[411] "How indeed could they not have arisen for me, Aggivessana? Here, Aggivessana, before my full awakening, while I was still an unawakened Bodhisatta, this thought occurred to me: 'The household life is confining, a path of dust; the going forth is open air. It is not easy for one dwelling in a house to live the holy life (brahmacariya) utterly complete, utterly pure, polished like a conch shell. Suppose I were to shave off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and go forth from the home life into homelessness.' So, Aggivessana, at a later time, while still young, black-haired, endowed with the blessing of youth, in the first stage of life — while my mother and father, unwilling, wept with tearful faces — I shaved off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and went forth from the home life into homelessness.
"Having gone forth thus, seeking what is wholesome, searching for the unsurpassed supreme state of peace, I approached Āḷāra Kālāma; having approached, I said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'Friend Kālāma, I wish to live the holy life in this Dhamma and Discipline.' When this was said, Aggivessana, Āḷāra Kālāma said to me: 'Let the venerable one stay. This Dhamma is such that a wise man may in no long time realize for himself with direct knowledge (abhiññā) his own teacher's doctrine, and enter upon and dwell in it.' So, Aggivessana, in no long time — quickly indeed — I mastered that Dhamma. Then, Aggivessana, by that much — by mere lip-reciting and mere repetition of what was spoken — I professed the doctrine of knowledge and the doctrine of the elders, and I claimed, 'I know, I see' — both I myself and others.
"Then, Aggivessana, this thought occurred to me: 'It is not by mere faith alone that Āḷāra Kālāma declares of this Dhamma: "Having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, I enter upon and dwell in it." Surely Āḷāra Kālāma dwells knowing and seeing this Dhamma.' Then, Aggivessana, I approached Āḷāra Kālāma; having approached, I said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'Friend Kālāma, to what extent do you declare this Dhamma, having realized it for yourself with direct knowledge and entered upon it?' When this was said, Aggivessana, Āḷāra Kālāma declared the base of nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana).
"Then, Aggivessana, this thought occurred to me: 'Not only Āḷāra Kālāma has faith; I too have faith. Not only Āḷāra Kālāma has energy (vīriya); I too have energy. Not only Āḷāra Kālāma has mindfulness (sati); I too have mindfulness. Not only Āḷāra Kālāma has concentration (samādhi); I too have concentration. Not only Āḷāra Kālāma has wisdom; I too have wisdom. Suppose I were to strive for the realization of that Dhamma of which Āḷāra Kālāma declares: "Having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, I enter upon and dwell in it."' So, Aggivessana, in no long time — quickly indeed — I realized that Dhamma for myself with direct knowledge and entered upon and dwelt in it.
"Then, Aggivessana, I approached Āḷāra Kālāma; having approached, I said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'Friend Kālāma, is it to this extent that you declare this Dhamma, having realized it for yourself with direct knowledge and entered upon it?' 'It is to this extent, friend, that I declare this Dhamma, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge and entered upon it.' 'I too, friend, to this extent have realized this Dhamma for myself with direct knowledge and enter upon and dwell in it.'
"'It is a gain for us, friend, it is well gained for us, friend, that we see such a venerable one as a fellow in the holy life! Thus, the Dhamma that I declare, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge and entered upon it — that Dhamma you have realized for yourself with direct knowledge and enter upon and dwell in; the Dhamma that you have realized for yourself with direct knowledge and enter upon and dwell in — that Dhamma I declare, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge and entered upon it. Thus the Dhamma that I know, that Dhamma you know; the Dhamma that you know, that Dhamma I know. Thus as I am, so are you; as you are, so am I. Come now, friend, let the two of us dwell together and lead this community.' Thus, Aggivessana, Āḷāra Kālāma, my teacher, set me, his pupil, on the very same level as himself and honored me with lofty honor.
"Then, Aggivessana, this thought occurred to me: 'This Dhamma does not lead to disenchantment, nor to dispassion, nor to cessation (nirodha), nor to peace, nor to direct knowledge, nor to full awakening, nor to Nibbāna, but only as far as rebirth in the base of nothingness.' So, Aggivessana, not being satisfied with that Dhamma, disenchanted with that Dhamma, I departed."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.