Koṭṭhita

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 many-folk know not
as it 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."

"'Wisdom! Wisdom!' is the saying, friend Sāriputta.

Pray, friend Sāriputta what is wisdom,
and to what extent has one wisdom?"

"Herein, friend, the well-taught Ariyan disciple knows
as it really is
the satisfaction in,
the misery of,
the escape from body.

Knows
as it really is
the satisfaction in,
the misery of,
the escape from feeling.

Knows
as it really is
the satisfaction in,
the misery of,
the escape from perception.

Knows
as it really is
the satisfaction in,
the misery of,
the escape from the activities.

Knows
as it really is
the satisfaction in,
the misery of,
the escape from consciousness.

This, friend, is wisdom,
and thus far has one wisdom."