[738] "Here, Bhāradvāja, before my awakening, while I was still an unawakened bodhisatta, this occurred to me: 'The household life is confining, a path of dust; the going forth is like the open air. It is not easy, while dwelling in a home, to live the holy life (brahmacariya) utterly complete, utterly pure, polished like a conch shell. Suppose I were to shave off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and go forth from the home life into homelessness.'
"Then, Bhāradvāja, at a later time, while still young, a black-haired young man endowed with the blessing of youth, in the first stage of life, though my mother and father wished otherwise and wept with tearful faces, I shaved off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and went forth from the home life into homelessness. Having thus gone forth, seeking what is wholesome, searching for the unsurpassed state of sublime peace, I approached Āḷāra Kālāma; having approached, I said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'Friend Kālāma, I wish to live the holy life in this Dhamma and Discipline.' When this was said, Bhāradvāja, Āḷāra Kālāma said to me: 'Let the venerable one dwell here. This Dhamma is such that a wise person can soon realize for himself with direct knowledge (abhiññā) his own teacher's doctrine, and enter upon and dwell in it.'
"Bhāradvāja, I soon, indeed quickly, mastered that Dhamma. To that extent, by mere lip-reciting and mere verbal repetition, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge and the doctrine of the elders, and I claimed, 'I know, I see'—both I and others.
"Then, Bhāradvāja, it occurred to me: 'It is not through mere faith (saddhā) alone that Āḷāra Kālāma declares of this Dhamma: "Having realized it for myself with direct knowledge, I enter upon and dwell in it." Surely Āḷāra Kālāma dwells knowing and seeing this Dhamma.'
"Then, Bhāradvāja, I approached Āḷāra Kālāma; having approached, I said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'Friend Kālāma, to what extent do you declare that you have realized this Dhamma for yourself with direct knowledge and entered upon it?' When this was said, Bhāradvāja, Āḷāra Kālāma declared the base of nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana).
"Then, Bhāradvāja, it occurred to me: 'It is not only Āḷāra Kālāma who has faith; I too have faith. It is not only Āḷāra Kālāma who has energy (vīriya); I too have energy; … 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 soon, Bhāradvāja, indeed quickly, I realized that Dhamma for myself with direct knowledge and entered upon and dwelt in it.
"Then, Bhāradvāja, I approached Āḷāra Kālāma; having approached, I said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'Friend Kālāma, is it to this extent that you declare that you have realized this Dhamma for yourself with direct knowledge and entered upon it?' 'It is to this extent, friend, that I declare that I have realized this Dhamma for myself with direct knowledge and entered upon it.' 'I too, friend, to this extent have realized this Dhamma for myself with direct knowledge, and I enter upon and dwell in it.' 'It is a gain for us, friend, it is well gained by us, that we see a venerable one such as you as a companion in the holy life. Thus the Dhamma that I declare, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge and entered upon it, is the Dhamma that you have realized for yourself with direct knowledge and dwell in, having entered upon it; and the Dhamma that you have realized for yourself with direct knowledge and dwell in, having entered upon it, is the Dhamma that I declare, having realized it for myself with direct knowledge and entered upon it. 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 leading this community.' Thus, Bhāradvāja, Āḷāra Kālāma, being my teacher, placed me, his pupil, on an equal footing with himself, and honored me with the highest honor.
"Then, Bhāradvāja, it occurred to me: 'This Dhamma does not lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation (nirodha), to peace, to direct knowledge, to Nibbāna, but only as far as rebirth in the base of nothingness.' So, Bhāradvāja, 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.