Lokāyatikasutta

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

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

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

“Worthy Gotama, does all exist?” “‘All exists’: this is the oldest cosmology, brahmin.”

“Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, sabbaṁ natthī”ti? “‘Sabbaṁ natthī’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, dutiyametaṁ lokāyataṁ”.

“Then does all not exist?” “‘All does not exist’: this is the second cosmology.”

“Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sabbamekattan”ti? “‘Sabbamekattan’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, tatiyametaṁ lokāyataṁ”.

“Well, is all oneness?” “‘All is oneness’: this is the third cosmology.”

“Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, sabbaṁ puthuttan”ti? “‘Sabbaṁ puthuttan’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, catutthametaṁ lokāyataṁ.

“Then is all expansiveness?” “‘All is expansiveness’: this is the fourth cosmology.

Ete te, brāhmaṇa, ubho ante anupagamma 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.

Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One teaches by the middle way: ‘Ignorance is a requirement for choices. Choices are a requirement for consciousness. … That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. When ignorance fades away and ceases no residue left behind, choices cease. When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.’”

Evaṁ vutte, lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti. Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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