Samyukta Āgama (291), Part 3

(3) Original Text: If any śramaṇa or brāhmaṇa perceives the truly pure forms that are contemplated in the world with perceptions of permanence, eternity, stability, freedom from affliction, self, and what belongs to self, then desire for form will increase. When desire increases, clinging increases. When clinging increases, suffering increases. When suffering increases, there is no liberation from birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and affliction. I declare that they are not liberated from suffering.

Explanation: The Buddha states that if śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas perceive the subtle and pure objects of form, sound, smell, taste, touch, and dharmas contemplated by worldly people with perceptions of permanence, eternity, stability, freedom from affliction, self, and what belongs to self, and after giving rise to such views, their craving for form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness will increase. When craving increases, clinging increases; when clinging increases, suffering increases; when suffering increases, there is no liberation from birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and affliction. I declare that they are not liberated from suffering.

"Eternity" means unchanging and indestructible; "stability" signifies fixed and everlasting, forever belonging to oneself; "freedom from affliction" means without faults. Sentient beings, failing to recognize these six senses, six sense objects, and six consciousnesses as flawed—instead regarding them as self or belonging to self—will pursue, crave, and grasp them, thus perpetuating the cycle of birth and death. If one understands that these dharmas are flawed and can give rise to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, and distress, one will cease pursuing them.

Holding such perceptions causes desire for form to increase, leading to ever-growing greed. As craving intensifies, the cycle of birth and death persists, and suffering multiplies. Once this craving grows, clinging will increase, and existence in the three realms will inevitably expand accordingly. When existence in the three realms increases, life continues without end, and suffering grows ceaselessly. The heavier the craving, the greater the suffering; the more it intensifies, the less one can be liberated from birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, and distress. Sentient beings all seek happiness yet end up suffering, because they constantly create causes for suffering. Where there is craving, there is suffering. Arhats have no craving or clinging, and thus naturally no longer experience the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death.