At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāketa, in Kāḷaka’s monastery. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sākete viharati kāḷakārāme. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants!” “bhikkhavo”ti.

“Venerable sir,” they replied. “Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this: Bhagavā etadavoca—

“In this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—whatever is seen, heard, thought, known, attained, sought, and explored by the mind: that I know. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, sadevakassa lokassa samārakassa sabrahmakassa sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ mutaṁ viññātaṁ pattaṁ pariyesitaṁ anuvicaritaṁ manasā, tamahaṁ jānāmi.

In this world—with its gods, Māras, and Divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—whatever is seen, heard, thought, known, attained, sought, and explored by the mind: that I have insight into. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, sadevakassa lokassa samārakassa sabrahmakassa sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ mutaṁ viññātaṁ pattaṁ pariyesitaṁ anuvicaritaṁ manasā, tamahaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ. That has been known by a Realized One, but a Realized One is not subject to it. Taṁ tathāgatassa viditaṁ, taṁ tathāgato na upaṭṭhāsi.

If I were to say that ‘I do not know … the world with its gods’, I would be lying. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, sadevakassa lokassa samārakassa sabrahmakassa sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya diṭṭhaṁ sutaṁ mutaṁ viññātaṁ pattaṁ pariyesitaṁ anuvicaritaṁ manasā, tamahaṁ na jānāmīti vadeyyaṁ, taṁ mamassa musā.

If I were to say that ‘I both know and do not know … the world with its gods’, that would be just the same. Yaṁ, bhikkhave …pe… tamahaṁ jānāmi ca na ca jānāmīti vadeyyaṁ, tampassa tādisameva.

If I were to say that ‘I neither know nor do not know … the world with its gods’, that would be my fault. Yaṁ, bhikkhave …pe… tamahaṁ neva jānāmi na na jānāmīti vadeyyaṁ, taṁ mamassa kali.

So a Realized One sees what is to be seen, but does not conceive what is seen, does not conceive what is unseen, does not conceive what is to be seen, and does not conceive a seer. Iti kho, bhikkhave, tathāgato daṭṭhā daṭṭhabbaṁ, diṭṭhaṁ na maññati, adiṭṭhaṁ na maññati, daṭṭhabbaṁ na maññati, daṭṭhāraṁ na maññati; He hears what is to be heard, but does not conceive what is heard, does not conceive what is unheard, does not conceive what is to be heard, and does not conceive a hearer. sutvā sotabbaṁ, sutaṁ na maññati, asutaṁ na maññati, sotabbaṁ na maññati, sotāraṁ na maññati; He thinks what is to be thought, but does not conceive what is thought, does not conceive what is not thought, does not conceive what is to be thought, and does not conceive a thinker. mutvā motabbaṁ, mutaṁ na maññati, amutaṁ na maññati, motabbaṁ na maññati, motāraṁ na maññati; He knows what is to be known, but does not conceive what is known, does not conceive what is unknown, does not conceive what is to be known, and does not conceive a knower. viññatvā viññātabbaṁ, viññātaṁ na maññati, aviññātaṁ na maññati, viññātabbaṁ na maññati, viññātāraṁ na maññati.

Since a Realized One is unaffected in the midst of things able to be seen, heard, thought, and known, he is the unaffected one. Iti kho, bhikkhave, tathāgato diṭṭhasutamutaviññātabbesu dhammesu tādīyeva tādī. And I say that there is no better or finer poise than this. ‘Tamhā ca pana tādimhā añño tādī uttaritaro vā paṇītataro vā natthī’ti vadāmīti.

Such a one does not take anything Yaṁ kiñci diṭṭhaṁva sutaṁ mutaṁ vā, seen, heard, or thought to be ultimately true or false. Ajjhositaṁ saccamutaṁ paresaṁ; But others get attached, thinking it’s the truth, Na tesu tādī sayasaṁvutesu, limited by their preconceptions. Saccaṁ musā vāpi paraṁ daheyya.

Since they’ve seen this dart Etañca sallaṁ paṭikacca disvā, to which people are attached and cling, Ajjhositā yattha pajā visattā; saying, ‘I know, I see, that’s how it is’, Jānāmi passāmi tatheva etaṁ, the Realized Ones have no attachments.” Ajjhositaṁ natthi tathāgatānan”ti.

Catutthaṁ.