[489] "Prince (rājakumāra), before my awakening, while I was still an unawakened Bodhisatta, it occurred to me too: 'Happiness is not to be attained through happiness; happiness is to be attained through suffering (dukkha).' Then, Prince, at a later time, while still a young man, black-haired, endowed with the blessing of youth, in the first stage of life, though my mother and father were unwilling and wept with tearful faces, I shaved off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and went forth from the household life into homelessness.
Having thus gone forth, seeking what is wholesome, searching for the unsurpassed state of sublime peace, I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and, having approached, said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'Friend Kālāma, I wish to live the holy life (brahmacariya) in this Dhamma and Discipline.' When this was said, Prince, Āḷāra Kālāma said to me: 'Let the venerable one stay. This Dhamma is such that a wise man can, before long, enter upon and dwell in his own teacher's doctrine, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge (abhiññā).' And, Prince, before long, quickly indeed, I mastered that Dhamma. So far as mere movement of the lips and mere repetition of what had been spoken went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge and the doctrine of the elders, and I claimed, 'I know, I see' — both I and others.
Then, Prince, it occurred to me: 'It is not through mere faith (saddhā) alone that Āḷāra Kālāma declares: "Having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, I enter upon and dwell in this Dhamma." Surely Āḷāra Kālāma dwells knowing and seeing this Dhamma.' Then, Prince, I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and, having approached, said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'Friend Kālāma, to what extent do you declare that, having realized this Dhamma for yourself with direct knowledge, you have entered upon it?' When this was said, Prince, Āḷāra Kālāma declared the base of nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana).
Then, Prince, it occurred to me: 'It is not Āḷāra Kālāma alone who has faith; I too have faith. It is not Āḷāra Kālāma alone who has energy (vīriya); I too have energy. It is not Āḷāra Kālāma alone who has mindfulness (sati) … concentration (samādhi) … wisdom (paññā); I too have wisdom. Suppose I were to strive for the realization of that Dhamma of which Āḷāra Kālāma declares: "Having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, I enter upon and dwell in it."' And, Prince, before long, quickly indeed, having realized that Dhamma for myself with direct knowledge, I entered upon and dwelt in it.
Then, Prince, I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and, having approached, said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'Friend Kālāma, is it to this extent that you declare that, having realized this Dhamma for yourself with direct knowledge, you have entered upon it?'
'It is to this extent, friend, that I declare that, having realized this Dhamma for myself with direct knowledge, I have entered upon it.'
'I too, friend, to this extent, having realized this Dhamma for myself with direct knowledge, enter upon and dwell in it.'
'It is a gain for us, friend; it is well gained by us, friend, that we see such a venerable one as a companion in the holy life. Thus, the Dhamma which I declare that, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, I have entered upon — that Dhamma you dwell in, having realized it for yourself with direct knowledge and entered upon it; the Dhamma which you dwell in, having realized it for yourself with direct knowledge and entered upon it — that Dhamma I declare that, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, I have entered upon. Thus, the Dhamma that I know, that Dhamma you know; the Dhamma that you know, that Dhamma I know. Thus, as I am, so are you; as you are, so am I. Come now, friend, let the two of us dwell together and guide this community.'
Thus, Prince, Āḷāra Kālāma, being my teacher, set me, his pupil, on a footing fully equal to himself, and honored me with lofty honor. Then, Prince, it occurred to me: 'This Dhamma does not lead to disenchantment (nibbidā), nor to dispassion (virāga), nor to cessation, nor to peace, nor to direct knowledge, nor to awakening, nor to Nibbāna, but only so far as rebirth in the base of nothingness.' So, Prince, not being satisfied with that Dhamma, disenchanted with that Dhamma, I departed."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.