no more birth and death. My pure brahma conduct has been established; my mind has attained purity, and I no longer have thoughts of desire. The work of liberating myself from birth and death that I undertook in this life has been completed. I myself can know that I will no longer receive, in future lives, a body of existence in the desire realm, a body of existence in the form realm, or a body of existence in the formless realm; I will not be reborn again within the three realms, and when this life ends, I will enter Nirvāṇa without remainder.

The World-Honored One further told the bhikṣus: You should contemplate the suffering, emptiness, and non-self nature of the five aggregates (pañca-skandha). One who contemplates in this way is engaged in correct contemplative practice. One who can engage in correct contemplative practice will give rise to a mind of disenchantment toward the five aggregates; one who has given rise to a mind of disenchantment toward the five aggregates will sever one's fondness and craving for the five aggregates; one whose fondness and craving for the five aggregates has been completely severed, I say, is one whose mind has attained liberation. For one whose mind has attained liberation, if he wishes to bear witness himself that he has attained liberation, he can bear witness to himself. He will attest, saying: Birth for me is exhausted, the pure life has been established, what was to be done has been done, and I know for myself that I will not receive further existence. At that time, the bhikṣus, having heard what the Buddha taught, were all exceedingly joyful, received it with faith, and put it into practice!