Saṃyukta Āgama (Sutta 293, Part 2)

(2) Original text: Thus was the Dharma taught. Yet that bhikkhu still harbored doubts and hesitations. Previously, he had the notion of having attained what he had not attained, of having achieved what he had not achieved, of having realized what he had not realized. Now, having heard the Dharma, his mind gave rise to sorrow, regret, and remorse; he became confused and obstructed. Why is this? This profound depth refers to dependent arising, which is exceedingly deep and difficult to perceive. It refers to the complete relinquishment of all clinging, the exhaustion of craving, the absence of desire, the stilling of all formations, and Nirvana.

Explanation: Although the World-Honored One expounded so much Dharma, that bhikkhu still harbored doubts and hesitations. Previously, he held the mistaken belief that he had attained the pure Dharma-eye, achieved liberation, and realized the fruition of the path, when in fact he had not realized the fruition or attained liberation. Now, upon hearing the World-Honored One teach the Dharma of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, his mind gave rise to sorrow, regret, remorse, confusion, and obstruction. Why was this? Because the Dharma of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination is even more profound and difficult to realize than the Four Noble Truths he had previously studied. Upon fully cultivating the Twelve Links, one ultimately relinquishes all clinging to phenomena of the three realms, exhausts craving for the three realms, severs all desires, and attains the stilled extinction of Nirvana.

Original text: These two dharmas are called the conditioned and the unconditioned. The conditioned is characterized by arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing. The unconditioned is characterized by non-arising, non-abiding, non-changing, and non-ceasing. This, bhikkhus, is called the suffering inherent in all formations, the stilled extinction of Nirvana. Due to the arising of causes, suffering arises; due to the cessation of causes, suffering ceases. Severing all pathways, extinguishing the continuity—with the cessation of continuity comes cessation. This is called the end of suffering. Bhikkhus, what is extinguished? It is the residual suffering. When that is extinguished and ceases, there is coolness, tranquillity, and utter peace. This is called the cessation of all clinging, the exhaustion of craving, the absence of desire, the stilled extinction of Nirvana.

After the Buddha spoke this sutra, the bhikkhus, having heard the Buddha’s teaching, rejoiced and undertook it accordingly.

Explanation: The Buddha said: Within the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, two dharmas are involved—the conditioned and the unconditioned. Conditioned phenomena possess the characteristics of arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing. Unconditioned phenomena lack the characteristics of arising, abiding, changing, or ceasing. Bhikkhus, prior to Nirvana, one belongs to the conditioned; when the suffering inherent in all formations of the five aggregates ceases, one attains the unconditioned state of Nirvana. When the causes of the suffering inherent in formations arise, suffering arises; when the causes of that suffering cease, suffering ceases. This severs the pathways leading to birth and death and cuts off the continuity of birth and death. With the cessation of this continuity comes cessation—this is reaching the end of suffering.

Bhikkhus, what have the Arhats extinguished? They have extinguished the residual suffering remaining after the eradication of ignorance and defilements. If they extinguish all formations and bring all formations to cessation, they will attain coolness, tranquillity, and utter peace. This is what is meant by the cessation of all clinging, the complete exhaustion of craving, the absence of desire, and the attainment of the bliss of stilled Nirvana. After the Buddha finished speaking this sutra, the bhikkhus, having heard the Buddha’s teaching, rejoiced and undertook it accordingly.