English
English version It ceases. Therefore, it is called 'impermanent'. What is called 'uninterrupted'? Like a scale, when one side rises, the other falls. The cessation here leads to the arising there, so it is called 'uninterrupted'. This is true knowledge and vision. What is called 'neither coming nor going'? There is no seed leaving and arriving at the sprout, nor is there a sprout coming and heading towards the seed. For this reason, there is no going from here to there. However, in reality, a small seed can produce many fruits. What is called 'arising similarly'? Like an unwholesome cause produces an unwholesome effect, like a wholesome cause produces a wholesome effect. For this reason, it is called arising in similar continuity. Furthermore, Śāriputra (Śāriputra, one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom). As the Buddha said, being able to observe the twelve links of dependent origination is called 'right view'. If one correctly observes the twelve links of dependent origination, in the past body, one will not give rise to the thought of 'existence'; in the future body, one will not give rise to the thought of 'non-existence'. Where do sentient beings come from, where do they go, and where do they arrive? If Śrāmaṇas (Śrāmaṇa, wandering ascetics), Brāhmaṇas (Brāhmaṇa, members of the priestly class in ancient India), and worldly people cultivate various views, such as the view of self (believing in a permanent and unchanging 'self'), the view of beings (believing in independent beings), the view of life (believing that life is eternal), the view of a man (believing in an eternal man), and the view of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness (believing in good and bad fortune). These twelve links of dependent origination are like a Tāla tree (Tāla tree, a type of palm tree) that, once its top is cut off, can no longer grow. The view of self will be removed. If someone correctly understands the twelve links of dependent origination, if they attain such contemplation. Venerable Śāriputra, if there are sentient beings who can endure this Dharma, then this Tathāgata (Tathāgata, Thus Gone One), Arhat (Arhat, Worthy One), Samyaksaṃbuddha (Samyaksaṃbuddha, Perfectly Enlightened One), Sugata (Sugata, Well-Gone One), Lokavidū (Lokavidū, Knower of the World), Puruṣadaṃyasārathi (Puruṣadaṃyasārathi, Tamer of Men), Śāstādevamanuṣyāṇāṃ (Śāstādevamanuṣyāṇāṃ, Teacher of Gods and Humans), Buddha (Buddha, Awakened One), Bhagavat (Bhagavat, Blessed One), will surely bestow upon them the prediction of Anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi (Anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi, unsurpassed perfect enlightenment). Venerable Śāriputra, having heard Maitreya (Maitreya, the future Buddha) say this, departed with joy. The Nāgas (Nāga, serpent deities), Yakṣas (Yakṣa, nature spirits), Gandharvas (Gandharva, celestial musicians), Asuras (Asura, demigods), and all the great assembly bowed to Maitreya and joyfully practiced. The Buddha Speaks the Rice Seedling Sutra --------------------------------------------------------------------------------