Mahāvedallasutta

Suttapiṭaka · Majjhimanikāya · Vol. 12 · Section 496

[496] (Mahākoṭṭhita:) "Friend, what can be known by mind-consciousness (manoviññāṇa) that is released from the five faculties and purified?" (Sāriputta:) "Friend, by mind-consciousness that is released from the five faculties and purified, one can know the base of the infinity of space (ākāsānañcāyatana) thus: 'Space is infinite'; one can know the base of the infinity of consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatana) thus: 'Consciousness is infinite'; one can know the base of nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana) thus: 'There is nothing at all.'" (Mahākoṭṭhita:) "But, friend, by what does one know a dhamma that can be known?" (Sāriputta:) "Friend, one knows a dhamma that can be known with the eye of wisdom." (Mahākoṭṭhita:) "But, friend, what is the purpose of wisdom?" (Sāriputta:) "Friend, wisdom has direct knowledge as its purpose, full understanding as its purpose, and abandoning as its purpose."

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.