[283] "Bhikkhus, you might well take hold of that possession (pariggaha) which would be permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, and which would endure the same just like eternity itself. But do you see, bhikkhus, any such possession — a possession that would be permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, and that would endure the same just like eternity itself?"
"No indeed, venerable sir."
"Good, bhikkhus. I too, bhikkhus, do not see any such possession — a possession that would be permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change, and that would endure the same just like eternity itself.
"Bhikkhus, you might well cling to that clinging to a doctrine of self (attavādupādāna), from clinging to which sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair would not arise. But do you see, bhikkhus, any such clinging to a doctrine of self, from clinging to which sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair would not arise?"
"No indeed, venerable sir."
"Good, bhikkhus. I too, bhikkhus, do not see any such clinging to a doctrine of self, from clinging to which sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair would not arise.
"Bhikkhus, you might well rely upon that reliance on a view (diṭṭhinissaya), from relying upon which sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair would not arise. But do you see, bhikkhus, any such reliance on a view, from relying upon which sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair would not arise?"
"No indeed, venerable sir."
"Good, bhikkhus. I too, bhikkhus, do not see any such reliance on a view, from relying upon which sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair would not arise."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.