[425] "Then, Aggivessana, this occurred to me: 'Whatever ascetics or brahmins in the past have experienced painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings (vedanā) arising from exertion, this is the utmost; there is none beyond this. Whatever ascetics or brahmins in the future will experience painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings arising from exertion, this is the utmost; there is none beyond this. Whatever ascetics or brahmins at present experience painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings arising from exertion, this is the utmost; there is none beyond this. Yet by this acute practice of austerities I do not attain any distinction in knowledge (ñāṇa) and vision, surpassing the human state, worthy of the noble ones. Could there be another path to awakening?'
"Then, Aggivessana, this occurred to me: 'I recall that, while my father the Sakyan was occupied with work, I sat in the cool shade of a rose-apple tree, and—quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states—entered upon and dwelt in the first absorption (jhāna), accompanied by thought (vitakka) and examination (vicāra), with rapture and bliss born of seclusion. Could that be the path to awakening?' Then, Aggivessana, following upon that memory, there arose in me the consciousness: 'That indeed is the path to awakening.'
"Then, Aggivessana, this occurred to me: 'Why am I afraid of that pleasure—a pleasure that is apart from sensual pleasures and apart from unwholesome states?' Then, Aggivessana, this occurred to me: 'I am not afraid of that pleasure, which is apart from sensual pleasures and apart from unwholesome states.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.