Saṃyukta Āgama 356

Thus have I heard. At one time, the Buddha was dwelling at Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park in Śrāvastī. At that time, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "There are forty-four kinds of wisdom. Listen attentively and reflect well; I shall explain them to you. What are the forty-four kinds of wisdom? They are: wisdom regarding aging-and-death, wisdom regarding the arising of aging-and-death, wisdom regarding the cessation of aging-and-death, wisdom regarding the way leading to the cessation of aging-and-death; similarly, wisdom regarding birth, wisdom regarding the arising of birth, wisdom regarding the cessation of birth, wisdom regarding the way leading to the cessation of birth; wisdom regarding existence, wisdom regarding the arising of existence, wisdom regarding the cessation of existence, wisdom regarding the way leading to the cessation of existence; wisdom regarding clinging, wisdom regarding the arising of clinging, wisdom regarding the cessation of clinging, wisdom regarding the way leading to the cessation of clinging; wisdom regarding craving, wisdom regarding the arising of craving, wisdom regarding the cessation of craving, wisdom regarding the way leading to the cessation of craving.

Wisdom regarding feeling, wisdom regarding the arising of feeling, wisdom regarding the cessation of feeling, wisdom regarding the way leading to the cessation of feeling; wisdom regarding contact, wisdom regarding the arising of contact, wisdom regarding the cessation of contact, wisdom regarding the way leading to the cessation of contact; wisdom regarding the six sense bases, wisdom regarding the arising of the six sense bases, wisdom regarding the cessation of the six sense bases, wisdom regarding the way leading to the cessation of the six sense bases; wisdom regarding name-and-form, wisdom regarding the arising of name-and-form, wisdom regarding the cessation of name-and-form, wisdom regarding the way leading to the cessation of name-and-form; wisdom regarding consciousness, wisdom regarding the arising of consciousness, wisdom regarding the cessation of consciousness, wisdom regarding the way leading to the cessation of consciousness; wisdom regarding formations, wisdom regarding the arising of formations, wisdom regarding the cessation of formations, wisdom regarding the way leading to the cessation of formations. These are called the forty-four kinds of wisdom." When the Buddha had spoken this discourse, the bhikkhus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and undertook it respectfully.

Explanation: The Blessed One told the bhikkhus: There are forty-four kinds of wisdom; you should listen carefully and reflect well, for I shall now explain them to you. What are the forty-four kinds of wisdom? They are: wisdom that directly comprehends (realizes) aging-and-death, wisdom that directly comprehends the arising of aging-and-death, wisdom that directly comprehends the cessation of aging-and-death, wisdom that directly comprehends the path leading to the cessation of aging-and-death; wisdom that directly comprehends birth, wisdom that directly comprehends the arising of birth, wisdom that directly comprehends the cessation of birth, wisdom that directly comprehends the path leading to the cessation of birth; wisdom that directly comprehends existence, wisdom that directly comprehends the arising of existence, wisdom that directly comprehends the cessation of existence, wisdom that directly comprehends the path leading to the cessation of existence; wisdom that directly comprehends clinging, wisdom that directly comprehends the arising of clinging, wisdom that directly comprehends the cessation of clinging, wisdom that directly comprehends the path leading to the cessation of clinging; wisdom that directly comprehends craving, wisdom that directly comprehends the arising of craving, wisdom that directly comprehends the cessation of craving, wisdom that directly comprehends the path leading to the cessation of craving.

Wisdom that directly comprehends feeling, wisdom that directly comprehends the arising of feeling, wisdom that directly comprehends the cessation of feeling, wisdom that directly comprehends the path leading to the cessation of feeling; wisdom that directly comprehends contact, wisdom that directly comprehends the arising of contact, wisdom that directly comprehends the cessation of contact, wisdom that directly comprehends the path leading to the cessation of contact; wisdom that directly comprehends the six sense bases, wisdom that directly comprehends the arising of the six sense bases, wisdom that directly comprehends the cessation of the six sense bases, wisdom that directly comprehends the path leading to the cessation of the six sense bases; wisdom that directly comprehends name-and-form, wisdom that directly comprehends the arising of name-and-form, wisdom that directly comprehends the cessation of name-and-form, wisdom that directly comprehends the path leading to the cessation of name-and-form; wisdom that directly comprehends consciousness, wisdom that directly comprehends the arising of consciousness, wisdom that directly comprehends the cessation of consciousness, wisdom that directly comprehends the path leading to the cessation of consciousness; wisdom that directly comprehends formations, wisdom that directly comprehends the arising of formations, wisdom that directly comprehends the cessation of formations, wisdom that directly comprehends the path leading to the cessation of formations. The above are the forty-four kinds of wisdom that should be directly comprehended.

All these wisdoms refer to the realization of the arising of the eleven links within the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. To realize this, one must contemplate and investigate with thorough comprehension within profound meditative concentration, not merely through intellectual understanding. Intellectual understanding lacks true efficacy; it cannot subdue the afflictions of the mind, much less eradicate them. With ignorance still present, the cycle of birth and death cannot cease. While intellectual understanding is not difficult, the challenge lies in contemplation within concentration, investigating within meditative absorption to thoroughly comprehend the origin and development of each link, clearly recognizing each link as a binding knot of birth and death, as suffering and empty, as not-self. Thereby, one severs the chain of birth and death, unties and destroys the binding knots, liberating the mind and attaining freedom.