One relies on oneself
One relies on Dharma
One does not relies on any other extraneous
If in this world
One holds proper views
Then through countless lifetimes
From the evil path one is shield
Channa Sutta:
Face-to-face with the Blessed One have I
heard this, I learned the exhortation he gave to the bhikkhu
Kaccayanagotta: 'By & large, Kaccayana, this world is supported by
a polarity, that of existence & non-existence. But when one sees
the origination of the world as it actually is with right discernment,
"non-existence" with reference to the world does not occur to one. When
one sees the cessation of the world as it actually is with right
discernment, "existence" with reference to the world does not occur to
one.
By & large, Kaccayana, this world is
in bondage to attachments, clingings (sustenances), & biases. But
one such as this does not get involved with or cling to these
attachments, clingings, fixations of awareness, biases, or obsessions;
nor is he resolved on "my self." He has no uncertainty or doubt that,
when there is arising, only stress is arising; and that when there is
passing away, stress is passing away. In this, one's knowledge is
independent of others. It is to this extent, Kaccayana, that there is
right view.
Everything exists": That is one extreme.
"Everything doesn't exist": That is a second extreme. Avoiding these
two extremes, the Tathagata teaches the Dhamma via the middle: From
ignorance as a requisite condition come fabrications. From fabrications
as a requisite condition comes consciousness. From consciousness as a
requisite condition comes name-&-form. From name-&-form as a
requisite condition come the six sense media. From the six sense media
as a requisite condition comes contact. From contact as a requisite
condition comes feeling. From feeling as a requisite condition comes
craving. From craving as a requisite condition comes
clinging/sustenance. From clinging/sustenance as a requisite condition
comes becoming. From becoming as a requisite condition comes birth.
From birth as a requisite condition, then aging & death, sorrow,
lamentation, pain, distress, & despair come into play. Such is the
origination of this entire mass of stress & suffering.
Now from the remainderless fading &
cessation of that very ignorance comes the cessation of fabrications.
From the cessation of fabrications comes the cessation of
consciousness. From the cessation of consciousness comes the cessation
of name-&-form. From the cessation of name-&-form comes the
cessation of the six sense media. From the cessation of the six sense
media comes the cessation of contact. From the cessation of contact
comes the cessation of feeling. From the cessation of feeling comes the
cessation of craving. From the cessation of craving comes the cessation
of clinging/sustenance. From the cessation of clinging/sustenance comes
the cessation of becoming. From the cessation of becoming comes the
cessation of birth. From the cessation of birth, then aging &
death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair all cease.
Such is the cessation of this entire mass of stress & suffering.
(Extract from SN 22.90)
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu