[252] Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to me: 'When what does not exist does aging-and-death not come to be? With the cessation (nirodha) of what is there the cessation of aging-and-death?' Then, bhikkhus, through careful attention (yoniso manasikāra), there took place in me a breakthrough by wisdom (paññā): 'When birth (jāti) does not exist, aging-and-death does not come to be; with the cessation of birth there is the cessation of aging-and-death.'
Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to me: 'When what does not exist does birth not come to be? … does existence (bhava) not come to be? … does clinging (upādāna) not come to be? … does craving (taṇhā) not come to be? … does feeling (vedanā) not come to be? … does contact (phassa) not come to be? … do the six sense bases (saḷāyatana) not come to be? … does name-and-form (nāmarūpa) not come to be? With the cessation of what is there the cessation of name-and-form?' Then, bhikkhus, through careful attention, there took place in me a breakthrough by wisdom: 'When consciousness (viññāṇa) does not exist, name-and-form does not come to be; with the cessation of consciousness there is the cessation of name-and-form.'
Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to me: 'When what does not exist does consciousness not come to be? With the cessation of what is there the cessation of consciousness?' Then, bhikkhus, through careful attention, there took place in me a breakthrough by wisdom: 'When name-and-form does not exist, consciousness does not come to be; with the cessation of name-and-form there is the cessation of consciousness.'
Then, bhikkhus, it occurred to me: 'This path to awakening has been attained by me, namely: with the cessation of name-and-form, the cessation of consciousness; with the cessation of consciousness, the cessation of name-and-form; with the cessation of name-and-form, the cessation of the six sense bases; with the cessation of the six sense bases, the cessation of contact …. Thus is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering (dukkha).'
'Cessation, cessation' — thus, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, there arose in me vision, there arose knowledge (ñāṇa), there arose wisdom, there arose true knowledge, there arose light.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.