[120] "Householders, there are some ascetics and brahmins who speak thus and hold this view: 'There are no formless states (āruppa) in any way whatsoever.' And, householders, there are some ascetics and brahmins whose doctrine is directly opposed to those very ascetics and brahmins; they say: 'There are formless states in every way.' What do you think, householders — do not these ascetics and brahmins hold doctrines directly opposed to one another?"
"So it is, venerable sir."
"Therein, householders, a wise person reflects thus: 'As for those worthy ascetics and brahmins who speak thus and hold this view: "There are no formless states in any way whatsoever" — this I have not seen. And as for those worthy ascetics and brahmins who speak thus and hold this view: "There are formless states in every way" — this I have not known. If I, not knowing and not seeing, were to take one side and declare: "Only this is true; anything else is hollow," that would not be fitting for me. If the word of those worthy ascetics and brahmins who speak thus and hold this view: "There are no formless states in any way whatsoever" is true, then this is possible: my rebirth among those gods who possess form, mind-made, will be incontrovertible (apaṇṇaka). But if the word of those worthy ascetics and brahmins who speak thus and hold this view: "There are formless states in every way" is true, then this is possible: my rebirth among those gods who are formless, made of perception, will be incontrovertible. Moreover, on account of form there are seen the taking up of clubs and the taking up of weapons, quarrels, contention, disputes, mutual recrimination, malicious speech, and false speech; but this does not exist at all in the formless.' Having reflected thus, he practices simply for disenchantment with forms, for dispassion toward them, and for their cessation."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.