[581] When this was said, Citta the householder said to the naked ascetic (acela) Kassapa: "It is wonderful indeed, sir! It is marvellous indeed, sir — the well-expounded nature of the Dhamma! In that in thirty full years no superhuman state (uttarimanussadhamma), no distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones (alamariyañāṇadassanavisesa), will have been attained, no dwelling at ease (phāsuvihāra) — apart from nakedness, shaven-headedness, and the whisking off of dust."
"But you, householder — how long is it since you came to the state of a lay follower (upāsaka)?"
"For me too, venerable sir, it is thirty full years since I came to the state of a lay follower."
"But in these thirty full years, householder, has any superhuman state, any distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones, been attained by you — any dwelling at ease?"
"Even for a layman there might be, venerable sir. For, venerable sir, for as long as I wish, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, I enter and dwell in the first jhāna, accompanied by thought and examination (vitakka-vicāra), with rapture and happiness born of seclusion. For, venerable sir, for as long as I wish, with the subsiding of thought and examination … I enter and dwell in the second jhāna. For, venerable sir, for as long as I wish, with the fading away of rapture … I enter and dwell in the third jhāna. For, venerable sir, for as long as I wish, with the abandoning of pleasure … I enter and dwell in the fourth jhāna. And if, venerable sir, I should make a declaration before the Blessed One does, it would be no wonder that the Blessed One would declare of me thus: 'There is no fetter, bound by which fetter Citta the householder might come again to this world.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.