Dīrgha Āgama, Fascicle One: The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination

(4) Original text:如是因缘者。名为实义因。智慧方便观。能见因缘根。苦非贤圣造。亦非无缘有。是故变易苦。智者所断除。若无明灭尽。是时则无行。若无有行者。则亦无有识。若识永灭者。亦无有名色。名色既已灭。即无有诸入。若诸入永灭。则亦无有触。若触永灭者。则亦无有受。 若受永灭者。则亦无有爱。若爱永灭者。则亦无有取。若取永灭者。则亦无有有。若有永灭者。则亦无有生。若生永灭者。无老病苦阴。一切都永尽。智者之所说。十二缘甚深。难见难识知。唯佛能善觉。因是有是无。 

Explanation: Dharma of dependent origination such as the above is called the dharma of dependent origination of true meaning. If one observes it with wisdom and skillful means, one can see the root of the dharma of dependent origination, which is ignorance and foolish delusion. The suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death was not created by sages, nor does it arise without a cause. Therefore, the wise will eradicate the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death that arises and ceases through transformation. If ignorance is extinguished completely, then there will be no volitional formations; if there are no volitional formations, then there will also be no six consciousnesses; if the six consciousnesses are extinguished forever, there will be no more name-and-form; since name-and-form has been extinguished, there will be no more six sense bases; if the six sense bases are extinguished forever, there will be no more contact; if contact is extinguished forever, there will be no more feeling. If feeling is extinguished forever, there will be no more craving; if the condition of craving is extinguished, there will be no more grasping; if grasping is extinguished forever, there will be no more becoming; if becoming is extinguished forever, there will be no more birth; if birth is extinguished forever, there will be no more aggregates of suffering of aging and sickness. Everything will be extinguished forever—this is what the wise have said. The twelve links of dependent origination are extremely profound, difficult to encounter, and difficult to recognize and realize; only the Buddha can skillfully awaken to whether the causes for the arising of all dharmas exist or do not exist. 

Original text:若能自观察。则无有诸入。深见因缘者。更不外求师。能于阴界入。离欲无染者。堪受一切施。净报施者恩。若得四辩才。获得决定证。能解众结缚。断除无放逸。色受想行识。犹如朽故车。能谛观此法。则成等正觉。如鸟游虚空。东西随风游。菩萨断众结。如风靡轻衣。毗婆尸闲静。观察于诸法。老死何缘有。从何而得灭。彼作是观已。生清净智慧。知老死由生。生灭老死灭。 

Explanation: If one can personally observe the dharma of the twelve links of dependent origination, one will know that fundamentally there are no dharmas such as the six sense bases. One who deeply and thoroughly examines the dharma of dependent origination will never again seek a teacher externally, for the Dharma itself is the teacher. Only one who can be free of craving and undefiled with regard to the five aggregates, eighteen realms, and six sense bases is worthy of receiving all generosity and can purely repay the kindness of the giver. If one can attain the four unimpeded powers of eloquence, one can attain the ultimate definitive realization of the dharma of dependent origination, and can also untie all the knots and bonds of afflictions, eradicate all afflictions, and cultivate diligently without ever becoming lax again.

The five aggregates of form, feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness are like a decayed, dilapidated old cart. One who can thoroughly contemplate this dharma will accomplish perfect and complete enlightenment, roaming freely through empty space like an unbound bird, drifting east or west with the wind. The bodhisattva severs all bonds like the wind blowing over light, thin garments. Vipaśyin Buddha, in a quiet and secluded place, carefully observed the dharma of the twelve links of dependent origination, contemplating: on account of what condition does aging and death exist, and on account of what is it extinguished? After engaging in such contemplative practice, pure wisdom arose, and he knew that aging and death exist because of birth; when birth ceases, aging and death cease.