Tatiyanānātitthiyasuttaṃ [Ud 6.6, PTS 70]

6.

The Third Discourse on Those of Various Religions

56. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time many ascetics, brahmins and wandering ascetics of various sects were dwelling at Sāvatthī, of different views, of different beliefs, of different preferences, dependent on different views as their support.

There are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "The self and the world are eternal, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." But there are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "The self and the world are non-eternal, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." There are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "The self and the world are both eternal and non-eternal, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." But there are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "The self and the world are neither eternal nor non-eternal, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." There are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "The self and the world are self-made, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." But there are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "The self and the world are made by another, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." There are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "The self and the world are both self-made and made by another, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." But there are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "The self and the world are neither self-made nor made by another but fortuitously arisen, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." There are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "Pleasure and pain are eternal, the self and the world, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." But there are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "Pleasure and pain are non-eternal, the self and the world, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." There are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "Pleasure and pain are both eternal and non-eternal, the self and the world, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." But there are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "Pleasure and pain are neither eternal nor non-eternal, the self and the world, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." There are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "Pleasure and pain are self-made, the self and the world, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." But there are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "Pleasure and pain are made by another, the self and the world, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." There are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "Pleasure and pain are both self-made and made by another, the self and the world, only this is the truth, anything else is vain." But there are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: "Pleasure and pain are neither self-made nor made by another but fortuitously arisen, the self and the world, only this is the truth, anything else is vain."

They dwell quarrelling, disputing, engaging in contention, wounding each other with verbal daggers - "The teaching is like this, the teaching is not like that; the teaching is not like that, the teaching is like this."

Then several monks, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for almsfood. Having walked for almsfood in Sāvatthī, after the meal, having returned from their alms round, they approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Blessed One -

"Here, venerable sir, many ascetics, brahmins, and wandering ascetics of various sects are dwelling at Sāvatthī, of different views, of different beliefs, of different preferences, dependent on different views as their support.

"There are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine and view as this: 'The self and the world are eternal, only this is the truth, anything else is vain.’ Etc. They are quarrelling, disputing, engaging in contention, wounding each other with verbal daggers, they dwell thus - 'The teaching is such, the teaching is not such; the teaching is not such, the teaching is such.'"

"Heterodox wandering ascetics, monks, are blind, without eyes. They do not know benefit, they do not know harm, they do not know the Teaching, they do not know what is not the Teaching. They, not knowing benefit, not knowing harm, not knowing the Teaching, not knowing what is not the Teaching, are quarrelling, disputing, engaging in contention, wounding each other with verbal daggers, they dwell thus - 'The teaching is such, the teaching is not such; the teaching is not such, the teaching is such.'"

Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, at that time uttered this inspired utterance -