The Great Division (Mahavagga) — The Going Forth

1Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Uruvela on the bank of the river Neranjara at the foot of the Bodhi Tree, having just realized full enlightenment.

2Then the Blessed One, having remained in the state of concentration for seven days, at the end of seven days emerged from that concentration.

3Then the Blessed One, during the first watch of the night, directed his mind to dependent origination in direct order: When this exists, that comes to be; with the arising of this, that arises.

4Ignorance is the condition for volitional formations; volitional formations are the condition for consciousness; consciousness is the condition for mind-and-matter.

5Mind-and-matter is the condition for the six sense bases; the six sense bases are the condition for contact; contact is the condition for feeling.

6Feeling is the condition for craving; craving is the condition for clinging; clinging is the condition for becoming; becoming is the condition for birth.

7Birth is the condition for aging-and-death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair. Such is the origin of this whole mass of suffering.

8Then the Blessed One, having understood the meaning of this, uttered this exclamation: When things become manifest to the ardent, meditating brahmin, his doubts all vanish since he understands each thing along with its cause.