知見立知,即無明本;知見無見,斯即涅槃
— 《楞嚴經》
To establish knowledge from knowing is the root of ignorance. To know without attachment to views is nirvana.
– Śūraṅgama Sūtra
「無煩惱人則不生,是故知煩惱為生因。煩惱因緣是無明,無明故,應捨而取,應取而捨。何者應捨?老、病諸苦,因緣煩惱應捨,以少顛倒樂因緣故而取。持戒、禪定、智慧,諸善根本,是涅槃樂因緣,是事應取而捨。
—《大智度論》
Without afflictions, there would be no birth. Therefore afflictions are the cause of birth (and death). The cause of afflictions is ignorance. Due to ignorance, one abandons what should be taken up and takes up what should be abandoned. Aging, sickness, and all sufferings, along with the afflictions that are their causes and conditions, should be abandoned. Yet, one takes them up due to a small amount of deluded pleasure. Upholding precepts, meditative concentration, and wisdom—these roots of goodness are the causes and conditions for the bliss of Nirvana. These should be taken up, yet they are abandoned."
– Treatise on the Perfection of Great Wisdom, scr.80