[655] "'One should not pursue sensual pleasure (kāmasukha) — low, vulgar, of the worldling (pothujjanika), ignoble, not connected with benefit; and one should not pursue the pursuit of self-mortification (attakilamathānuyoga) — painful, ignoble, not connected with benefit.' So indeed this was said. And with reference to what was this said?
The pursuit of joy (somanassa) in one whose happiness is linked to sensuality — low, vulgar, of the worldling, ignoble, not connected with benefit — this is a state beset by suffering (dukkha), beset by harm, beset by despair, beset by fever; it is the wrong way of practice. The non-pursuit of that pursuit of joy in one whose happiness is linked to sensuality — low, vulgar, of the worldling, ignoble, not connected with benefit — this is a state without suffering, without harm, without despair, without fever; it is the right way of practice.
The pursuit of self-mortification — painful, ignoble, not connected with benefit — this is a state beset by suffering, beset by harm, beset by despair, beset by fever; it is the wrong way of practice. The non-pursuit of that pursuit of self-mortification — painful, ignoble, not connected with benefit — this is a state without suffering, without harm, without despair, without fever; it is the right way of practice.
So when it was said: 'One should not pursue sensual pleasure — low, vulgar, of the worldling, ignoble, not connected with benefit; and one should not pursue the pursuit of self-mortification — painful, ignoble, not connected with benefit,' it was with reference to this that it was said."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.