At Sāvatthi.

"For the immature person, bhikkhus, obstructed by ignorance and bound by craving, this body has arisen. Thus, there is this body and the external name-and-form. This duality exists. Dependent on this duality, contact arises through one or another of the six sense bases, leading to the experience of ease and discomfort.

For the wise person, bhikkhus, obstructed by ignorance and bound by craving, this body has arisen. Thus, there is this body and the external name-and-form. This duality exists. Dependent on this duality, contact arises through one or another of the six sense bases, leading to the experience of ease and discomfort.

In this case, bhikkhus, what is the distinction, the disparity, and the difference between the wise and the immature persons?"

"Venerable sir, the Dhamma is rooted in the Blessed One, guided by the Blessed One, and takes refuge in the Blessed One. It is good if the Blessed One would explain the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the bhikkhus will remember it."

"Then, bhikkhus, listen to this and pay close attention, I will speak."

"Yes, venerable sir," the bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

"Bhikkhus, for the immature person, obstructed by ignorance and bound by craving, this body has arisen. That same ignorance has not been abandoned, and that same craving has not been exhausted. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, the immature person has not lived the spiritual life rightly for the ending of suffering. Therefore, after the breakup of the body, the immature person fares on to a new body. Being bound to a body, they are not freed from birth, aging, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair. I say they are not freed from suffering.

Bhikkhus, for the wise person, though obstructed by ignorance and bound by craving, this body has arisen. Yet that same ignorance has been abandoned by the wise person, and that same craving has been exhausted. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, the wise person has lived the spiritual life rightly for the ending of suffering. Therefore, after the breakup of the body, the wise person does not fare on to a new body. Being freed from the body, they are freed from birth, aging, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair. They are freed from suffering."