Saṃyuktāgama Sutta 287, Part 6

(VI) Original Text: Now, I have thus attained the Ancient Path of the Saints, the Ancient Way of the Saints, the Ancient Trail of the Saints, the Ancient Destination of the Saints. I have followed it. This is the Noble Eightfold Path: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. Following that path, I saw aging and death, the arising of aging and death, the cessation of aging and death, and the way leading to the cessation of aging and death. I saw birth, becoming, grasping, craving, feeling, contact, the six sense bases, name-and-form, consciousness, formations, the arising of formations, the cessation of formations, and the way leading to the cessation of formations.

Explanation: The Buddha said: "I have now likewise found the path practiced by the ancient saints, the trail trodden by the ancient saints, the destination reached by the ancient saints. This path is the Noble Eightfold Path: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. Following this Noble Eightfold Path, I perceived the suffering of aging, sickness, and death; I eradicated the arising of the suffering of aging, sickness, and death; I realized the cessation of the suffering of aging, sickness, and death; I cultivated the path leading to the cessation of the suffering of aging, sickness, and death. I perceived the suffering of birth; I eradicated the arising of the suffering of birth; I realized the cessation of the suffering of birth; I cultivated the path leading to the cessation of the suffering of birth. I perceived the suffering of becoming; I eradicated the arising of the suffering of becoming; I realized the cessation of the suffering of becoming; I cultivated the path leading to the cessation of the suffering of becoming.

I perceived the suffering of clinging; I eradicated the arising of the suffering of clinging; I realized the cessation of the suffering of clinging; I cultivated the path leading to the cessation of the suffering of clinging. I perceived the suffering of craving; I eradicated the arising of the suffering of craving; I realized the cessation of the suffering of craving; I cultivated the path leading to the cessation of the suffering of craving. I perceived the suffering of feeling; I eradicated the arising of the suffering of feeling; I realized the cessation of the suffering of feeling; I cultivated the path leading to the cessation of the suffering of feeling. I perceived the suffering of contact; I eradicated the arising of the suffering of contact; I realized the cessation of the suffering of contact; I cultivated the path leading to the cessation of the suffering of contact. I perceived the suffering of the six sense bases; I eradicated the arising of the suffering of the six sense bases; I realized the cessation of the suffering of the six sense bases; I cultivated the path leading to the cessation of the suffering of the six sense bases. I perceived the suffering of name-and-form; I eradicated the arising of the suffering of name-and-form; I realized the cessation of the suffering of name-and-form; I cultivated the path leading to the cessation of the suffering of name-and-form. I perceived the suffering of the karmic formations of consciousness; I eradicated the arising of the suffering of the karmic formations of consciousness; I realized the cessation of the suffering of the karmic formations of consciousness; I cultivated the path leading to the cessation of the suffering of the karmic formations of consciousness. I perceived the suffering of mental formations; I eradicated the arising of the suffering of mental formations; I realized the cessation of the suffering of mental formations; I cultivated the path leading to the cessation of the suffering of mental formations.

Original Text: Regarding this Dhamma, I have known it by myself, realized it by myself, and attained supreme perfect enlightenment. For the bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, upasakas, upasikas, and other ascetics, brahmins, householders, and renunciants belonging to the fourfold assembly—when they hear this Dhamma, they gain right understanding, faith, and delight. Knowing the goodness of the Dhamma, their holy life increases and expands, bringing great benefit. I have expounded and elucidated this. After the Buddha spoke this sutta, the bhikkhus, hearing what the Buddha had said, rejoiced and undertook it respectfully.**

Explanation: "Regarding this doctrine of Dependent Origination, I have known it independently, realized it independently, without relying on others, and finally attained supreme perfect enlightenment. After becoming a Buddha, I taught it for the bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, upasakas, upasikas, and other ascetics, brahmins, householders, and renunciants—the fourfold assembly—so that they might hear this Dhamma, gain faith and delight in the path to liberation, proceed rightly towards the cessation of ignorance, realize the wholesome fruits of this doctrine, increase their holy life, and bring greater benefit to all members of the fourfold assembly. Therefore, I have expounded this Ancient Path realized by the saints. After the Buddha finished speaking this sutta, the bhikkhus, hearing what the Buddha had said, rejoiced greatly and respectfully undertook it."