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6. Mahājanakāyaanupabbajjā and Bodhisattaabhinivesa (The Great Crowd's Going Forth after Him, and the Bodhisatta's Settling into Seclusion)

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Vipassī's going forth draws a great crowd after him; alone in seclusion he works out the origin and cessation of ageing and death link by link, and his mind is liberated. Mahāpadānasutta (7D/1), paragraphs 109–138, translated from the Dīgha Nikāya.

Original text: 7D/1.10–1.11 Mahājanakāyaanupabbajjā and Bodhisattaabhinivesa 109–138 in the World Tipitaka Edition

Eighty-four thousand follow Vipassī into the going forth, until he withdraws to live alone. In seclusion he asks how the world, born, ageing and dying, can escape ageing and death, and traces each link to its cause — birth, existence, fuel, craving, feeling, contact, the six sense bases, phenomenal objects and consciousness, the last two conditioning each other — then the cessation of each with the cessation of its cause. Insight into origin and cessation arises in him; observing the rise and fall of the five collections of fuel, his mind is liberated from the defilements.

flowchart TB
    A["The great crowd goes forth after Vipassī"] --> B["He withdraws to live alone"]
    B --> C["How is ageing and death escaped?"]
    C --> O
    subgraph O["Origin (113–124)"]
        direction LR
        o1["viññāṇa (consciousness)"] <--> o2["nāmarūpa (phenomenal objects)"]
        o2 --> o3["saḷāyatana (six sense bases)"] --> o4["phassa (contact)"] --> o5["vedanā (feeling)"] --> o6["taṇhā (craving)"] --> o7["upādāna (fuel)"] --> o8["bhava (existence)"] --> o9["jāti (birth)"] --> o10["jarāmaraṇa (ageing and death)"]
    end
    O --> N
    subgraph N["Cessation (125–136)"]
        n1["Each link ceases with the cessation of its cause"]
    end
    N --> F["Rise and fall of the five collections of fuel"]
    F --> G["The mind liberated from the defilements"]

(55.)

109. A great crowd of people in the royal capital Bandhumatī, Bhikkhave, eighty-four thousand beings, heard: ‘Prince Vipassī, it is said, has shaved off his hair and beard, put on ochre robes, and gone forth from the home life into homelessness.’ Having heard, this thought occurred to them: ‘Surely that Dhamma and Discipline is not inferior, that going forth is not inferior, wherein Prince Vipassī has shaved off his hair and beard, put on ochre robes, and gone forth from the home life into homelessness. Indeed, even Prince Vipassī will shave off his hair and beard, put on ochre robes, and go forth from the home life into homelessness; how much more so, then, [should] we?’

110. Then, Bhikkhave, that great crowd of people, eighty-four thousand beings, shaved off their hair and beards, put on ochre robes, and went forth after Vipassī the bodhisatta (Buddha before his awakening), who had gone forth from the home life into homelessness. Surrounded by that assembly, Bhikkhave, Vipassī the bodhisatta wandered on a journey through villages, towns, countries and royal capitals.

(56.)

111. Then, Bhikkhave, while Vipassī the bodhisatta was alone in seclusion, this reflection arose in his mind: ‘It is not fitting for me that I dwell crowded in; what if I were to dwell alone, withdrawn from the group?’ Then, Bhikkhave, at a later time Vipassī the bodhisatta dwelt alone, withdrawn from the group; those eighty-four thousand who had gone forth went by one road, and Vipassī the bodhisatta by another road.

(57.)

112. Then, Bhikkhave, while Vipassī the bodhisatta, having taken up residence, was alone in seclusion, this reflection arose in his mind: ‘This world has indeed fallen into difficulty: it is born, grows old, dies, passes away and is reborn, and yet it does not understand the escape from this suffering, from jarāmaraṇa (ageing and death). When indeed will the escape from this suffering, from ageing and death, be known?’

113. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what exists is there ageing and death, with what as cause is there ageing and death?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is jāti (birth), there is ageing and death; with birth as cause, ageing and death [arise].’

114. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what exists is there birth, with what as cause is there birth?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is bhava (existence), there is birth; with existence as cause, birth [arises].’

115. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what exists is there existence, with what as cause is there existence?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is upādāna (fuel), there is existence; with fuel as cause, existence [arises].’

116. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what exists is there fuel, with what as cause is there fuel?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is taṇhā (craving), there is fuel; with craving as cause, fuel [arises].’

117. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what exists is there craving, with what as cause is there craving?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is vedanā (feeling), there is craving; with feeling as cause, craving [arises].’

118. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what exists is there feeling, with what as cause is there feeling?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is phassa (contact), there is feeling; with contact as cause, feeling [arises].’

119. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what exists is there contact, with what as cause is there contact?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there are saḷāyatana (the six sense bases), there is contact; with the six sense bases as cause, contact [arises].’

120. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what exists are there the six sense bases, with what as cause are there the six sense bases?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there are nāmarūpa (phenomenal objects), there are the six sense bases; with phenomenal objects as cause, the six sense bases [arise].’

121. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what exists are there phenomenal objects, with what as cause are there phenomenal objects?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is viññāṇa (consciousness), there are phenomenal objects; with consciousness as cause, phenomenal objects [arise].’

122. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what exists is there consciousness, with what as cause is there consciousness?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there are phenomenal objects, there is consciousness; with phenomenal objects as cause, consciousness [arises].’

(58.)

123. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘This consciousness turns back from phenomenal objects, it goes no further. To this extent one may be born, or grow old, or die, or pass away, or be reborn, namely: with phenomenal objects as cause, consciousness [arises]; with consciousness as cause, phenomenal objects [arise]; with phenomenal objects as cause, the six sense bases [arise]; with the six sense bases as cause, contact [arises]; with contact as cause, feeling [arises]; with feeling as cause, craving [arises]; with craving as cause, fuel [arises]; with fuel as cause, existence [arises]; with existence as cause, birth [arises]; with birth as cause, ageing and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure and despair come into being. Thus is the origin of this whole mass of suffering’.

(59.)

124. ‘Origin, origin!’: indeed, Bhikkhave, for Vipassī the bodhisatta, concerning dhammas not heard before, insight arose, knowledge arose, wisdom arose, understanding arose, light arose.

(60.)

125. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what does not exist is there no ageing and death, with the cessation of what is there the cessation of ageing and death?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is no birth, there is no ageing and death; with the cessation of birth comes the cessation of ageing and death.’

126. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what does not exist is there no birth, with the cessation of what is there the cessation of birth?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is no existence, there is no birth; with the cessation of existence comes the cessation of birth.’

127. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what does not exist is there no existence, with the cessation of what is there the cessation of existence?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is no fuel, there is no existence; with the cessation of fuel comes the cessation of existence.’

128. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what does not exist is there no fuel, with the cessation of what is there the cessation of fuel?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is no craving, there is no fuel; with the cessation of craving comes the cessation of fuel.’

129. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what does not exist is there no craving, with the cessation of what is there the cessation of craving?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is no feeling, there is no craving; with the cessation of feeling comes the cessation of craving.’

130. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what does not exist is there no feeling, with the cessation of what is there the cessation of feeling?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is no contact, there is no feeling; with the cessation of contact comes the cessation of feeling.’

131. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what does not exist is there no contact, with the cessation of what is there the cessation of contact?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there are no six sense bases, there is no contact; with the cessation of the six sense bases comes the cessation of contact.’

132. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what does not exist are there no six sense bases, with the cessation of what is there the cessation of the six sense bases?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there are no phenomenal objects, there are no six sense bases; with the cessation of phenomenal objects comes the cessation of the six sense bases.’

133. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what does not exist are there no phenomenal objects, with the cessation of what is there the cessation of phenomenal objects?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there is no consciousness, there are no phenomenal objects; with the cessation of consciousness comes the cessation of phenomenal objects.’

134. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to Vipassī the bodhisatta: ‘When what does not exist is there no consciousness, with the cessation of what is there the cessation of consciousness?’ Then, Bhikkhave, through proper attention, Vipassī the bodhisatta had a complete comprehension by wisdom: ‘Indeed, when there are no phenomenal objects, there is no consciousness; with the cessation of phenomenal objects comes the cessation of consciousness.’

(61.)

135. Then indeed, Bhikkhave, this (thought) occurred to Vipassī the Bodhisatta — ‘Indeed, this path for full awakening has been attained by me, namely: with the cessation of phenomenal objects comes the cessation of consciousness; with the cessation of consciousness comes the cessation of phenomenal objects; with the cessation of phenomenal objects comes the cessation of the six sense bases; with the cessation of the six sense bases comes the cessation of contact; with the cessation of contact comes the cessation of feeling; with the cessation of feeling comes the cessation of craving; with the cessation of craving comes the cessation of fuel; with the cessation of fuel comes the cessation of existence; with the cessation of existence comes the cessation of birth; with the cessation of birth, ageing and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure and despair cease. Thus is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering’.

(62.)

136. ‘Cessation, cessation!’: indeed, Bhikkhave, for Vipassī the Bodhisatta, concerning dhammas not heard before, insight arose, knowledge arose, wisdom arose, understanding arose, light arose.

(63.)

137. Then indeed, Bhikkhave, Vipassī the Bodhisatta, at a later time, dwelt observing the arising and passing away in the five collections of fuel — ‘Thus is form, thus is the origin of form, thus is the cessation of form; thus is feeling, thus is the origin of feeling, thus is the cessation of feeling; thus is apperception, thus is the origin of apperception, thus is the cessation of apperception; thus are mental constructions, thus is the origin of mental constructions, thus is the cessation of mental constructions; thus is consciousness, thus is the origin of consciousness, thus is the cessation of consciousness’, and for him, dwelling observing the arising and passing away in the five collections of fuel, not long after indeed, the mind, not grasping, was liberated from the defilements.

138. The second bhāṇavāra (section for recitation).

  • The text’s own chain of dependent origination has ten links, consciousness and phenomenal objects conditioning each other, and no avijjā or saṅkhāra; the twelve-link form is the Bodhikathā; the teaching is on buddhavacana: dependent origination, textbook chapter 3.
  • Paragraphs 135–137 are the author’s own on buddhavacana (Many Buddhas) and stand verbatim, with “Vipassī the Bodhisatta” and the links in plain English; the new sentences follow them for the links and write “Vipassī the bodhisatta” by the brief, to be brought together.
  • The crowd’s going forth uses the Yasa account’s formulas (Khandhaka 7): “shaved off his hair and beard, put on ochre robes”, “not inferior”.
  • Renderings: abhisamaya “complete comprehension” and upapajjati “is reborn” by the DPD, yoniso manasikārā “through proper attention”, cakkhu “insight” as in the twin refrain.
  • The edition’s 109–137 are CST 55–63; the second bhāṇavāra ends with the part.

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