Saṃyukta Āgama (287) Part 5

(5) Original Text: At that time, I had this thought: I have attained the ancient path of the sages, the ancient trail of the sages, the track of the ancient sages. The ancient sages proceeded along this track; now I follow after them. It is like a person wandering in the wilderness, hacking through the undergrowth searching for a path, who suddenly comes upon an ancient trail, a path once trodden by people of old. He then follows along it. Gradually advancing, he sees an ancient city-state, an ancient king’s palace, gardens, ponds for bathing, woods and streams, all pure and serene. He has this thought: 'I should now go and inform the king, letting him know.' So he goes and informs the king: 'Your Majesty should know: I was wandering in the wilderness, hacking through the undergrowth seeking a path, when I suddenly saw an ancient trail, a path once trodden by people of old. I then followed it. Having followed it, I saw an ancient city-state, an ancient king’s palace, gardens, ponds for bathing, woods and streams, pure and serene. Your Majesty could go there and dwell within it.' The king then goes to that place and settles there. It becomes prosperous, joyful, secure, and tranquil, and the populace flourishes.

Explanation: The Buddha said: After I had thoroughly contemplated and penetrated the twelve links of dependent origination in their forward and reverse orders, this thought arose in my mind: I am now walking the path that the ancient sages walked, treading the ancient trail that the sages of old traversed. The ancient sages proceeded along this path; I am now following after them. It is like someone traveling in a deep mountain wilderness, hacking through the wild grass seeking a path, who suddenly finds an old road, a place where people of ancient times walked. This person then follows the path trodden by the ancients. Gradually moving forward, he sees an ancient city with an ancient king’s palace, containing grand gardens and bathing pools fed by springs, with woods and forests pure and serene.

This person thinks: 'I should now go to the palace to report to the king, letting him know.' So he goes to see the king and tells him: 'Your Majesty should know that I was wandering in the wilderness, hacking through the wild grass seeking a passage, when I suddenly saw an ancient, old path, a route once walked by people of old. I followed this path forward. As I walked, I saw an ancient city, an ancient royal palace, containing grand gardens and spring-fed bathing pools, with woods pure and serene. Your Majesty could go there and dwell within it.' Then the king went to reside in the palace and governed the kingdom. From then on, the country became rich and prosperous, the people abundant, secure, and joyful.

The Buddha used this passage as an analogy for his own process of investigating the twelve links of dependent origination, which was identical to the method used by the sages of ancient times. He walked the very same path, arrived at the same results, and reached the same conclusions. The ancient sages realized the Truth; the Buddha now also realized the same Truth. Both attained liberation, transcending the great suffering of birth and death, reaching the secure city of Nirvana, and enjoying security and bliss. The 'ancient path of the sages' refers to the Noble Eightfold Path. The 'ancient city-state' and 'ancient king’s palace' represent the state of Nirvana. By following the path of the ancient sages, I reached the end of ignorance. Extinguishing ignorance, I extinguished birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, and distress. 'Wandering in the wilderness hacking through the undergrowth searching for a path' represents how the path of practicing the twelve links of dependent origination is extremely arduous and difficult, requiring unwavering perseverance and continuous exploration and investigation to uncover the source and mystery of birth and death, thereby severing the root of birth and death and attaining Nirvana and liberation.