Saṃyukta Āgama Volume 1 (15)

Bhikkhu, if one is driven by the defilements, one will die driven by the defilements. If one dies driven by the defilements, one is bound by grasping. Bhikkhu, if one is not driven by the defilements, one will not die driven by the defilements. Not dying driven by the defilements, one is liberated from grasping. The bhikkhu said to the Buddha: "I understand, Bhagavān. I understand, Sugata."

The Buddha said to the bhikkhu: "How do you extensively comprehend the meaning within my concise teaching?" The bhikkhu said to the Buddha: "Bhagavān, when form is driven by the defilements, form dies driven by the defilements. Being driven by the defilements and dying driven by the defilements, one is bound by grasping. Similarly, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness, when driven by the defilements and dying driven by the defilements, being driven by the defilements and dying driven by the defilements, one is bound by grasping."

"Bhagavān, if form is not driven by the defilements, it does not die driven by the defilements. Not being driven by the defilements and not dying driven by the defilements, one is liberated from grasping. Similarly, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness, if not driven by the defilements and not dying driven by the defilements, not being driven by the defilements and not dying driven by the defilements, one is liberated from grasping. Thus, Bhagavān, within the concise teaching, I extensively comprehend its meaning." The Buddha said to the bhikkhu: "Excellent, excellent! Bhikkhu, you extensively comprehend the meaning within my concise teaching."

"Why is this so? When form is driven by the defilements and dies driven by the defilements, being driven by the defilements and dying driven by the defilements, one is bound by grasping. Similarly, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness, when driven by the defilements and dying driven by the defilements, being driven by the defilements and dying driven by the defilements, one is bound by grasping. Bhikkhu, if form is not driven by the defilements, it does not die driven by the defilements. Not being driven by the defilements and not dying driven by the defilements, one is liberated from grasping. Similarly, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness, if not driven by the defilements and not dying driven by the defilements, not being driven by the defilements and not dying driven by the defilements, one is liberated from grasping."

Explanation: The Buddha said: Bhikkhu, if a person follows their defilements (kleshas) and creates actions of body, speech, and mind, they will undergo birth and death (samsara) driven by these defilements. If one undergoes birth and death driven by defilements, they are bound by their own grasping and cannot attain liberation. Bhikkhu, if a person does not follow their defilements and does not create actions of body, speech, and mind, they will not undergo the cycle of birth and death driven by the defilements. If one does not undergo birth and death driven by the defilements, they are liberated from their grasping of the dharmas of the three realms. The bhikkhu said to the Buddha: "I understand, Bhagavān. I understand, Sugata."

The first '使' (shǐ) means 'defilements' or 'kleshas' (afflictive mental states that bind beings to samsara). Defilements are approximately of nine main types, but in detail, they are countless. The second '使' means 'to drive', 'to use', or 'to command'. Grasping any dharma is grasping defilements; it is a binding fetter; it is following the defilements; it is the cycle of birth and death. Each fetter, when expanded, includes countless defilements, manifesting in one's bodily, verbal, and mental actions within the mundane world. The crucial point is to observe and detect them, to subdue and eradicate them through the practice of contemplating the non-self nature of the five aggregates (skandhas). The fruit of practice is manifested in each person's bodily, verbal, and mental actions within the mundane world, evident in the activities of the five-aggregate body. If the actions of body, speech, and mind are not purified, it indicates that the practice has not yet borne fruit, the path has not progressed, and the practice is not yet effective. The test of one's practice lies precisely in the bodily, verbal, and mental actions of the five-aggregate body, in the mental factors (caitasika) of the seven consciousnesses, that is, in the mental activities (caraṇa) of the seven consciousnesses. There is no other place to test it. No one can test their own Tathāgatagarbha (true suchness mind) in its functioning, for the functioning of the Tathāgatagarbha is always pure, always free from ignorance, always free from afflictions, and free from all bonds. Moreover, the true suchness nature of every person is identical; it does not require practice.

The Buddha said to the bhikkhu: "How is it that you are able to extensively comprehend the meaning within the essential points of my concise teaching?" The bhikkhu said to the Buddha: "Bhagavān, when the aggregate of form is used by the defilements, the aggregate of form will undergo birth and death driven by the defilements. If one is commanded by their own defilements, follows the defilements to create bodily and verbal actions, and undergoes birth and death driven by the defilements, they are bound by their own grasping and cannot attain liberation. Similarly, if feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness follow the defilements, are used by the defilements, then feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness will undergo birth and death driven by the defilements. Those who are used by the defilements to create bodily, verbal, and mental actions and thus revolve in birth and death are bound by their own grasping and cannot attain liberation."

"Bhagavān, if the aggregate of form is not driven by the defilements, it will not undergo birth and death driven by the defilements. If it is not driven by the defilements, does not follow the defilements to create bodily, verbal, and mental actions, and does not undergo birth and death driven by the defilements, one is liberated from their own grasping, no longer grasping the world of the five aggregates. Similarly, if feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness are not driven by the defilements, they will not undergo birth and death driven by the defilements; if feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness are not driven by the defilements and do not undergo birth and death driven by the defilements, one is liberated from grasping. Bhagavān, it is precisely like this that I extensively comprehend the meaning within the essential points of your concise teaching."

The Buddha told the bhikkhu: "Excellent, excellent! Bhikkhu, you are able to extensively comprehend the meaning within the essential points of my concise teaching. Why is it said this way? Because if the aggregate of form follows the defilements, it will undergo birth and death driven by the defilements; following the defilements to create bodily, verbal, and mental actions, undergoing birth and death driven by the defilements, one is bound by their own grasping and cannot attain liberation. Similarly, if feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness follow the defilements, they will create bodily, verbal, and mental actions driven by the defilements, undergo birth and death, and cannot attain liberation. Those who follow the defilements and undergo birth and death are bound by their grasping of the three realms and cannot attain liberation."

"Bhikkhu, if the aggregate of form is not driven by the defilements, it can avoid undergoing birth and death driven by the defilements. Not being driven by the defilements, not undergoing birth and death driven by the defilements, one is liberated from grasping. Similarly, if feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness are not driven by the defilements, they do not undergo birth and death driven by the defilements. Not being driven by the defilements, not undergoing birth and death driven by the defilements, one is liberated from grasping the world of the five aggregates."