[1086] P. Should it not be said that dependent origination (paṭiccasamuppāda) is unconditioned (asaṅkhata)?
S. Yes.
P. But was it not said by the Blessed One: "Bhikkhus, with birth as condition there is aging and death. Whether Tathāgatas arise or Tathāgatas do not arise, that element (dhātu) still persists — the stability of the Dhamma (dhammaṭṭhitatā), the fixed course of the Dhamma (dhammaniyāmatā), specific conditionality (idappaccayatā). The Tathāgata fully awakens to that and penetrates it; having fully awakened to it and penetrated it, he declares it, teaches it, makes it known, establishes it, discloses it, analyzes it, and makes it plain, and he says, 'See! Bhikkhus, with birth as condition there is aging and death.' Bhikkhus, with existence as condition there is birth … Bhikkhus, with ignorance as condition there are volitional formations. Whether Tathāgatas arise or Tathāgatas do not arise, that element still persists … and he says, 'See! Bhikkhus, with ignorance as condition there are volitional formations.' Thus, bhikkhus, that which therein is suchness (tathatā), non-falseness (avitathatā), not-otherwiseness (anaññathatā), specific conditionality — this, bhikkhus, is called dependent origination" — is there indeed such a discourse (suttanta)?
S. Yes.
P. If so, then dependent origination is unconditioned.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.