Saṃyuktāgama Volume 12 (285) Part 5

(5) Original Text: "O bhikkhus, what do you think? Suppose an oil lamp is burning. If oil is not replenished and the wick is not tended to, will not that lamp's light cease to exist in the future, being completely extinguished?" The bhikkhus replied to the Buddha, "Yes, Venerable Sir." "Similarly, O bhikkhus, when one observes the impermanence and the nature of arising and ceasing in the phenomena that are grasped, the mind becomes dispassionate, ceases craving, abandons craving, no longer attends to or clings to the phenomena of the five aggregates. Then craving ceases. With the cessation of craving, grasping ceases. With the cessation of grasping, existence in the three realms ceases. With the cessation of existence, birth ceases. With the cessation of birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair cease. Thus, the entire mass of suffering ceases." After the Buddha spoke this discourse, the bhikkhus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, rejoiced and undertook it respectfully.

Explanation: The World-Honored One said: O bhikkhus, what do you think about this? For example, if an oil lamp is not replenished with oil and its wick is not tended to, will not the light of that lamp cease to exist in the future, being completely extinguished? The bhikkhus replied to the Buddha, "Yes, Venerable Sir." O bhikkhus, it is so. If you observe the impermanence and the nature of arising and ceasing in the phenomena you grasp, the mind will become dispassionate, craving will cease, craving will be abandoned; the mind will no longer attend to the phenomena of the five-aggregate world, nor be bound by these phenomena. Then craving ceases. With the cessation of craving, grasping ceases. With the cessation of grasping, existence in the three realms ceases. With the cessation of existence, future birth ceases. With the cessation of birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, and distress cease. Thus, the entire mass of great suffering ceases.

Here, the World-Honored One uses the lamp's light as a metaphor for the mass of great suffering comprising birth, aging, death, sorrow, and lamentation. The lamp oil represents the afflictions of craving. If we do not replenish the oil in the wick, the lamp will soon be extinguished. Similarly, regarding the great suffering of birth and death, if we cease adding the afflictions of craving, craving will gradually fade and vanish, and then suffering ceases. If we constantly increase craving, the mass of suffering from birth and death will only grow larger—when then will suffering cease? Those who are awakened, amidst the suffering of birth and death, should not increase afflictions but should increase wisdom instead. Use the fire of wisdom to illuminate and destroy the afflictions of craving until craving is utterly eradicated, attaining liberation.

The World-Honored One teaches us that the method to cease suffering is to constantly observe the impermanence and the nature of arising and ceasing in the phenomena grasped by the mind. When one realizes that the five-aggregate world we cling to is indeed impermanent and subject to arising and ceasing, one will continuously abandon craving for the five-aggregate world, no longer dwelling on it or being hindered by it. Finally, with craving completely extinguished, one is no longer bound and is thus liberated from the suffering of worldly birth and death. In practice, one must be skilled at redirecting thoughts, shifting perspectives, turning the mind, and transforming afflictions; then wisdom will arise. Once the great fire of wisdom blazes, afflictions are destroyed. Without wisdom, afflictions will continually grow. With wisdom, one possesses everything; without wisdom, one possesses afflictions and suffering.