[705] **"The root of what is reckoned as proliferation (papañcasaṅkhā)," said the Blessed One, "…having understanding, one should stop entirely [the notion] 'I am'"**: proliferations (papañca) themselves are the reckonings of proliferation — the reckoning of proliferation that is craving (taṇhā) and the reckoning of proliferation that is views.
What is the root of the proliferation of craving? Ignorance (avijjā) is a root; careless attention (ayonisomanasikāra) is a root; the conceit 'I am' (asmimāna) is a root; shamelessness is a root; lack of moral dread is a root; restlessness is a root. This is the root of the proliferation of craving.
What is the root of the proliferation of views? Ignorance is a root; careless attention is a root; the conceit 'I am' is a root; shamelessness is a root; lack of moral dread is a root; restlessness is a root. This is the root of the proliferation of views.
**"The Blessed One (Bhagavā)"**: this is a designation of reverence. Moreover: he has broken lust, thus he is the Blessed One; he has broken hatred, thus he is the Blessed One; he has broken delusion, thus he is the Blessed One; he has broken conceit, thus he is the Blessed One; he has broken views, thus he is the Blessed One; he has broken the thorn, thus he is the Blessed One; he has broken the defilements, thus he is the Blessed One. He shared out, analyzed, and analyzed in detail the treasure of the Dhamma, thus he is the Blessed One. He makes an end of existences, thus he is the Blessed One. He is developed in body, developed in virtue, developed in mind, developed in wisdom, thus he is the Blessed One. Or: the Blessed One resorted to remote lodgings in forests and woodland thickets, with little sound, with little noise, with an atmosphere free of people, fit for humans' private retirement, suitable for seclusion, thus he is the Blessed One. Or: the Blessed One is a partaker of robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites as support for the sick, thus he is the Blessed One. Or: the Blessed One is a partaker of the taste of the goal, the taste of the Dhamma, the taste of liberation, of the higher virtue, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom, thus he is the Blessed One. Or: the Blessed One is a partaker of the four jhānas, the four boundless states, and the four formless attainments, thus he is the Blessed One. Or: the Blessed One is a partaker of the eight liberations, the eight bases of overcoming, and the nine successive dwelling attainments, thus he is the Blessed One. Or: the Blessed One is a partaker of the ten developments of perception, the ten kasiṇa attainments, the concentration (samādhi) of mindfulness of breathing (ānāpānasati), and the attainment of [contemplation of] the foul, thus he is the Blessed One. Or: the Blessed One is a partaker of the four establishments of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna), the four right strivings, the four bases of spiritual power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga), and the noble eightfold path (magga), thus he is the Blessed One. Or: the Blessed One is a partaker of the ten Tathāgata powers, the four intrepidities, the four analytic insights, the six superknowledges, and the six Buddha-qualities, thus he is the Blessed One. "Blessed One": this name was not made by a mother, not made by a father, not made by a brother, not made by a sister, not made by friends and companions, not made by kinsmen and blood relations, not made by ascetics and brahmins, not made by deities. This name pertains to the culmination of liberation; it is a designation realized by the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, at the foot of the Bodhi tree together with the attainment of the knowledge (ñāṇa) of omniscience — namely, "the Blessed One."
**"Having understanding, one should stop entirely [the notion] 'I am'"**: "understanding" (mantā) is a term for wisdom — the wisdom which is understanding … non-delusion, investigation of dhammas, right view. "I am": regarding form there is the conceit 'I am,' the desire 'I am,' the latent tendency 'I am'; regarding feeling (vedanā), perception, volitional formations, and consciousness there is the conceit 'I am,' the desire 'I am,' the latent tendency 'I am.' **"'The root of what is reckoned as proliferation,' said the Blessed One, '…having understanding, one should stop entirely [the notion] "I am"'"** means: with understanding one should stop entirely, block, cause to cease, calm, bring to an end, and tranquilize the root of what is reckoned as proliferation and the conceit 'I am.' Hence: "'The root of what is reckoned as proliferation,' said the Blessed One, '…having understanding, one should stop entirely [the notion] "I am."'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.