Saṃyuktāgama Sūtra (355)

Original text: 如是我闻。一时。佛住舍卫国祇树给孤独园。尔时。世尊告诸比丘。当觉知老死。觉知老死集老死灭。老死灭道迹。如是。乃至当觉知行。行集行灭。行灭道迹。 

Explanation: The World-Honored One told the bhikṣus that they should be aware of aging-and-death, be aware of the arising of aging-and-death and the cessation of aging-and-death, as well as the path leading to the cessation of aging-and-death. In this way, they should also be aware of birth, the arising of birth, the cessation of birth, and the path leading to the cessation of birth; be aware of existence (bhava), the arising of existence, the cessation of existence, and the path leading to the cessation of existence; be aware of grasping (upādāna), the arising of grasping, the cessation of grasping, and the path leading to the cessation of grasping; be aware of craving, the arising of craving, the cessation of craving, and the path leading to the cessation of craving; be aware of feeling, the arising of feeling, the cessation of feeling, and the path leading to the cessation of feeling; be aware of contact, the arising of contact, the cessation of contact, and the path leading to the cessation of contact; be aware of the six sense bases, the arising of the six sense bases, the cessation of the six sense bases, and the path leading to the cessation of the six sense bases; be aware of name-and-form, the arising of name-and-form, the cessation of name-and-form, and the path leading to the cessation of name-and-form; be aware of the six consciousnesses, the arising of the six consciousnesses, the cessation of the six consciousnesses, and the path leading to the cessation of the six consciousnesses; be aware of volitional formations, the arising of volitional formations, the cessation of volitional formations, and the path leading to the cessation of volitional formations.

Original text: 云何当觉知老死。觉知缘生。故有老死。如是老死。觉知云何老死集。生集是老死集。如是老死集觉知。云何老死灭觉知。谓生灭是老死灭。如是老死灭觉知。云何老死灭道迹觉知。谓八圣道是老死灭道迹。如是老死灭道迹觉知。乃至云何行觉知。谓三行。身行口行意行。如是行觉知。云何行集觉知。谓无明集是行集。如是行集觉知。云何行灭觉知。无明灭是行灭。如是行灭觉知。云何行灭道迹觉知。谓八圣道是行灭道迹。如是行灭道迹觉知。佛说是经已。诸比丘闻佛所说。欢喜奉行。 

Explanation: How should one be aware of aging-and-death? One should be aware that it is conditioned on birth that aging-and-death exists. Just as one is aware of aging-and-death, one should be aware of how aging-and-death arises; one then knows that when birth arises, aging-and-death arises. Just as one is aware of the arising of aging-and-death, one should be aware of how aging-and-death ceases; one then knows that when birth ceases, aging-and-death ceases. Just as one is aware of the cessation of aging-and-death, one should be aware of what the path leading to the cessation of aging-and-death is; one then knows that the Eightfold Noble Path is the path leading to the cessation of aging-and-death. Just as one is aware of the path leading to the cessation of aging-and-death, one should proceed all the way until, finally, one is aware of what volitional formations are, knowing that they are bodily, verbal, and mental actions (in actuality, these are the actions of the manas, because bodily, verbal, and mental actions cannot occur after the six consciousnesses; they should appear before the six consciousnesses). Just as one is aware of volitional formations, one should be aware of how volitional formations arise; one then knows that when ignorance arises, volitional formations arise. Just as one is aware of the arising of volitional formations, one should be aware of what the cessation of volitional formations is; one then knows that when ignorance ceases, volitional formations cease. Just as one is aware of the cessation of volitional formations, one should be aware of what the path leading to the cessation of volitional formations is; one then knows that the Eightfold Noble Path is the path leading to the cessation of volitional formations, and thus one has become aware of the path leading to the cessation of volitional formations.