Transcending "The World" (sutra)

John Ireland (trans.), Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly, §112. "The World" {Iti 4.13; Iti 121}

Thus have I heard. This was said by the Bhagava (Blessed One), said by the Arahant (the fully enlightened):

"Meditators, the world [saṃsāra] has been fully understood by the Tathagata [the Buddha referring to himself, the Wayfarer, the Well Come One/Well Gone One]; the Tathagata is released from the world.

"The origin of the world has been fully understood by the Tathagata; the origin of the world has been abandoned by the Tathagata.

"The cessation of the world has been fully understood by the Tathagata; the cessation of the world has been realized by the Tathagata.

"The way [course of conduct] leading to the cessation of the world has been fully understood by the Tathagata; the way leading to the cessation of the world has been developed by the Tathagata.

"Meditators, in the world with its angels, devils, and gods [devas, maras, and brahmas], with its wandering ascetics and temple priests (Brahmins), among [this generation of] humankind with its princes and people, whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognized, attained, sought, and reflected upon by the mind — that is fully understood by the Tathagata: therefore, he is called 'the Tathagata.'

"Meditators, from the night when the Tathagata awakened to unsurpassed supreme enlightenment until the night when he passes into the nirvana-element without remainder [aka "the unconditioned element"] whatever he speaks, utters, and explains — all that is just so and not otherwise: therefore, he is called 'the Tathagata.'

"As the Tathagata says, so he does; as the Tathagata does, so he says: therefore [due to this integrity], he is called 'the Tathagata.'

"In the world with its angels, devils, and gods, with its wandering ascetics and temple priests, among humankind with its princes and people, the Tathagata is the conqueror, unvanquished, all-seer, wielding power: therefore, he is called 'the Tathagata'."

By knowledge of the world,

The entire world as it truly is,

He is released from all the world;

In all the world, he clings to nothing.

The all-conquering heroic sage,

Freed from every bond he is;

He has reached a perfect peace,

Nirvana, which is free from fear.

Rid of taints, he is enlightened,

Trouble-free, with doubt destroyed,

Reached the final end of karma,

Released by the destruction of clinging.

The Enlightened One, the Sage,

A lion he is, unsurpassed;

For in the world together with its devas

He set the supreme-wheel in motion.

Thus those shining ones and human beings,

Gone for guidance to the Buddha,

On meeting him pay him respect,

The Great One free from diffidence.

Tamed, among the tamed he is the best;

Calmed, among the calmed he is the seer;

Freed, among the freed he is the foremost;

Crossed, among the crossed he is the chief.

Thus do they pay him due respect,

The Great One free from diffidence:

"In the world together with its devas

There is no person to equal you."

This, too, is the meaning of what was said by the Buddha, thus I heard.