緣本致經

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the Jeta Grove, in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time the Buddha addressed the bhikṣus:

"Craving is difficult to speak of. Defiled craving has a fair and pleasing form; before it has arisen, it already possesses the capacity to bind, to drown, and to ensnare, and it too has its origin. There can be no craving without causes and conditions leading to it; from craving for existence there is infatuation, and from that origin one is led into fervor and intoxication. Therefore one is not clear in understanding, in contemplating and discerning. This is the origin of delusion. The condition by which delusion arises also has its root. What is its root?

"It is being intoxicated with form and sound, the five hindrances, and chasing about in bewilderment—from this the five origins of delusion are born.

"The five hindrances obscure and darken, leading to a state of hesitation, and this too has its cause. What is its cause?

"It is the dragging force of the three kinds of evil conduct—this is called its cause.

"The accumulation of the three kinds of evil conduct also has its cause. What is its cause?

"It is the failure to restrain the faculties and consciousness that is its cause. Not restraining consciousness and the faculties also has its cause.

"What is its cause?

"It is the absence of right mindfulness—being mindful of what ought not to be the object of mindfulness—that is its cause. The absence of right mindfulness also has its cause; it is not without a cause.

"What is its cause?

"It is the absence of right faith—being deluded as to direction—that is its cause. The absence of right faith and being deluded also has its cause; it is not without a cause.

"What is its cause?

"It is being led by an evil teacher, hearing and upholding what is contrary to the Dharma, that is its cause.

"Not drawing near to a true teacher, not getting to hear what is excellent, also has its cause.

"What is its cause?

"It is opposing the worthy and noble ones, not gathering together with those of talent, wisdom, and discernment, that is its cause. Opposing the worthy and talented also has its cause.

"What is its cause?

"It is losing the place of reverence and admiration, and with a corrupted mind taking up the pursuit of pleasures—this is its cause. Whenever one loses the place of communion with the lofty and pure worthy and noble ones, then the actions, the seeing and hearing, of body, speech, and mind are entirely bewildered, and so the mind becomes obstructed. Because one sees what is contrary to the Dharma, faith turns toward destruction.

Because one goes against the right path, wrong views increase; because wrong views increase, within one harbors mourning; because within one harbors mourning, the three kinds of evil conduct develop; because the three kinds of evil conduct develop, the five hindrances grow full; because the five hindrances grow full, the root of delusion becomes complete; because the root of delusion is complete, the grasping of craving becomes complete.

Thus this grasping of craving gradually increases, producing the defilement of the dust of the world without bound or shore.

"The origin of the wisdom of liberation that transcends the world also has its cause. What is called the cause of the wisdom of liberation that transcends the world? It is the wondrous Dharma of the seven factors of awakening that is its cause. The bright mirror of the seven factors of awakening also has its cause.

"What is its cause?

"It is the four foundations of mindfulness; these are the root of awakening. The four foundations of mindfulness also have a root; they are not without a root.

"What is the root?

"It is the three kinds of pure and unsullied conduct. The three kinds of pure conduct also have a basis; it is not without one.

"What is its fundamental meaning?

"It is the guarding of the faculties that is its cause. Guarding the faculties also has its cause; it is not without one.

"What is its fundamental meaning?

"It is right mindfulness, illuminating and shining forth. Right mindfulness illuminating also has its cause: right deliberation. What is its cause?

"It is by means of faith that right mindfulness becomes supreme. Faith also has its cause; it is not without one.

"What is the cause of faith?

"It is hearing much of the scriptures and the Way, grasping in due order the essential points of the scriptures, that is its cause. Hearing the scriptural Dharma also has its cause; it is not without a cause.

"What is the cause of hearing the scriptural Dharma?

"It is that a worthy one makes one's actions pure and true.

"The purity of the worthy one also has its cause. What is its cause?

"It is gathering together with those of talent and wisdom, lofty, true, and unblemished.

"In this way, bhikṣus, the worthy one learns to rely upon the wise and discerning, devotes himself to hearing much, and so arrives at the origin of faith; once the root of faith is established, one then attains right mindfulness; once right mindfulness is planted, one then restrains the faculties; once the faculties are restrained, the three kinds of conduct become pure; once the three kinds of conduct are pure, one attains the four foundations of mindfulness; once the four foundations of mindfulness are firm, one has the seven factors of awakening; once the seven factors of awakening are established, this indeed is the Unconditioned, liberation that transcends the world."

The Buddha having spoken thus, the disciples all received and put it into practice.

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SUTRA ON THE ORIGINAL KNOWLEDGE OF CAUSATION