Saṃyutta Nikāya
3. Khandha Vagga
22. Khandha Saṃyutta
13. Avijjā Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
3. The Book Called the Khandhā-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the Elements of Sensory Existence and other Subjects
22. Kindred Sayings on Elements
13. On Ignorance
Sutta 129
Paṭhama Assāda Suttaṃ
Satisfaction (1)
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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[1] Thus have I heard:
Once the venerable Sāriputta
and the venerable Mahā-Koṭṭhita
were staying at Benares,
in Isipatana,
in the Deer-Park.
Then the venerable Mahā-Koṭṭhita,
rising at eventide from his solitude,
came to the venerable Sāriputta
and saluting him
sat down at one side.
So seated
he thus addressed the venerable Sāriputta:
"'Ignorance! Ignorance!' is the saying, friend Sāriputta.
Pray, friend Sāriputta what is ignorance,
and to what extent is one ignorant?"
"Herein, friend, the untaught manyfolk know not
as it [148] really is
the satisfaction in,
the misery of,
the escape from body.
They know not
as it really is
the satisfaction in,
the misery of,
the escape from feeling.
They know not
as it really is
the satisfaction in,
the misery of,
the escape from perception.
They know not
as it really is
the satisfaction in,
the misery of,
the escape from the activities.
They know not
as it really is
the satisfaction in,
the misery of,
the escape from consciousness.
This, friend, is ignorance,
and thus far is one ignorant."
