3.
The Discourse on Proximate Cause
23.
He was dwelling at Sāvatthī, etc.
"I say, monks, the elimination of mental corruptions is for one who knows, for one who sees, not for one who does not know, not for one who does not see.
And what, monks, knowing what, seeing what, is there elimination of mental corruptions?
Such is matter, such is the origin of matter, such is the passing away of matter; such is feeling... etc.
such is perception...
such are activities...
such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the passing away of consciousness.
Thus, monks, for one knowing thus, for one seeing thus, there is elimination of mental corruptions."
"And that knowledge of elimination in elimination, monks, that too I say has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of the knowledge of elimination? 'Liberation' should be said. Liberation too, monks, I say has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of liberation? 'Dispassion' should be said. Dispassion too, monks, I say has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of dispassion? 'Disenchantment' should be said. Disenchantment too, monks, I say has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of disenchantment? 'Knowledge and vision of things as they really are' should be said. Knowledge and vision of things as they really are too, monks, I say has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of knowledge and vision of things as they really are? 'Concentration' should be said. Concentration too, monks, I say has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause.
"And what, monks, is the proximate cause of concentration? 'Happiness' should be said. Happiness too, monks, I say has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of happiness? 'Tranquillity' should be said. Tranquillity too, monks, I say has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of tranquillity? 'Rapture' should be said. Rapture too, monks, I say has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of rapture? 'Gladness' should be said. Gladness too, monks, I say has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of gladness? 'Faith' should be said. Faith too, monks, I say has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause.
"And what, monks, is the proximate cause of faith? 'Suffering' should be said. Suffering too I say, monks, has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of suffering? 'Birth' should be said. Birth too I say, monks, has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of birth? 'Existence' should be said. Existence too I say, monks, has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of existence? 'Clinging' should be said. Clinging too I say, monks, has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of clinging? 'Craving' should be said. Craving too I say, monks, has a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause.
"And what, monks, is the proximate cause of craving? 'Feeling' should be said... etc. 'Contact' should be said... 'The six sense bases' should be said... 'Mentality-materiality' should be said... 'Consciousness' should be said... 'Activities' should be said. Activities too I say, monks, have a proximate cause, not without a proximate cause. And what, monks, is the proximate cause of activities? 'Ignorance' should be said.
"Thus indeed, monks, with ignorance as proximate cause, activities; with activities as proximate cause, consciousness; with consciousness as proximate cause, mentality-materiality; with mentality-materiality as proximate cause, the six sense bases; with the six sense bases as proximate cause, contact; with contact as proximate cause, feeling; with feeling as proximate cause, craving; with craving as proximate cause, clinging; with clinging as proximate cause, existence; with existence as proximate cause, birth; with birth as proximate cause, suffering; with suffering as proximate cause, faith; with faith as proximate cause, gladness; with gladness as proximate cause, joy; with joy as proximate cause, tranquillity; with tranquillity as proximate cause, happiness; with happiness as proximate cause, concentration; with concentration as proximate cause, knowledge and vision of things as they really are; with knowledge and vision of things as they really are as proximate cause, disenchantment; with disenchantment as proximate cause, dispassion; with dispassion as proximate cause, liberation; with liberation as proximate cause, knowledge of elimination.
"Just as, monks, when the sky rains with large drops on the upper mountain, that water flowing according to the slope fills the mountain grottoes, clefts, and channels. The mountain grottoes, clefts, and channels being full, fill the small pools. The small pools being full, fill the large pools. The large pools being full, fill the rivulets. The rivulets being full, fill the great rivers. The great rivers being full, fill the great ocean.
"So too, monks, with ignorance as proximate cause, activities; with activities as proximate cause, consciousness; with consciousness as proximate cause, mentality-materiality; with mentality-materiality as proximate cause, the six sense bases; with the six sense bases as proximate cause, contact; with contact as proximate cause, feeling; with feeling as proximate cause, craving; with craving as proximate cause, clinging; with clinging as proximate cause, existence; with existence as proximate cause, birth; with birth as proximate cause, suffering; with suffering as proximate cause, faith; with faith as proximate cause, gladness; with gladness as proximate cause, rapture; with rapture as proximate cause, tranquillity; with tranquillity as proximate cause, happiness; with happiness as proximate cause, concentration; with concentration as proximate cause, knowledge and vision of things as they really are; with knowledge and vision of things as they really are as proximate cause, disenchantment; with disenchantment as proximate cause, dispassion; with dispassion as proximate cause, liberation; with liberation as proximate cause, knowledge of elimination." The third.