In those days the Buddha was living in the city of Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.
One day the Buddha said to the monks, “Come, monks, let’s go to the mountain called ‘The Inspiration Peak’ for the day’s meditation.
“Yes, bhante,” they replied. Then the Buddha together with several monks went to the mountain called ‘The Inspiration Peak.’
A certain monk saw a big cliff there and asked the Buddha, “Bhante, that big cliff is really huge and scary. Is there any other cliff bigger and scarier than this one?”
“There is, monk.”
“But bhante, what is it?”
“Monk, there are people who don’t truly understand about suffering, the origin of suffering, the end of suffering, and the path that leads to the end of suffering. They take pleasure in formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. Since they take pleasure in such formations, they continue to accumulate formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. Having accumulated formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress, they fall down the cliff of rebirth, old age, and death; of sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re not freed from rebirth, old age, and death; from sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. I say, they’re not freed from suffering.
“Monk, there are people who truly understand about suffering, the origin of suffering, the end of suffering, and the path that leads to the end of suffering. They don’t take pleasure in formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. Since they don’t take pleasure in such formations, they don’t accumulate formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. Having ended formations that lead to rebirth, old age, and death; to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress, they don’t fall down the cliff of rebirth, old age, and death; of sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re freed from rebirth, old age, and death; from sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress. I say, they’re freed from suffering.
“Therefore, monks, you should make an effort to understand: ‘This is suffering.’ You should make an effort to understand: ‘This is the origin of suffering.’ You should make an effort to understand: ‘This is the end of suffering.’ You should make an effort to understand: ‘This is the path that leads to the end of suffering.’”
