1At Sāvatthī.

Then a brahmin cosmologist went up to the Buddha … Seated to one side he said to the Buddha:

2“Master Gotama, does all exist?”

“‘All exists’: this is the oldest cosmology, brahmin.”

3“Then does all not exist?”

“‘All doesn’t exist’: this is the second cosmology.

4“Well, is all a unity?”

“‘All is a unity’: this is the third cosmology.

5“Then is all a plurality?”

“‘All is a plurality’: this is the fourth cosmology.

6Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One teaches by the middle way: ‘Ignorance is a condition for choices.

Choices are a condition for consciousness. … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. When ignorance fades away and ceases with nothing left over, choices cease. When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.’”

7When he said this, the brahmin cosmologist said to the Buddha: “Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

1Sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati.

Atha kho lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā … pe … ekamantaṁ nisinno kho lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: 

2"Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sabbamatthī"ti? "‘Sabbamatthī’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, jeṭṭhametaṁ lokāyataṁ".

3"Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, sabbaṁ natthī"ti?

"‘Sabbaṁ natthī’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, dutiyametaṁ lokāyataṁ".

4"Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sabbamekattan"ti?

"‘Sabbamekattan’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, tatiyametaṁ lokāyataṁ".

5"Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, sabbaṁ puthuttan"ti?

"‘Sabbaṁ puthuttan’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, catutthametaṁ lokāyataṁ.

6Ete te, brāhmaṇa, ubho ante anupāgamma majjhena tathāgato dhammaṁ deseti: ‘avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;

saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ … pe … evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho … pe … evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī’"ti.

7Evaṁ vutte, lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.