SN12.15 — Kaccānagotta Sutta

Dwelling at Sāvatthi.

Then the venerable Kaccānagotta approached the Blessed One; having approached, having greeted the Blessed One, he sat down at one side. Seated at one side, the venerable Kaccānagotta said to the Blessed One:

Right view, right view, it is said, venerable sir. To what extent, venerable sir, is there right view?

This world, Kaccāna, for the most part depends upon a duality: upon the notion of existence and the notion of nonexistence.

But for one who sees the origin of the world as it really is with correct wisdom, there is no notion of nonexistence in regard to the world. And for one who sees the cessation of the world as it really is with correct wisdom, there is no notion of existence in regard to the world.

This world, Kaccāna, is mostly bound by attachment, insistence on identity, and adherence to this very attachment as mine: believing this is myself.

But one does not take up, does not cling, does not consider this is myself; does not doubt or hesitate, understanding with wisdom that suffering arises and suffering ceases.

To this extent, Kaccāna, there is right view.

Everything exists, Kaccāna, this is one extreme. Nothing exists, this is the second extreme. Without veering towards either of these extremes, the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma by the middle:

With ignorance as condition, formations; with formations as condition, consciousness ... thus is the arising of this whole mass of suffering.

With the cessation of ignorance, comes cessation of formations; with the cessation of formations, cessation of consciousness ... thus is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering.