102. The Destruction of the Taints

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Jānatohaṁ, bhikkhave, passato āsavānaṁ khayaṁ vadāmi, no ajānato no apassato.

Kiñca, bhikkhave, jānato, kiṁ passato āsavānaṁ khayo hoti?

Idaṁ dukkhanti, bhikkhave, jānato passato āsavānaṁ khayo hoti. Ayaṁ dukkhasamudayoti, bhikkhave, jānato passato āsavānaṁ khayo hoti. Ayaṁ dukkhanirodhoti, bhikkhave, jānato passato āsavānaṁ khayo hoti. Ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadāti, bhikkhave, jānato passato āsavānaṁ khayo hoti.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, jānato evaṁ passato āsavānaṁ khayo hotī”ti.

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Sekhassa sikkhamānassa,

ujumaggānusārino;

Khayasmiṁ paṭhamaṁ ñāṇaṁ,

tato aññā anantarā.

Tato aññāvimuttassa,

vimuttiñāṇamuttamaṁ;

Uppajjati khaye ñāṇaṁ,

khīṇā saṁyojanā iti.

Na tvevidaṁ kusītena,

bālenamavijānatā;

Nibbānaṁ adhigantabbaṁ,

sabbaganthappamocanan”ti.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Tatiyaṁ.

This was said by the Lord…

“For one knowing and seeing, bhikkhus, I say there is the destruction of the taints, not for one not knowing and not seeing. But for one knowing what, seeing what, is there the destruction of the taints? For one knowing and seeing, ‘This is suffering,’ there is the destruction of the taints. For one knowing and seeing, ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the course leading to the cessation of suffering,’ there is the destruction of the taints. Thus it is, bhikkhus, that for one knowing and seeing there is the destruction of the taints.”

For a learner who is training
In conformity with the direct path,
The knowledge of destruction arises first,
And final knowledge immediately follows.

To one freed by that final knowledge,
The topmost knowledge of freedom,
There arises the knowledge of destruction:
“Thus the fetters are destroyed.”

Certainly not by the lazy person
Nor by the uncomprehending fool
Is Nibbāna to be attained,
The loosening of all worldly ties.