sn.35.53 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Abandoning Ignorance

At Savatthi. Then a certain bhikkhu approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Venerable sir, how should one know, how should one see, for ignorance to be abandoned and true knowledge to arise?”

“Bhikkhu, when one knows and sees the eye as impermanent, ignorance is abandoned and true knowledge arises. When one knows and sees forms as impermanent … When one knows and sees as impermanent whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition—whether pleasant or painful or neither-painful-norpleasant—ignorance is abandoned and true knowledge arises. When one knows and sees thus, bhikkhu, ignorance is abandoned and true knowledge arises.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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Giving Up Ignorance

At Sāvatthī.
Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
“Sir, how does one know and see so as to give up ignorance and give rise to knowledge?”
“Mendicant, knowing and seeing the eye, sights, eye consciousness, and eye contact as impermanent, ignorance is given up and knowledge arises.



And also knowing and seeing the pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises conditioned by eye contact as impermanent, ignorance is given up and knowledge arises.
Knowing and seeing the ear …
nose …
tongue …
body …
Knowing and seeing the mind, thoughts, mind consciousness, and mind contact as impermanent, ignorance is given up and knowledge arises.



And also knowing and seeing the pleasant, painful, or neutral feeling that arises conditioned by mind contact as impermanent, ignorance is given up and knowledge arises.
That’s how to know and see so as to give up ignorance and give rise to knowledge.”