Samyuktagama (Sanskrit fragments) 276.52

276.52

尊者難陀告諸比丘尼：「善哉！善哉！比丘尼！汝於此義應如是觀察：『彼彼法緣生彼彼法，彼彼法緣滅，彼彼生法亦復隨滅、息、沒、寂靜、清涼、真實。』諸姊妹！譬如大樹根、莖、枝、葉，根亦無常，莖、枝、葉皆悉無常。若有說言：『無彼樹根、莖、枝、葉，唯有其影常、恒、住、不變易、安隱者，為等說不？』」

Venerable Nanda said to the nuns, “Good, good! Nuns, you should examine this subject in this way: ‘This or that thing is a condition that produces this or that other thing. When this or that condition ceases, then this or that thing it produced also would as a result cease, stop, disappear, and cool in truth.’ Sisters, take the example of a large tree with impermanent branches, limbs, leaves, and roots. All of its branches, limbs, and leaves are impermanent. Suppose someone says, ‘Without that tree’s branches, limbs, and leaves, its shadow is permanent, eternal, unchanging, and secure.’ Would they be speaking correctly?”