Saṃyuktāgama (347) Part 4

The Buddha told Subhuti, "I now ask you; answer me as you wish. Subhuti, what do you think? Is it because there is birth that there is aging and death, and aging and death do not exist apart from birth?" Subhuti replied, "Yes, World-Honored One, because there is birth, there is aging and death, and aging and death do not exist apart from birth." The Buddha again asked, "Similarly, is it because there is becoming that there is birth, and birth does not exist apart from becoming? Because there is grasping that there is becoming, and becoming does not exist apart from grasping? Because there is craving that there is grasping, and grasping does not exist apart from craving? Because there is feeling that there is craving, and craving does not exist apart from feeling? Because there is contact that there are the six sense bases, and the six sense bases do not exist apart from contact? Because there is name and form that there are the six sense bases, and contact does not exist apart from the six sense bases? Because there is consciousness that there is name and form, and name and form do not exist apart from consciousness? Because there are volitional formations that there is consciousness, and consciousness does not exist apart from volitional formations? Because there is ignorance that there are volitional formations, and volitional formations do not exist apart from ignorance?" Subhuti said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One, because there is ignorance, there are volitional formations, and volitional formations do not exist apart from ignorance."

The Buddha told Subhuti, "I now ask you; answer me as you wish. Subhuti, what do you think? Is it because there is birth that there is aging and death, and aging and death do not exist apart from birth? Is that correct?" Subhuti replied, "Yes, World-Honored One, because there is birth, there is aging and death, and aging and death do not exist apart from birth." The Buddha again asked, "Just like this, is it because there is becoming that there is birth, and birth does not exist apart from becoming? Because there is grasping that there is becoming, and becoming does not exist apart from grasping? Because there is craving that there is grasping, and grasping does not exist apart from craving? Because there is feeling that there is craving, and craving does not exist apart from feeling? Because there is contact that there are the six sense bases, and the six sense bases do not exist apart from contact? Because there is name and form that there are the six sense bases, and contact does not exist apart from the six sense bases? Because there is consciousness that there is name and form, and name and form do not exist apart from consciousness? Because there are volitional formations that there is consciousness, and consciousness does not exist apart from volitional formations? Because there is ignorance that there are volitional formations, and volitional formations do not exist apart from ignorance? Is that correct?" Subhuti said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One, because there is ignorance, there are volitional formations, and volitional formations do not exist apart from ignorance."

The Buddha told Subhuti, "Is it because there is no birth that there is no aging and death, and aging and death cease not apart from the cessation of birth?" Subhuti said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One, because there is no birth, there is no aging and death, and aging and death cease not apart from the cessation of birth." The Buddha told Subhuti, "Similarly, is it because there is no ignorance that there are no volitional formations, and volitional formations cease not apart from the cessation of ignorance?" Subhuti said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One, because there is no ignorance, there are no volitional formations, and volitional formations cease not apart from the cessation of ignorance."

The Buddha told Subhuti, "Is it because there is no birth that there is no aging and death, and aging and death cease not apart from the cessation of birth? Is that correct?" Subhuti said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One, because there is no birth, there is no aging and death, and aging and death cease not apart from the cessation of birth." The Buddha told Subhuti, "Just like this, is it because there is no ignorance that there are no volitional formations, and volitional formations cease not apart from the cessation of ignorance? Is that correct?" Subhuti said to the Buddha, "Yes, World-Honored One, because there is no ignorance, there are no volitional formations, and volitional formations cease not apart from the cessation of ignorance."