[120] Now at that time Pukkusa the Mallan (Mallaputta), a disciple of Āḷāra Kālāma, was traveling on the highway from Kusinārā to Pāvā. Pukkusa the Mallan saw the Blessed One seated at the root of a certain tree; and having seen him, he approached the Blessed One, and having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Pukkusa the Mallan said this to the Blessed One: "It is wonderful, venerable sir, it is marvelous, venerable sir, how those gone forth dwell in a peaceful abiding! Formerly, venerable sir, Āḷāra Kālāma, traveling on the highway, stepped off the road and sat down for the day's abiding (divāvihāra) at the root of a certain tree not far off. Then, venerable sir, some five hundred carts passed by, one right after another, close by Āḷāra Kālāma. Then, venerable sir, a certain man, coming along behind that caravan of carts, approached Āḷāra Kālāma, and having approached, he said this to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'Venerable sir, did you see some five hundred carts pass by?' 'No, friend, I did not see them.' 'But, venerable sir, did you hear the sound?' 'No, friend, I did not hear the sound.' 'But, venerable sir, were you asleep?' 'No, friend, I was not asleep.' 'But, venerable sir, were you percipient?' 'Yes, friend.' 'So then, venerable sir, though percipient and awake, you neither saw some five hundred carts passing by, one right after another, nor heard the sound? Why, venerable sir, your outer robe (saṅghāṭi) is covered with dust!' 'Yes, friend.' Then, venerable sir, it occurred to that man: 'It is wonderful indeed, sirs, it is marvelous indeed, sirs, how those gone forth dwell in a peaceful abiding — in that one who is percipient and awake should neither see some five hundred carts passing by, one right after another, nor hear the sound!' And having declared his lofty confidence in Āḷāra Kālāma, he departed."
"What do you think, Pukkusa? Which is more difficult to do, or more difficult to bring about: that one who is percipient and awake should neither see some five hundred carts passing by, one right after another, nor hear the sound; or that one who is percipient and awake should neither see nor hear the sound while the rain is falling, while the sky is rumbling, while flashes of lightning are streaming forth, and while a thunderbolt is cracking?"
"What, venerable sir, could five hundred carts do — or six hundred carts, or seven hundred carts, or eight hundred carts, or nine hundred carts, or ten hundred carts … or a hundred thousand carts? Rather, this alone is more difficult to do and more difficult to bring about: that one who is percipient and awake should neither see nor hear the sound while the rain is falling, while the sky is rumbling, while flashes of lightning are streaming forth, and while a thunderbolt is cracking."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.