18.
The Discourse on the Truth-finder Neither Exists Nor Does Not Exist
223.
At Sāvatthī.
"When what exists, monks, clinging to what, having clung to what, does such a view arise:
'The Truth-finder neither exists nor does not exist after death'?"
"The teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir, etc.
"When matter exists, monks, clinging to matter, having clung to matter, such a view arises:
'The Truth-finder neither exists nor does not exist after death.' Etc.
"What do you think, monks, is materiality permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir." Etc. subject to change, would such a view arise by non-clinging to that: 'The Truth-finder neither exists nor does not exist after death'?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognised, attained, sought after, pondered over by the mind, is that too permanent or impermanent?" "Impermanent, venerable sir." "But what is impermanent, is that suffering or happiness?" "Suffering, venerable sir." "But what is impermanent, suffering, subject to change, would such a view arise by non-clinging to that: 'The Truth-finder neither exists nor does not exist after death'?" "No, Venerable Sir."
"When, monks, for a noble disciple uncertainty regarding these states has been abandoned, and his uncertainty regarding suffering has been abandoned, and his uncertainty regarding the origin of suffering has been abandoned, and his uncertainty regarding the cessation of suffering has been abandoned, and his uncertainty regarding the practice leading to the cessation of suffering has been abandoned - this is called, monks, a noble disciple who is a stream-enterer, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment." The eighteenth.