[245] When the wanderer Vacchagotta had sat down to one side, he said this to the Blessed One: "How is it, good Gotama — does the worthy Gotama hold this view (diṭṭhi): 'The world is eternal; this alone is true, anything else is vain'?"
"Vaccha, I do not hold the view: 'The world is eternal; this alone is true, anything else is vain.'"
"Then, good Gotama, does the worthy Gotama hold this view: 'The world is not eternal; this alone is true, anything else is vain'?"
"Vaccha, I do not hold the view: 'The world is not eternal; this alone is true, anything else is vain.'"
"How is it, good Gotama — does the worthy Gotama hold this view: 'The world is finite; this alone is true, anything else is vain'?"
"Vaccha, I do not hold the view: 'The world is finite; this alone is true, anything else is vain.'"
"Then, good Gotama, does the worthy Gotama hold this view: 'The world is infinite; this alone is true, anything else is vain'?"
"Vaccha, I do not hold the view: 'The world is infinite; this alone is true, anything else is vain.'"
"How is it, good Gotama — does the worthy Gotama hold this view: 'The soul (jīva) is the same as the body; this alone is true, anything else is vain'?"
"Vaccha, I do not hold the view: 'The soul is the same as the body; this alone is true, anything else is vain.'"
"Then, good Gotama, does the worthy Gotama hold this view: 'The soul is one thing, the body another; this alone is true, anything else is vain'?"
"Vaccha, I do not hold the view: 'The soul is one thing, the body another; this alone is true, anything else is vain.'"
"How is it, good Gotama — does the worthy Gotama hold this view: 'The Tathāgata exists after death; this alone is true, anything else is vain'?"
"Vaccha, I do not hold the view: 'The Tathāgata exists after death; this alone is true, anything else is vain.'"
"Then, good Gotama, does the worthy Gotama hold this view: 'The Tathāgata does not exist after death; this alone is true, anything else is vain'?"
"Vaccha, I do not hold the view: 'The Tathāgata does not exist after death; this alone is true, anything else is vain.'"
"How is it, good Gotama — does the worthy Gotama hold this view: 'The Tathāgata both exists and does not exist after death; this alone is true, anything else is vain'?"
"Vaccha, I do not hold the view: 'The Tathāgata both exists and does not exist after death; this alone is true, anything else is vain.'"
"Then, good Gotama, does the worthy Gotama hold this view: 'The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death; this alone is true, anything else is vain'?"
"Vaccha, I do not hold the view: 'The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death; this alone is true, anything else is vain.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.