The World (SN12.44)

Linked Discourses 12.44

5. Householders

The World

At Sāvatthī.

“Mendicants, I will teach you the origin and disappearance of the world.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

The Buddha said this:

“And what, mendicants, is the origin of the world?

Eye consciousness arises dependent on the eye and sights. The meeting of the three is contact.

Contact is a requirement for feeling.

Feeling is a requirement for craving.

Craving is a requirement for grasping.

Grasping is a requirement for continued existence.

Continued existence is a requirement for rebirth.

Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress to come to be.

This is the origin of the world.

Ear consciousness arises dependent on the ear and sounds. …

Nose consciousness arises dependent on the nose and smells. …

Tongue consciousness arises dependent on the tongue and tastes. …

Body consciousness arises dependent on the body and touches. …

Mind consciousness arises dependent on the mind and ideas. The meeting of the three is contact.

Contact is a requirement for feeling. …

Rebirth is a requirement for old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress to come to be.

This is the origin of the world.

And what is the ending of the world?

Eye consciousness arises dependent on the eye and sights. The meeting of the three is contact.

Contact is a requirement for feeling.

Feeling is a requirement for craving.

When that craving fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, grasping ceases.

When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases. …

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.

This is the ending of the world.

Ear consciousness arises dependent on the ear and sounds. …

Nose consciousness arises dependent on the nose and smells. …

Tongue consciousness arises dependent on the tongue and tastes. …

Body consciousness arises dependent on the body and touches. …

Mind consciousness arises dependent on the mind and ideas. The meeting of the three is contact.

Contact is a requirement for feeling.

Feeling is a requirement for craving.

When that craving fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, grasping ceases.

When grasping ceases, continued existence ceases. …

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.

This is the ending of the world.”