8.
The Second Discourse on Soṇa
50.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
Then Soṇa, a householder's son, approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
To Soṇa, the householder's son, seated to one side, the Blessed One said this:
"Whatever ascetics or brahmins, Soṇa, who do not understand matter, do not understand the origin of matter, do not understand the cessation of matter, do not understand the practice leading to the cessation of matter; do not understand feeling, do not understand the origin of feeling, do not understand the cessation of feeling, do not understand the practice leading to the cessation of feeling; do not understand perception, etc. do not understand activities, do not understand the origin of activities, do not understand the cessation of activities, do not understand the practice leading to the cessation of activities; do not understand consciousness, do not understand the origin of consciousness, do not understand the cessation of consciousness, do not understand the practice leading to the cessation of consciousness. They are not for me, Soṇa, ascetics or brahmins who are considered ascetics among ascetics or considered brahmins among brahmins; and those venerable ones do not dwell having attained the goal of asceticism or the goal of the holy life in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge themselves.
"But whatever ascetics or brahmins, Soṇa, who understand matter, understand the origin of matter, understand the cessation of matter, understand the practice leading to the cessation of matter; understand feeling, etc. understand perception... understand activities... understand consciousness, understand the origin of consciousness, understand the cessation of consciousness, understand the practice leading to the cessation of consciousness. They are for me, Soṇa, ascetics or brahmins who are considered ascetics among ascetics and considered brahmins among brahmins; and those venerable ones dwell having attained the goal of asceticism and the goal of the holy life in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge themselves." The eighth.