SN56.42 — Papātasutta

At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha on the Vulture Peak mountain.

Then the Blessed One addressed the disciples:

Come let us go to the Paṭibhānakūṭa for the day's abiding.

Yes, venerable sir, those disciples replied to the Blessed One.

Then the Blessed One, together with a large number of disciples, went to the Paṭibhānakūṭa.

There, a certain disciple saw a great chasm at the Paṭibhānakūṭa.

Having seen it, he said to the Blessed One:

This, venerable sir, is a great chasm, a very frightening chasm, venerable sir.

Is there, venerable sir, another chasm greater and more frightening than this one?

There is, disciple, another chasm greater and more frightening than this one.

What, venerable sir, is another chasm greater and more frightening than this one?

Whatever ascetics or brahmins do not understand as it really is:

This is suffering, do not understand as it really is: This is the origin of suffering, do not understand as it really is: This is the cessation of suffering, do not understand as it really is: This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering, they delight in formations leading to birth, they delight in formations leading to aging, they delight in formations leading to death, they delight in formations leading to sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair.

Delighting in formations leading to birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair, they generate mental formations leading to birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair.

Having generated mental formations leading to birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair, they fall into the chasm of birth, the chasm of aging, the chasm of death, the chasm of sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair.

They are not freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair.

I say they are not freed from suffering.

And whatever ascetics or brahmins understand as it really is: This is suffering, ... This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering, they do not delight in mental formations leading to birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair.

Not delighting in mental formations leading to birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair, they do not generate mental formations leading to birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair.

Not generating mental formations leading to birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair, they do not fall into the chasm of birth, the chasm of aging, the chasm of death, the chasm of sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair.

They are freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair. I say they are freed from suffering.

Therefore an effort should be made to understand: This is suffering, ... This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering.