[238] "Bhikkhus, I do not say that the attainment of final knowledge (aññā) comes about all at once, at the very outset. Rather, bhikkhus, the attainment of final knowledge comes about through gradual training, gradual action, gradual practice. And how, bhikkhus, does the attainment of final knowledge come about through gradual training, gradual action, gradual practice? Here, bhikkhus, one in whom faith has arisen approaches; approaching, he attends closely; attending closely, he lends an ear; having lent an ear, he hears the Dhamma; having heard the Dhamma, he retains it; he examines the meaning of the teachings he has retained; as he examines the meaning, the teachings gain his reflective acceptance; when there is reflective acceptance of the teachings, desire (chanda) is born; with desire born, he makes an effort; having made an effort, he weighs up; having weighed up, he strives; being resolute, he realizes the supreme truth with the body, and, penetrating it with wisdom, he sees it.
Bhikkhus, there has not been even that faith; there has not been even that approaching, bhikkhus; there has not been even that close attendance, bhikkhus; there has not been even that lending of ear, bhikkhus; there has not been even that hearing of the Dhamma, bhikkhus; there has not been even that retention of the Dhamma, bhikkhus; there has not been even that examination of the meaning, bhikkhus; there has not been even that reflective acceptance of the teachings, bhikkhus; there has not been even that desire, bhikkhus; there has not been even that effort, bhikkhus; there has not been even that weighing up, bhikkhus; there has not been even that striving, bhikkhus. You have gone astray, bhikkhus; you are practicing wrongly, bhikkhus. How far, bhikkhus, have these foolish men strayed from this Dhamma and Discipline!"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.