iti.11 Itivuttaka

Understanding Delusion

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, one who has not directly known and fully understood delusion, who has not detached his mind from it and abandoned it, is incapable of destroying suffering. But one who has directly known and fully understood delusion, and who has detached his mind from it and abandoned it, is capable of destroying suffering.”

Humankind is possessed by delusion,
Bound by delusion and delighted with being;
Not fully understanding delusion,
They come again to renewal of being.

But those who have abandoned delusion,
And who by destroying delusion are freed,
Have conquered the bondage of delusion
And overcome all suffering.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Complete Understanding of Delusion

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, without directly knowing and completely understanding delusion, without dispassion for it and giving it up, you can’t end suffering.
By directly knowing and completely understanding delusion, having dispassion for it and giving it up, you can end suffering.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“When overcome by delusion
beings go to a bad place.
Having rightly understood that delusion,
the discerning give it up.
Once they’ve given it up,
they never return to this world.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.