Nidanam Sutta

SN 12:60 Ananda's Mistake

Translated from the Pali by M. O' C. Walshe

The Blessed One was once staying among the Kurus at their market-town of Kammasadamma. [And the Venerable Ananda said:] “Wonderful, Lord, marvellous, Lord, is the profundity of this law of Dependent Origination, and how profound it appears! And yet to me it appears perfectly plain.”

“Do not say that, Ananda, do not say that! This law of Dependent Origination is indeed profound and appears profound. It is through not knowing, not understanding, not penetrating this truth that this generation has become entangled like a knotted string, covered with blight, like grass and reeds, and cannot pass over the downfall, the woeful way, the sorrowful state, the cycle of birth-and-death.”