[490] "Prince, seeking what is wholesome (kiṃkusalagavesī), searching for the unsurpassed, supreme state of peace (anuttaraṃ santivarapadaṃ), I approached Uddaka Rāmaputta; having approached, I said to Uddaka Rāmaputta: 'Friend Rāma, I wish to live the holy life (brahmacariya) in this Dhamma and Discipline.' When this was said, Prince, Uddaka Rāmaputta said to me: 'Let the venerable one dwell here. This Dhamma is such that a wise man may, before long, enter upon and dwell in it, having realized his own teacher's doctrine for himself through direct knowledge (abhiññā).' And so, Prince, before long, quite quickly, I mastered that Dhamma. To the extent of mere lip-movement, mere recitation of what was recited, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge (ñāṇavāda) and the doctrine of the elders (theravāda), and I claimed 'I know, I see' — both I myself and others.
Then, Prince, it occurred to me: 'It is not through mere faith (saddhā) alone that Rāma declares: "I dwell having entered upon this Dhamma, having realized it for myself through direct knowledge." Surely Rāma dwells knowing and seeing this Dhamma.' Then, Prince, I approached Uddaka Rāmaputta; having approached, I said to Uddaka Rāmaputta: 'Friend Rāma, to what extent do you declare that you have entered upon this Dhamma, having realized it for yourself through direct knowledge?' When this was said, Prince, Uddaka Rāmaputta declared the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana).
Then, Prince, it occurred to me: 'It was not Rāma alone who had faith; I too have faith. It was not Rāma alone who had energy (vīriya) … mindfulness … concentration (samādhi) … wisdom (paññā); I too have wisdom. Suppose I were to strive for the realization of that Dhamma of which Rāma declared: "I dwell having entered upon it, having realized it for myself through direct knowledge."' And so, Prince, before long, quite quickly, I entered upon and dwelt in that Dhamma, having realized it for myself through direct knowledge.
Then, Prince, I approached Uddaka Rāmaputta; having approached, I said to Uddaka Rāmaputta: 'Friend Rāma, is it to this extent that you declared this Dhamma, having realized it for yourself through direct knowledge and entered upon it?'
'It is to this extent, friend, that I declare this Dhamma, having realized it for myself through direct knowledge and entered upon it.'
'I too, friend, dwell to this very extent having entered upon this Dhamma, having realized it for myself through direct knowledge.'
'It is a gain for us, friend, it is well gained for us, that we see such a venerable one as a fellow in the holy life. Thus, the Dhamma that Rāma declared, having realized it for himself through direct knowledge and entered upon it — that Dhamma you have dwelt in, having realized it for yourself through direct knowledge and entered upon it; and the Dhamma that you have dwelt in, having realized it for yourself through direct knowledge and entered upon it — that Dhamma Rāma declared, having realized it for himself through direct knowledge and entered upon it. Thus, the Dhamma that Rāma directly knew, that Dhamma you know; and the Dhamma that you know, that Dhamma Rāma directly knew. Thus, as Rāma was, so are you; as you are, so was Rāma. Come now, friend, you lead this community!'
Thus, Prince, Uddaka Rāmaputta, being my fellow in the holy life, placed me in the very position of a teacher and honored me with lofty honor. Then, Prince, it occurred to me: 'This Dhamma does not lead to disenchantment, nor to dispassion, nor to cessation, nor to stilling, nor to direct knowledge, nor to full awakening, nor to Nibbāna, but only as far as rebirth in the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception.' And so, Prince, finding that Dhamma inadequate, disenchanted with that Dhamma, I departed.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.