[121] "Householders, there are some ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine, such a view: 'There is no complete cessation of existence (bhavanirodha).' And, householders, there are some ascetics and brahmins whose doctrine is directly opposed to those very ascetics and brahmins; they say: 'There is complete cessation of existence.' What do you think, householders — do not these ascetics and brahmins hold doctrines directly opposed to one another?"
"So it is, venerable sir."
"Herein, householders, a wise man reflects thus: 'As for those honorable ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine, such a view: "There is no complete cessation of existence" — this I have not seen. And as for those honorable ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine, such a view: "There is complete cessation of existence" — this I have not known. If I, not knowing and not seeing, were to take one side and declare: "This alone is true; anything else is vain," that would not be fitting for me. If the word of those honorable ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine, such a view: "There is no complete cessation of existence" is true, then this is possible: my rebirth among those gods who are formless, made of perception, will be incontrovertible (apaṇṇaka). But if the word of those honorable ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine, such a view: "There is complete cessation of existence" is true, then this is possible: I shall attain final Nibbāna (parinibbāna) in this very life. The view of those honorable ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine, such a view: "There is no complete cessation of existence" is close to lust, close to bondage, close to delighting, close to holding, close to clinging; but the view of those honorable ascetics and brahmins who hold such a doctrine, such a view: "There is complete cessation of existence" is close to non-lust, close to non-bondage, close to non-delighting, close to non-holding, close to non-clinging.' Having reflected thus, he practices simply for disenchantment with existences, for dispassion toward them, for their cessation."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.