[300] Therein, Sandaka, a wise person reflects thus: 'This worthy teacher holds such a doctrine and such a view: "There is no cause, no condition, for the defilement (saṅkilesa) of beings; without cause, without condition, beings are defiled. There is no cause, no condition, for the purification of beings; without cause, without condition, beings are purified. There is no power, there is no energy, there is no strength of man, there is no exertion of man; all sentient beings, all living creatures, all beings, all souls are without mastery, without power, without energy; molded by destiny, by circumstance, and by nature, they experience pleasure and pain in the six classes of birth (abhijāti)." If the word of this worthy teacher is true, then what I have not done here counts as done; what I have not lived here counts as lived. Both of us here stand exactly equal, having attained recluseship (sāmañña) alike—though I do not say, "Both of us, without cause, without condition, shall be purified." Superfluous, then, is this worthy teacher's nakedness, shaven head, exertion in squatting, and tearing out of hair and beard, seeing that I—dwelling at home in a bed crowded with children, enjoying sandalwood of Kāsi, wearing garlands, scents, and unguents, accepting gold and silver—shall share exactly the same destiny as this worthy teacher in the world to come. Knowing what, seeing what, shall I live the holy life (brahmacariya) under this teacher? This is a living that is no holy life.' Having understood this, he turns away disenchanted and departs from that holy life. This, Sandaka, is the third living that is no holy life declared by that Blessed One who knows and sees, the Arahant, the Fully Self-Awakened One, wherein a wise person would, so far as he is able, not live the holy life; and, if living it, would not accomplish the true way, the wholesome Dhamma.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.