Bodhi Sutta

The Bodhi Tree (3)

Translated from the Pali by John D. Ireland

For free distribution only,
by arrangement with the Buddhist Publication Society

Thus have I heard. At one time the Lord was staying at Uruvela ... for seven days experiencing the bliss of liberation. Then, at the end of those seven days, the Lord ... gave well-reasoned attention during the last watch of the night to dependent arising in both forward and reverse order, thus:

"This being, that is; from the arising of this, that arises; this not being, that is not; from the cessation of this, that ceases. That is: with ignorance as condition, volitional activities come to be; ... with birth as condition, aging-and-death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair come to be. This is the origin of this whole mass of suffering.

"But from the complete disappearance and cessation of ignorance, volitional activities cease; ... from the cessation of birth, aging-and-death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair cease. This is the ceasing of this whole mass of suffering."

Then, on realizing its significance, the Lord uttered on that occasion this inspired utterance:

When things become manifest
To the ardent meditating brahmin,
He abides scattering Mara's host
Like the sun illumining the sky.