sn.12.34 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Cases of Knowledge (2)

At Savatthī. “Bhikkhus, I will teach you seventy-seven cases of knowledge. Listen to that and attend closely, I will speak.”

“Yes, venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

“Bhikkhus, what are the seventy-seven cases of knowledge? The knowledge: ‘Aging-and-death has birth as its condition.’ The knowledge: ‘When there is no birth, there is no aging-and-death.’ The knowledge: ‘In the past too aging-and-death had birth as its condition.’ The knowledge: ‘In the past too, had there been no birth, there would have been no aging-and-death.’ The knowledge: ‘In the future too aging-and-death will have birth as its condition.’ The knowledge: ‘In the future too, should there be no birth, there will be no aging-and-death.’ The knowledge: ‘That knowledge of the stability of the Dhamma is also subject to destruction, vanishing, fading away, and cessation.’

“The knowledge: ‘Birth has existence as its condition.’… The knowledge: ‘Volitional formations have ignorance as their condition. ’ The knowledge: ‘When there is no ignorance, there are no volitional formations.’ The knowledge: ‘In the past too volitional formations had ignorance as their condition.’ The knowledge: ‘In the past too, had there been no ignorance, there would have been no volitional formations.’ The knowledge: ‘In the future too volitional formations will have ignorance as their condition.’ The knowledge: ‘In the future too, should there be no ignorance, there will be no volitional formations.’ The knowledge: ‘That knowledge of the stability of the Dhamma is also subject to destruction, vanishing, fading away, and cessation.’

“These, bhikkhus, are called the seventy-seven cases of knowledge.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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Grounds for Knowledge (2nd)

At Sāvatthī.
“Mendicants, I will teach seventy-seven grounds for knowledge.
Listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”
“Yes, sir,” they replied.
The Buddha said this:
“And what are the seventy-seven grounds for knowledge?
The knowledge that rebirth is a condition for old age and death,
and the knowledge that when rebirth doesn’t exist, there is no old age and death.
Also regarding the past: the knowledge that rebirth is a condition for old age and death, and the knowledge that when rebirth doesn’t exist, there is no old age and death.
Also regarding the future: the knowledge that rebirth is a condition for old age and death, and the knowledge that when rebirth doesn’t exist, there is no old age and death.
And also their knowledge that even this knowledge of the stability of natural principles is liable to end, vanish, fade away, and cease.
The knowledge that continued existence is a condition for rebirth …








The knowledge that ignorance is a condition for choices, and the knowledge that when ignorance doesn’t exist, there are no choices.
Also regarding the past: the knowledge that ignorance is a condition for choices, and the knowledge that when ignorance doesn’t exist, there are no choices.
Also regarding the future: the knowledge that ignorance is a condition for choices, and the knowledge that when ignorance doesn’t exist, there are no choices.
And also their knowledge that even this knowledge of the stability of natural principles is liable to end, vanish, fade away, and cease.
These are called the seventy-seven grounds for knowledge.”