Saṃyukta Āgama (Sutta 288, Part 1)

(1) Original text: Thus have I heard. At one time, the Buddha was staying at the Bamboo Grove in Rajagriha. At that time, Venerable Sariputta and Venerable Mahakotthita were on Mount Gridhrakuta. Then, Venerable Sariputta, having arisen from meditation in the afternoon, went to Venerable Mahakotthita. After they had exchanged greetings and pleasantries, he sat down to one side and said to Venerable Mahakotthita: "I wish to ask you something; do you have leisure to answer me?" Venerable Mahakotthita said to Venerable Sariputta: "Venerable one, please ask; I will answer if I know." Venerable Sariputta asked Venerable Mahakotthita: "Venerable Mahakotthita, is there aging?" He replied, "There is."

Explanation: Venerable Sariputta one afternoon arose from meditation and went to Venerable Mahakotthita. After exchanging greetings, he sat to one side and said to Mahakotthita: "I have a question I wish to ask you; I do not know if you have leisure to answer me." Mahakotthita said: "Venerable one, please ask; I will answer if I know." Sariputta then asked Kotthita: "Venerable one, what do you think, is there the phenomenon of aging in the world?" Kotthita replied, "There is."

Original text: Venerable Sariputta again asked: "Is there death?" He replied, "There is." Again he asked: "How is it? Is aging-and-death self-made? Or other-made? Or both self-and-other-made? Or neither self-nor-other-made, without cause?" He replied: "Venerable Sariputta, aging-and-death is not self-made, not other-made, not both self-and-other-made, nor is it neither self-nor-other-made without cause. However, because of the cause of birth, there is aging-and-death."

Explanation: Sariputta again asked: "Is there the phenomenon of death in the world?" Kotthita replied, "There is." He again asked: "What do you think? Is the phenomenon of aging-and-death naturally existent, or created by other conditions and causes? Or jointly created by nature and other conditions? Or neither naturally existent nor created by other conditions, but appearing without any cause?" Kotthita replied: "Aging-and-death is not a naturally existent phenomenon, not created by other conditions, not jointly created by nature and other conditions, nor is it not jointly created by nature and other conditions, not created without any cause. However, because of the cause of birth, aging-and-death follows and arises."