To Prince Abhaya
Abhaya Sutta (SN 46:56)
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Rājagaha on Vulture’s Peak Mountain. Then Prince Abhaya went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One, “Lord, Pūraṇa Kassapa says this: ’There is no cause, there is no condition, for lack of knowledge & lack of vision. Lack of knowledge & lack of vision are without cause, without condition. There is no cause, there is no condition, for knowledge & vision. Knowledge & vision are without cause, without condition. What does the Blessed One say to that?”
“Prince, there is a cause, there is a condition, for lack of knowledge & lack of vision. Lack of knowledge & lack of vision are with cause, with condition. There is a cause, there is a condition, for knowledge & vision. Knowledge & vision are with cause, with condition.”
“Then what, lord, is the cause, what is the condition, for lack of knowledge & lack of vision? How are lack of knowledge & lack of vision with cause, with condition?”
“Prince, on the occasion when one remains with an awareness overpowered by sensual desire, overcome by sensual desire, and one doesn’t discern or see, as it has come to be, the escape from sensual desire that has arisen, that is the cause, that is the condition, for lack of knowledge & lack of vision. That’s how lack of knowledge & lack of vision are with cause, with condition.
“Further, on the occasion when one remains with an awareness overpowered by ill will, overcome by ill will …
“On the occasion when one remains with an awareness overpowered by sloth & drowsiness, overcome by sloth & drowsiness …
“On the occasion when one remains with an awareness overpowered by restlessness & anxiety, overcome by restlessness & anxiety …
“On the occasion when one remains with an awareness overpowered by uncertainty, overcome by uncertainty, and one doesn’t discern or see, as it has come to be, the escape from uncertainty that has arisen, that is the cause, that is the condition, for lack of knowledge & lack of vision. That’s how lack of knowledge & lack of vision are with cause, with condition.”
“Lord, what is this Dhamma-sequence called?”
“Prince, they are called hindrances.”
“Yes, they are hindrances, Blessed One! Yes, they are hindrances, One Well-gone! Anyone conquered by any one of these hindrances wouldn’t discern or see what has come to be, to say nothing of all five.
“Then what, lord, is the cause, what is the condition, for knowledge & vision? How are knowledge & vision with cause, with condition?”
“There is the case, prince, where a monk develops mindfulness as a factor for awakening dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in letting go. With a mind that has developed mindfulness as a factor for awakening, he knows & sees what has come to be. That is the cause, that is the condition, for knowledge & vision. That’s how knowledge & vision are with cause, with condition.”
“Further, he develops analysis of qualities as a factor for awakening …
“He develops persistence as a factor for awakening …
“He develops rapture as a factor for awakening …
“He develops calm as a factor for awakening …
“He develops concentration as a factor for awakening …
“He develops equanimity as a factor for awakening dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in letting go. With a mind that has developed equanimity as a factor for awakening, he knows & sees what has come to be. That is the cause, that is the condition, for knowledge & vision. That’s how knowledge & vision are with cause, with condition.”
“Lord, what is this Dhamma-sequence called?”
“Prince, they are called factors for awakening.”
“Yes, they are factors for awakening, Blessed One! Yes, they are factors for awakening, One Well-gone! Anyone endowed with any one of these factors for awakening would discern & see what has come to be, to say nothing of all seven.
“And lord, my fatigue of body & fatigue of mind from climbing Vulture Peak Mountain has grown calm, for I have broken through to the Dhamma.”1
Note
1. In other words, Prince Abhaya has gained stream entry while listening to this talk.↩︎
