9.
The Discourse on the Eternalist View
214.
At Sāvatthī.
"When what exists, monks, clinging to what, having clung to what, does such a view arise:
'The world is eternal'?"
"The teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir, etc.
"When matter exists, monks, clinging to matter, having clung to matter, such a view arises:
'The world is eternal.'
When feeling exists, etc.
when perception exists...
when activities exist...
when consciousness exists, clinging to consciousness, having clung to consciousness, such a view arises:
'The world is eternal.'"
"What do you think, monks, is materiality permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir." Etc. subject to change, would such a view arise by non-clinging to that: 'The world is eternal'? "No, Venerable Sir." "Feeling... perception... activities... consciousness permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir. Etc. would such a view arise by non-clinging to that: 'The world is eternal'?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognised, attained, sought after, pondered over by the mind, is that too permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir." "But what is impermanent, is that suffering or happiness?" "Suffering, venerable sir." "But what is impermanent, suffering, subject to change, would such a view arise by non-clinging to that: 'The world is eternal'?" "No, Venerable Sir."
"When, monks, for a noble disciple uncertainty regarding these states has been abandoned, and his uncertainty regarding suffering has been abandoned, etc. and his uncertainty regarding the practice leading to the cessation of suffering has been abandoned - this is called, monks, a noble disciple who is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment." The ninth.