[512] 73. On one occasion the Venerable Ānanda was dwelling at Kosambī, in Ghosita's Park. Then a certain householder, a disciple of the Ājīvakas, approached the Venerable Ānanda; having approached, he paid homage to the Venerable Ānanda and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, that householder, the disciple of the Ājīvakas, said to the Venerable Ānanda: "Bhante Ānanda, whose Dhamma is well expounded? Who are practising well in the world? Who are well-gone (sugata) in the world?"
"Well then, householder, I shall question you in return about this very matter; you may answer as seems fitting to you. What do you think, householder? Those who teach a Dhamma for the abandoning of lust (rāga), who teach a Dhamma for the abandoning of hatred, who teach a Dhamma for the abandoning of delusion — is their Dhamma well expounded, or not? Or how does it seem to you in this matter?"
"Bhante, those who teach a Dhamma for the abandoning of lust, who teach a Dhamma for the abandoning of hatred, who teach a Dhamma for the abandoning of delusion — their Dhamma is well expounded. That is how it seems to me in this matter."
"What do you think, householder? Those who are practising for the abandoning of lust, practising for the abandoning of hatred, practising for the abandoning of delusion — are they practising well in the world, or not? Or how does it seem to you in this matter?"
"Bhante, those who are practising for the abandoning of lust, practising for the abandoning of hatred, practising for the abandoning of delusion — they are practising well in the world. That is how it seems to me in this matter."
"What do you think, householder? Those in whom lust is abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, of a nature not to arise again in the future; those in whom hatred is abandoned … those in whom delusion is abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, of a nature not to arise again in the future — are they well-gone in the world, or not? Or how does it seem to you in this matter?"
"Bhante, those in whom lust is abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, of a nature not to arise again in the future; those in whom hatred is abandoned … those in whom delusion is abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, of a nature not to arise again in the future — they are well-gone in the world. That is how it seems to me in this matter."
"Thus, householder, it is you yourself who have declared: 'Bhante, those who teach a Dhamma for the abandoning of lust, who teach a Dhamma for the abandoning of hatred, who teach a Dhamma for the abandoning of delusion — their Dhamma is well expounded.' You yourself have declared: 'Bhante, those who are practising for the abandoning of lust, practising for the abandoning of hatred, practising for the abandoning of delusion — they are practising well in the world.' You yourself have declared: 'Bhante, those in whom lust is abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, of a nature not to arise again in the future; those in whom hatred is abandoned … those in whom delusion is abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, of a nature not to arise again in the future — they are well-gone in the world.'"
"It is astounding, Bhante! It is amazing, Bhante! There is here no exalting of one's own Dhamma and no disparaging of the Dhamma of others, but a teaching of Dhamma right within its own sphere; the meaning has been stated, and yet oneself has not been brought into it. You, Bhante Ānanda, teach the Dhamma for the abandoning of lust, teach the Dhamma for the abandoning of hatred, teach the Dhamma for the abandoning of delusion — your Dhamma is well expounded. You, Bhante Ānanda, are practising for the abandoning of lust, practising for the abandoning of hatred, practising for the abandoning of delusion — you are practising well in the world. In you, Bhante Ānanda, lust is abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, of a nature not to arise again in the future; in you hatred is abandoned … in you delusion is abandoned, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, of a nature not to arise again in the future — you are well-gone in the world. Excellent, Bhante! Excellent, Bhante! Just as if, Bhante, one were to set upright what had been overturned, or to reveal what was concealed, or to point out the way to one who was lost, or to hold up an oil lamp in the darkness, thinking, 'Those with eyes will see forms' — even so has the Dhamma been made clear in many ways by Master Ānanda. Bhante Ānanda, I go for refuge to the Blessed One, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Let Master Ānanda remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life, from this day forward."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.