[262] Bhikkhus, suppose there were a bronze cup of beverage (āpānīyakaṃsa) possessing fine color, fine aroma, and fine flavor, but it was mixed with poison. Then a man would come along, scorched by the heat, oppressed by the heat, weary, parched, and thirsty. They would say to him: "Good man, this bronze cup of beverage possesses fine color, fine aroma, and fine flavor, but it is mixed with poison. Drink it if you wish; for as you drink it, it will please you with its color, its aroma, and its flavor; but having drunk it, on that account you will meet with death or with deadly suffering (dukkha)." Then, bhikkhus, it would occur to that man: "I can dispel this thirst for the drink with water, or dispel it with curd-whey, or dispel it with salted sour gruel (maṭṭhaloṇikā), or dispel it with salted sour drink (loṇasocīraka); but I certainly should not drink that which would be for my harm and suffering for a long time." Having reflected upon that bronze cup of beverage, he would not drink it; he would reject it. On that account he would not meet with death or with deadly suffering.
Even so, bhikkhus, whatever ascetics or brahmins in the past saw whatever in the world has a pleasing and agreeable nature as impermanent, saw it as suffering, saw it as non-self, saw it as a disease, saw it as fearful — they abandoned craving (taṇhā). Those who abandoned craving abandoned acquisition (upadhi); those who abandoned acquisition abandoned suffering; those who abandoned suffering were freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair — they were freed from suffering, I say. Whatever ascetics or brahmins in the future … at present see whatever in the world has a pleasing and agreeable nature as impermanent, see it as suffering, see it as non-self, see it as a disease, see it as fearful — they abandon craving. Those who abandon craving abandon acquisition; those who abandon acquisition abandon suffering; those who abandon suffering are freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair — they are freed from suffering, I say.
The sixth [sutta].
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.