[412] "And so, Aggivessana, searching for what is wholesome, seeking the unsurpassed state of sublime peace, I approached Uddaka Rāmaputta, and having approached, I said to Uddaka Rāmaputta: 'Friend Rāma, I wish to live the spiritual life (brahmacariya) in this Dhamma and Discipline.' When this was said, Aggivessana, Uddaka Rāmaputta said to me: 'Let the venerable one stay. This teaching is such that a wise man would in no long time enter upon and dwell in his own teacher's doctrine, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge (abhiññā).' And in no long time, Aggivessana, quite quickly, I mastered that teaching. So far as mere movement of the lips and mere repetition went, I could speak the doctrine of knowledge and the doctrine of the elders, and I claimed, 'I know, I see' — both I and others.
Then, Aggivessana, it occurred to me: 'It is not through mere faith (saddhā) alone that Rāma declares of this teaching, "Having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, I enter upon and dwell in it." Surely Rāma dwells knowing and seeing this teaching.' Then, Aggivessana, I approached Uddaka Rāmaputta, and having approached, I said to Uddaka Rāmaputta: 'To what extent, friend Rāma, do you declare of this teaching that, having realized it for yourself with direct knowledge, you have entered upon it?' When this was said, Aggivessana, Uddaka Rāmaputta declared the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana).
Then, Aggivessana, it occurred to me: 'It was not Rāma alone who had faith; I too have faith. It was not Rāma alone who had energy (vīriya); I too have energy. It was not Rāma alone who had mindfulness (sati); I too have mindfulness. It was not Rāma alone who had concentration (samādhi); I too have concentration. It was not Rāma alone who had wisdom (paññā); I too have wisdom. Suppose I were to strive for the realization of that teaching of which Rāma declares, "Having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, I enter upon and dwell in it."' And in no long time, Aggivessana, quite quickly, I entered upon and dwelt in that teaching, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge.
Then, Aggivessana, I approached Uddaka Rāmaputta, and having approached, I said to Uddaka Rāmaputta: 'Is it to this extent, friend Rāma, that you declare of this teaching that, having realized it for yourself with direct knowledge, you have entered upon it?' — 'It is to this extent, friend, that I declare of this teaching that, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, I have entered upon it.' — 'I too, friend, to this extent have realized this teaching for myself with direct knowledge, and having entered upon it, I dwell in it.'
'It is a gain for us, friend; it is well gained by us, friend, that we see such a venerable one as a fellow in the spiritual life. Thus, the teaching that Rāma, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge and entered upon it, declared — that teaching you, having realized it for yourself with direct knowledge, have entered upon and dwell in. The teaching that you, having realized it for yourself with direct knowledge, have entered upon and dwell in — that teaching Rāma, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge and entered upon it, declared. Thus, the teaching that Rāma knew, that teaching you know; the teaching that you know, that teaching Rāma knew. Thus, as Rāma was, so are you; as you are, so was Rāma. Come now, friend, let the two of us dwell together and lead this community.'
Thus, Aggivessana, Uddaka Rāmaputta, being my fellow in the spiritual life, set me in the very position of a teacher and honored me with lofty honor. Then, Aggivessana, it occurred to me: 'This teaching does not lead to disenchantment, not to dispassion, not to cessation (nirodha), not to peace, not to direct knowledge, not to full awakening, not to Nibbāna, but only as far as rebirth in the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception.' So, Aggivessana, not being satisfied with that teaching, disenchanted with it, I departed."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.