Chapter One

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, there are these three elements.

What three?

The elements of form, formlessness, and cessation.

These are the three elements.”

The Buddha spoke this matter.

On this it is said:

“Comprehending the element of form,

not stuck in the formless,

those who are released in cessation,

they are conquerors of death.

Having directly experienced <j>the element free of death,

free of attachments;

having realized relinquishment

of attachments, the undefiled

fully awakened Buddha teaches

the sorrowless, stainless state.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.