The Buddha teaches dependent origination by the middle—rejecting eternalism and annihilationism while explaining how consciousness and name-and-form are mutually dependent.

SN 12.48 A Cosmologist

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

Atha kho lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sabbamatthī”ti?

“‘Sabbamatthī’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, jeṭṭhametaṁ lokāyataṁ”.

“Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, sabbaṁ natthī”ti?

“‘Sabbaṁ natthī’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, dutiyametaṁ lokāyataṁ”.

“Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sabbamekattan”ti?

“‘Sabbamekattan’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, tatiyametaṁ lokāyataṁ”.

“Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, sabbaṁ puthuttan”ti?

“‘Sabbaṁ puthuttan’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, catutthametaṁ lokāyataṁ.

Ete te, brāhmaṇa, ubho ante anupagamma majjhena tathāgato dhammaṁ deseti: ‘avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;

saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe… evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī’”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā …pe…

Then a brahmin cosmologist went up to the Buddha …

ekamantaṁ nisinno kho lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Seated to one side he said to the Buddha:

“Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sabbamatthī”ti?

“Worthy Gotama, does all exist?”

“‘Sabbamatthī’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, jeṭṭhametaṁ lokāyataṁ”.

“‘All exists’: this is the oldest cosmology, brahmin.”

“Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, sabbaṁ natthī”ti?

“Then does all not exist?”

“‘Sabbaṁ natthī’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, dutiyametaṁ lokāyataṁ”.

“‘All does not exist’: this is the second cosmology.”

“Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sabbamekattan”ti?

“Well, is all oneness?”

“‘Sabbamekattan’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, tatiyametaṁ lokāyataṁ”.

“‘All is oneness’: this is the third cosmology.”

“Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, sabbaṁ puthuttan”ti?

“Then is all expansiveness?”

“‘Sabbaṁ puthuttan’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, catutthametaṁ lokāyataṁ.

“‘All is expansiveness’: this is the fourth cosmology.

Ete te, brāhmaṇa, ubho ante anupagamma majjhena tathāgato dhammaṁ deseti:

Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One teaches by the middle way:

‘avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;

‘Ignorance is a requirement for choices.

saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe…

Choices are a requirement for consciousness. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.

Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho;

When ignorance fades away and ceases no residue left behind, choices cease.

saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe…

When choices cease, consciousness ceases. …

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī’”ti.

That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.’”

Evaṁ vutte, lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he said this, the brahmin cosmologist said to the Buddha,

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …

ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
View all discourses →
Ignorance

Ignorance

A fundamental blindness to the true nature of reality. It is not merely a lack of information, but an active misperception that views the transient as permanent and the unsatisfactory as a source of happiness, thereby fueling the cycle of suffering.

Also known as: illusion of knowing, fundamental unawareness of the true nature of reality, misunderstanding of how things have come to be, not knowing the four noble truths
Pāli: avijjā
View all discourses →
Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
View all discourses →
Unification

Unification

Mind becoming single and integrated with the settling down of reflection and examination.

Also known as: unification of mind, being collected, integration, oneness, singleness of mind
Pāli: ekagga, ekodibhāva
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026