8.
The Discourse on the Cosmologist
48.
He was dwelling at Sāvatthī.
Then a brahmin who was a worldly philosopher approached the Blessed One... etc.
Seated to one side, the brahmin who was a worldly philosopher said this to the Blessed One -
"What then, Master Gotama, does all exist?" "'All exists', brahmin, this is the first worldly knowledge."
"What then, Master Gotama, does all not exist?" "'All does not exist', brahmin, this is the second worldly knowledge."
"What then, Master Gotama, is all a unity?" "'All is a unity', brahmin, this is the third worldly knowledge."
"What then, Master Gotama, is all a plurality?" "'All is a plurality', brahmin, this is the fourth worldly knowledge."
"Not approaching these two extremes, brahmin, the Truth-finder expounds the Teaching by the middle - 'With ignorance as condition, activities; with activities as condition, consciousness; etc. Thus is the origin of this whole mass of suffering. But from the complete fading away and cessation of ignorance comes the cessation of activities; from the cessation of activities comes the cessation of consciousness; etc. Thus is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering.'"
When this was said, the brahmin who was a worldly philosopher said this to the Blessed One - "Excellent, Master Gotama! Etc. From this day forth, may he remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life." The eighth.