13.
The Chapter on Ignorance
1.
The Discourse about Having the Nature of Rising
126. At Sāvatthī. Then a certain monk approached the Blessed One; having approached, etc. Seated to one side, that monk said this to the Blessed One - "'Ignorance, ignorance', venerable sir, is said. What indeed, venerable sir, is ignorance, and in what respect is one gone to ignorance?"
"Here, monk, an ignorant worldling does not understand as it really is matter having the nature of rising as 'matter has the nature of rising'; does not understand as it really is matter having the nature of falling as 'matter has the nature of falling'; does not understand as it really is matter having the nature of rising and falling as 'matter has the nature of rising and falling'. He does not understand as it really is feeling having the nature of rising as 'feeling has the nature of rising'; does not understand as it really is feeling having the nature of falling as 'feeling has the nature of falling'; does not understand as it really is feeling having the nature of rising and falling as 'feeling has the nature of rising and falling'. Perception having the nature of rising, etc. does not understand as it really is activities having the nature of rising as 'activities have the nature of rising'; does not understand as it really is activities having the nature of falling as 'activities have the nature of falling'; does not understand as it really is activities having the nature of rising and falling as 'activities have the nature of rising and falling'. He does not understand as it really is consciousness having the nature of rising as 'consciousness has the nature of rising'; does not understand as it really is consciousness having the nature of falling as 'consciousness has the nature of falling'; does not understand as it really is consciousness having the nature of rising and falling as 'consciousness has the nature of rising and falling'. This is called, monk, ignorance; and to this extent one is gone to ignorance."
When this was said, that monk said this to the Blessed One - "'True knowledge, true knowledge', venerable sir, is said. What indeed, venerable sir, is true knowledge, and in what respect is one gone to true knowledge?"
"Here, monk, a learned noble disciple understands as it really is matter having the nature of rising as 'matter has the nature of rising'; understands as it really is matter having the nature of falling as 'matter has the nature of falling'; understands as it really is matter having the nature of rising and falling as 'matter has the nature of rising and falling'. He understands as it really is feeling having the nature of rising as 'feeling has the nature of rising'; understands as it really is feeling having the nature of falling as 'feeling has the nature of falling'; understands as it really is feeling having the nature of rising and falling as 'feeling has the nature of rising and falling'. Perception having the nature of rising... understands as it really is activities having the nature of rising as 'activities have the nature of rising'; understands as it really is activities having the nature of falling as 'activities have the nature of falling'; understands as it really is activities having the nature of rising and falling as 'activities have the nature of rising and falling'. He understands as it really is consciousness having the nature of rising as 'consciousness has the nature of rising'; understands as it really is consciousness having the nature of falling as 'consciousness has the nature of falling'; understands as it really is consciousness having the nature of rising and falling as 'consciousness has the nature of rising and falling'. This is called, monk, true knowledge; and to this extent one is gone to true knowledge." The first.
2.
The Second Discourse about Having the Nature of Rising
127. On one occasion the Venerable Sāriputta and the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana. Then the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, etc. Seated to one side, the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika said this to the Venerable Sāriputta - "'Ignorance, ignorance', friend Sāriputta, is said. What indeed, friend, is ignorance, and in what respect is one gone to ignorance?"
"Here, friend, an ignorant worldling does not understand as it really is matter having the nature of rising as 'matter has the nature of rising'; matter having the nature of falling, etc. does not understand as it really is 'matter has the nature of rising and falling'. Feeling having the nature of rising, etc. feeling having the nature of falling, etc. does not understand as it really is 'feeling has the nature of rising and falling'. Perception having the nature of rising, etc. activities having the nature of rising, etc. activities having the nature of falling, etc. does not understand as it really is activities having the nature of rising and falling as 'activities have the nature of rising and falling'. Consciousness having the nature of rising, etc. does not understand as it really is consciousness having the nature of rising and falling as 'consciousness has the nature of rising and falling'. This is called, friend, ignorance; and to this extent one is gone to ignorance." The second.
3.
The Third Discourse about Having the Nature of Rising
128. On one occasion the Venerable Sāriputta and the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana, etc. Seated to one side, the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika said this to the Venerable Sāriputta - "'True knowledge, true knowledge', friend Sāriputta, is said. What indeed, friend, is true knowledge, and in what respect is one gone to true knowledge?"
"Here, friend, a learned noble disciple understands as it really is matter having the nature of rising as 'matter has the nature of rising'; matter having the nature of falling, etc. understands as it really is matter having the nature of rising and falling as 'matter has the nature of rising and falling'; feeling having the nature of rising, etc. feeling having the nature of rising and falling... perception having the nature of rising, etc. activities having the nature of rising... activities having the nature of falling... understands as it really is activities having the nature of rising and falling as 'activities have the nature of rising and falling'. Consciousness having the nature of rising... consciousness having the nature of falling... understands as it really is consciousness having the nature of rising and falling as 'consciousness has the nature of rising and falling'. This is called, friend, true knowledge; and to this extent one is gone to true knowledge." The third.
4.
The Discourse on Gratification
129. They were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana, etc. Seated to one side, the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika said this to the Venerable Sāriputta - "'Ignorance, ignorance', friend Sāriputta, is said. What indeed, friend, is ignorance, and in what respect is one gone to ignorance?"
"Here, friend, an ignorant worldling does not understand as it really is the gratification, danger, and escape regarding matter. In feeling, etc. in perception, of activities... does not understand as it really is the gratification, danger, and escape regarding consciousness. This is called, friend, ignorance; and to this extent one is gone to ignorance." The fourth.
5.
The Second Discourse on Gratification
130. They were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana, etc. "'True knowledge, true knowledge', friend Sāriputta, is said. What indeed, friend, is true knowledge, and in what respect is one gone to true knowledge?"
"Here, friend, a learned noble disciple understands as it really is the gratification, danger, and escape regarding matter. In feeling, etc. in perception, of activities... understands as it really is the gratification, danger, and escape regarding consciousness. This is called, friend, true knowledge; and to this extent one is gone to true knowledge." The fifth.
6.
The Discourse on Origin
131. They were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana, etc. "'Ignorance, ignorance', friend Sāriputta, is said. What indeed, friend, is ignorance, and in what respect is one gone to ignorance?"
"Here, friend, an ignorant worldling does not understand as it really is the origin, passing away, gratification, danger, and escape regarding matter. In feeling, etc. in perception, of activities... does not understand as it really is the origin, passing away, gratification, danger, and escape regarding consciousness. This is called, friend, ignorance; and to this extent one is gone to ignorance." The sixth.
7.
The Second Discourse on Origin
132. They were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana, etc. Seated to one side, the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika said this to the Venerable Sāriputta - "'True knowledge, true knowledge', friend Sāriputta, is said. What indeed, friend, is true knowledge, and in what respect is one gone to true knowledge?"
"Here, friend, a learned noble disciple understands as it really is the origin, passing away, gratification, danger, and escape regarding matter. In feeling, etc. in perception, of activities... understands as it really is the origin, passing away, gratification, danger, and escape regarding consciousness. This is called, friend, true knowledge; and to this extent one is gone to true knowledge." The seventh.
8.
The Discourse about Koṭṭhika
133. They were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana. Then the Venerable Sāriputta, in the evening, etc. Seated to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika: "'Ignorance, ignorance', friend Koṭṭhika, is said. What indeed, friend, is ignorance, and in what respect is one gone to ignorance?"
"Here, friend, an ignorant worldling does not understand as it really is the gratification, danger, and escape regarding matter. In feeling, etc. in perception, of activities... does not understand as it really is the gratification, danger, and escape regarding consciousness. This is called, friend, ignorance; and to this extent one is gone to ignorance."
When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika: "'True knowledge, true knowledge', friend Koṭṭhika, is said. What indeed, friend, is true knowledge, and in what respect is one gone to true knowledge?"
"Here, friend, a learned noble disciple understands as it really is the gratification, danger, and escape regarding matter. In feeling, etc. in perception, of activities... understands as it really is the gratification, danger, and escape regarding consciousness. This is called, friend, true knowledge; and to this extent one is gone to true knowledge." The eighth.
9.
The Second Discourse about Koṭṭhika
134. They were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana, etc. "'Ignorance, ignorance', friend Koṭṭhika, is said. What indeed, friend, is ignorance, and in what respect is one gone to ignorance?"
"Here, friend, an ignorant worldling does not understand as it really is the origin, passing away, gratification, danger, and escape regarding matter. In feeling, etc. in perception, of activities... does not understand as it really is the origin, passing away, gratification, danger, and escape regarding consciousness. This is called, friend, ignorance; and to this extent one is gone to ignorance."
When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika: "'True knowledge, true knowledge', friend Koṭṭhika, is said. What indeed, friend, is true knowledge, and in what respect is one gone to true knowledge?"
"Here, friend, a learned noble disciple understands as it really is the origin, passing away, gratification, danger, and escape regarding matter. In feeling, etc. in perception, of activities... understands as it really is the origin, passing away, gratification, danger, and escape regarding consciousness. This is called, friend, true knowledge; and to this extent one is gone to true knowledge." The ninth.
10.
The Third Discourse about Koṭṭhika
135. The same source. Seated to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika: "'Ignorance, ignorance', friend Koṭṭhika, is said. What indeed, friend, is ignorance, and in what respect is one gone to ignorance?"
"Here, friend, an ignorant worldling does not understand matter, does not understand the origin of matter, does not understand the cessation of matter, does not understand the practice leading to the cessation of matter. Does not understand feeling... etc. perception... activities... does not understand consciousness, does not understand the origin of consciousness, does not understand the cessation of consciousness, does not understand the practice leading to the cessation of consciousness. This is called, friend, ignorance; and to this extent one is gone to ignorance."
When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika: "'True knowledge, true knowledge', friend Koṭṭhika, is said. What indeed, friend, is true knowledge, and in what respect is one gone to true knowledge?" "Here, friend, a learned noble disciple understands matter, understands the origin of matter, understands the cessation of matter, understands the practice leading to the cessation of matter. Feeling... perception... activities... understands consciousness, understands the origin of consciousness, understands the cessation of consciousness, understands the practice leading to the cessation of consciousness. This is called, friend, true knowledge; and to this extent one is gone to true knowledge." The tenth.
The Chapter on Ignorance is the thirteenth.
Its summary:
And two spoken on origin, the other three on Koṭṭhika.