8.
The Discourse on Several Monks
81.
Then several monks approached the Blessed One, etc.
Seated to one side, those monks said this to the Blessed One -
"Here, venerable sir, heterodox wandering ascetics ask us thus -
'For what purpose, friend, is the holy life lived under the ascetic Gotama?'
Thus asked, venerable sir, we answer those heterodox wandering ascetics thus -
'For the full understanding of suffering, friend, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.'
Are we, venerable sir, thus asked and thus answering, ones who speak what has been said by the Blessed One, and do we not misrepresent the Blessed One with what is untrue, and do we explain what is in conformity with the Teaching, and does no reasonable counter-argument come to a blameworthy position?"
"Truly you, monks, thus asked and thus answering, are ones who speak what has been said by me, and you do not misrepresent me with what is untrue, and you explain what is in conformity with the Teaching, and no reasonable counter-argument comes to a blameworthy position. For, monks, for the full understanding of suffering the holy life is lived under me. But if, monks, heterodox wandering ascetics were to ask you thus - 'But which, friend, is that suffering, for the full understanding of which the holy life is lived under the ascetic Gotama?' Thus asked, you, monks, should answer those heterodox wandering ascetics thus - 'The eye, friend, is suffering; for the full understanding of that, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One. Forms, etc. Whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as condition - whether pleasant or unpleasant or neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant - that too is suffering. For the full understanding of that, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One, etc. The mind is suffering, etc. whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition - whether pleasant or unpleasant or neither-unpleasant-nor-pleasant - that too is suffering. For the full understanding of that, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One. This, friend, is that suffering; for the full understanding of that, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.' Thus asked, you, monks, should answer those heterodox wandering ascetics thus." The eighth.