Saṃyukta Āgama (352) Part 2

(2) Original Text: If any śramaṇa or brāhmaṇa knows dhamma as it really is, knows the arising and ceasing of dhamma, and knows the path leading to the cessation of dhamma as it really is, then it should be known that such a śramaṇa or brāhmaṇa is truly counted among śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas. By the meaning of being a śramaṇa, by the meaning of being a brāhmaṇa, they see the dhamma, realize it for themselves, and attain it personally: "Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no further becoming in this existence."

Explanation: If any śramaṇas or brāhmaṇas know dhamma as it really is, know the arising and ceasing of dhamma, and know the path leading to the cessation of dhamma as it really is, then these śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas belong to the true śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, counted among śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas. These śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, by the meaning of being a śramaṇa and a brāhmaṇa, have seen the dhamma of dependent origination, and are able to personally know and realize for themselves: "Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, I know there is no further becoming."

Original Text: What is known as it really is? What arising and ceasing of dhamma, and what path leading to the cessation of dhamma is known as it really is? Namely, aging-and-death as dhamma is known as it really is; the arising of aging-and-death is known as it really is; the cessation of aging-and-death is known as it really is; the path leading to the cessation of aging-and-death is known as it really is. Similarly, birth, becoming, clinging, craving, feeling, contact, and the six sense-bases as dhamma are known as it really is; the arising of birth, becoming, clinging, craving, feeling, contact, and the six sense-bases is known as it really is; the cessation of birth, becoming, clinging, craving, feeling, contact, and the six sense-bases is known as it really is; the path leading to the cessation of birth, becoming, clinging, craving, feeling, contact, and the six sense-bases is known as it really is. Similarly, all these dhammas are known as it really is; the arising of these dhammas is known as it really is; the cessation of these dhammas is known as it really is; the path leading to the cessation of these dhammas is known as it really is. After the Buddha spoke this sutta, the bhikkhus, having heard what the Buddha said, rejoiced and undertook it respectfully.

Explanation: What is known as it really is? What arising and ceasing of dhamma, and what path leading to the cessation of dhamma is known as it really is? It is aging-and-death as dhamma that is known as it really is; the arising of aging-and-death is known as it really is; the cessation of aging-and-death is known as it really is; the path leading to the cessation of aging-and-death is known as it really is. Similarly, birth, becoming, clinging, craving, feeling, contact, and the six sense-bases as dhamma are known as it really is; the arising of birth, becoming, clinging, craving, feeling, contact, and the six sense-bases is known as it really is; the cessation of birth, becoming, clinging, craving, feeling, contact, and the six sense-bases is known as it really is; the path leading to the cessation of birth, becoming, clinging, craving, feeling, contact, and the six sense-bases is known as it really is. Similarly, all these dhammas are known as it really is; the arising of these dhammas is known as it really is; the cessation of these dhammas is known as it really is; the path leading to the cessation of these dhammas is known as it really is.