[305] "Even though the worthy Kassapa says this, still in this matter I hold the view: 'There is no other world (paro loko), there are no spontaneously reborn beings (sattā opapātikā), there is no fruit or result (vipāka) of deeds well done and ill done.'"
"But, chieftain (rājañña), is there a method (pariyāya) by which you hold this view: 'There is no other world, there are no spontaneously reborn beings, there is no fruit or result of deeds well done and ill done'?"
"There is, worthy Kassapa, a method by which I hold this view: 'There is no other world, there are no spontaneously reborn beings, there is no fruit or result of deeds well done and ill done.'"
"How so, chieftain?"
"Worthy Kassapa, I have friends and companions, relatives and kinsmen here who refrain from killing living beings, refrain from taking what is not given, refrain from misconduct in sensual pleasures, refrain from false speech, refrain from divisive speech, refrain from harsh speech, refrain from idle chatter, who are without covetousness, whose minds are without ill will, and who hold right view. Some time later they become ill, suffering, gravely sick. When I know, 'They will not now recover from this illness,' I go to them and say this: 'Sirs, there are certain ascetics and brahmins who hold this doctrine, this view: "Those who refrain from killing living beings, refrain from taking what is not given, refrain from misconduct in sensual pleasures, refrain from false speech, refrain from divisive speech, refrain from harsh speech, refrain from idle chatter, who are without covetousness, whose minds are without ill will, and who hold right view — with the breaking up of the body, after death, they are reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world." You, sirs, refrain from killing living beings, refrain from taking what is not given, refrain from misconduct in sensual pleasures, refrain from false speech, refrain from divisive speech, refrain from harsh speech, refrain from idle chatter, are without covetousness, have minds without ill will, and hold right view. If the word of those ascetics and brahmins is true, then you, sirs, with the breaking up of the body, after death, will be reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world. If, sirs, with the breaking up of the body, after death, you should be reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world, then come and tell me: "So there is another world, there are spontaneously reborn beings, there is fruit and result of deeds well done and ill done." You, sirs, are trustworthy and reliable for me; whatever is seen by you will be just as if seen by myself.' Having agreed, saying 'Very well,' they neither come and tell me, nor do they send a messenger. This too, worthy Kassapa, is the method by which I hold this view: 'There is no other world, there are no spontaneously reborn beings, there is no fruit or result of deeds well done and ill done.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.