The Buddha:] “So what difference, what distinction, what distinguishing factor is there between one rightly self-awakened and a monk discernment-released?
[A group of monks:] “For us, lord, the teachings have the Blessed One as their root, their guide, & their arbitrator. It would be good if the Blessed One himself would explicate the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the monks will remember it.” “In that case, monks, listen & pay close attention. I will speak.” “As you say, lord,” the monks responded. The Blessed One said, “The Tathagata — the worthy one, the rightly self-awakened one — is the one who gives rise to the path (previously) unarisen, who engenders the path (previously) unengendered, who points out the path (previously) not pointed out. He knows the path, is expert in the path, is adept at the path. And his disciples now keep following the path and afterwards become endowed with the path. “This is the difference, this the distinction, this the distinguishing between one rightly self-awakened and a monk discernment-released.” — SN 22.
[A group of monks:] “For us, lord, the teachings have the Blessed One as their root, their guide, & their arbitrator. It would be good if the Blessed One himself would explicate the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the monks will remember it.” “In that case, monks, listen & pay close attention. I will speak.” “As you say, lord,” the monks responded. The Blessed One said, “The Tathagata — the worthy one, the rightly self-awakened one — is the one who gives rise to the path (previously) unarisen, who engenders the path (previously) unengendered, who points out the path (previously) not pointed out. He knows the path, is expert in the path, is adept at the path. And his disciples now keep following the path and afterwards become endowed with the path.
