[596] Bhikkhus, there are these three ways of practice (paṭipadā). What three? The harsh way of practice (āgāḷhā paṭipadā), the scorching way of practice (nijjhāmā paṭipadā), and the middle way of practice (majjhimā paṭipadā).
And what, bhikkhus, is the harsh way of practice? Here, bhikkhus, someone holds such a doctrine, such a view as this: 'There is no fault in sensual pleasures,' and he plunges into indulgence in sensual pleasures. This, bhikkhus, is called the harsh way of practice.
And what, bhikkhus, is the scorching way of practice? Here, bhikkhus, someone is a naked ascetic (acelaka), rejecting conventions of conduct, licking his hands; he does not come when asked, nor stand still when asked; he does not accept food brought to him, nor food specially prepared for him, nor an invitation to a meal. He receives nothing from the mouth of a pot, nor from the mouth of a basket, nor across a threshold, nor across a stick, nor across a pestle, nor from two people eating together, nor from a pregnant woman, nor from a woman nursing a child, nor from a woman who has gone among men, nor from where food is advertised for distribution, nor from where a dog is standing by, nor from where flies swarm in clusters; he accepts no fish, no meat; he drinks no liquor, no fermented drink, no husk-water brew. He keeps to one house, to one morsel; or he keeps to two houses, to two morsels … or he keeps to seven houses, to seven morsels. He subsists on one small bowlful, he subsists on two small bowlfuls … he subsists on seven small bowlfuls. He takes food once a day, he takes food once every two days … he takes food once every seven days; thus he dwells devoted to the practice of eating food at fixed intervals, even up to once a fortnight. He is one who feeds on greens, or feeds on millet, or feeds on wild rice, or feeds on hide-parings, or feeds on haṭa water-plants, or feeds on rice bran, or feeds on rice scum, or feeds on oil-seed flour, or feeds on grass, or feeds on cow dung; he subsists on forest roots and fruits, eating fallen fruit. He wears hemp cloth, he wears hemp-mixed cloth, he wears shrouds, he wears rag-robes, he wears tirīṭa-bark cloth, he wears antelope hide, he wears strips of antelope hide, he wears a garment of kusa grass, he wears a garment of bark fiber, he wears a garment of wood shavings, he wears a blanket of human hair, he wears a blanket of animal hair, he wears owls' wings. He is one who plucks out hair and beard, devoted to the practice of plucking out hair and beard; he is one who stands continuously, rejecting seats; he is one who squats continuously, devoted to the exertion of squatting; he is one who lies on a bed of thorns, making his bed upon a bed of thorns; he dwells devoted to the practice of going down into the water three times a day, the evening being the third. Thus in such various ways he dwells devoted to the practice of tormenting and mortifying the body. This, bhikkhus, is called the scorching way of practice.
And what, bhikkhus, is the middle way of practice? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending, possessed of mindfulness, having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world; … in feelings (vedanā) … in the mind (citta) … he dwells contemplating dhammas in dhammas, ardent, clearly comprehending, possessed of mindfulness, having removed covetousness and grief regarding the world. This, bhikkhus, is called the middle way of practice.
These, bhikkhus, are the three ways of practice.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.