[772] Nandaka: "Sisters, suppose an oil lamp were burning: the oil is impermanent, subject to change; the wick too is impermanent, subject to change; the flame too is impermanent, subject to change; and the light too is impermanent, subject to change. Sisters, if someone were to speak thus: 'While that oil lamp is burning, the oil is impermanent, subject to change; the wick too is impermanent, subject to change; the flame too is impermanent, subject to change; but the light of it is permanent, stable, eternal, not subject to change' — would one speaking thus be speaking rightly?"
Bhikkhunīs: "No, venerable sir."
Nandaka: "Why is that?"
Bhikkhunīs: "Because, venerable sir, while that oil lamp is burning, the oil is impermanent, subject to change; the wick too is impermanent, subject to change; the flame too is impermanent, subject to change; how much more, then, must its light be impermanent, subject to change."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.