“To the contemplative seated free of dust,”
said the venerable Udaya,
“who has done what had to be done, without inundations,
gone beyond all phenomena,
in need I have come with a question.
Declare what is liberation by knowledge,
the rending apart of ignorance.”
“The giving up of sense-desire, Udaya,”
said the Auspicious One,
“and of sadness both,
and the driving out of dullness,
the obstructing of doubt,
purified by looking on and recollection,
led by right thought,
this is the liberation by knowledge I say,
the rending apart of ignorance.”
“What is the world’s fetter?
What makes it roam about?
By the giving up of what,
is it said to be ‘Extinguishment’?”
“Delight is the world’s fetter,
thoughts make it roam about.
By the giving up of craving,
it is said to be ‘Extinguishment.’”
“For one faring recollected,
how does consciousness cease?
We came to ask the Auspicious One,
now let us listen to your word.”
“For one not delighting in feeling,
towards oneself and externally,
faring recollected so,
consciousness ceases.”
Notes
In the translators’ booklet this is Snp 5.14, following SuttaCentral’s numbering.