At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

Then a brahmin cosmologist went up to the Buddha … Atha kho lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā …pe… Seated to one side he said to the Buddha: ekamantaṁ nisinno kho lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Worthy Gotama, does all exist?” “Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sabbamatthī”ti?

“‘All exists’: this is the oldest cosmology, brahmin.” “‘Sabbamatthī’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, jeṭṭhametaṁ lokāyataṁ”.

“Then does all not exist?” “Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, sabbaṁ natthī”ti?

“‘All does not exist’: this is the second cosmology. “‘Sabbaṁ natthī’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, dutiyametaṁ lokāyataṁ”.

“Well, is all oneness?” “Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sabbamekattan”ti?

“‘All is oneness’: this is the third cosmology. “‘Sabbamekattan’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, tatiyametaṁ lokāyataṁ”.

“Then is all expansiveness?” “Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, sabbaṁ puthuttan”ti?

“‘All is expansiveness’: this is the fourth cosmology. “‘Sabbaṁ puthuttan’ti kho, brāhmaṇa, catutthametaṁ lokāyataṁ.

Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One teaches by the middle way: Ete te, brāhmaṇa, ubho ante anupagamma majjhena tathāgato dhammaṁ deseti: ‘Ignorance is a requirement for choices. ‘avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;

Choices are a requirement for consciousness. … saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe… That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. When ignorance fades away and ceases with nothing left over, choices cease. Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe… That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.’” evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī’”ti.

When he said this, the brahmin cosmologist said to the Buddha, Evaṁ vutte, lokāyatiko brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! … “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.” ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.