[217] Then the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita approached the Venerable Sāriputta; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Venerable Sāriputta, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he sat down at one side. Sitting at one side, the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita said to the Venerable Sāriputta:
"How is it, friend Sāriputta — is the holy life (brahmacariya) lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: 'May kamma that is to be experienced in this present life (diṭṭhadhammavedanīya) become for me kamma to be experienced in a future life (samparāyavedanīya)'?"
"Certainly not, friend."
"Then, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: 'May kamma that is to be experienced in a future life become for me kamma to be experienced in this present life'?"
"Certainly not, friend."
"How is it, friend Sāriputta — is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: 'May kamma that is to be experienced as pleasant become for me kamma to be experienced as painful'?"
"Certainly not, friend."
"Then, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: 'May kamma that is to be experienced as painful become for me kamma to be experienced as pleasant'?"
"Certainly not, friend."
"How is it, friend Sāriputta — is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: 'May kamma that is to be experienced when ripened become for me kamma to be experienced while unripened'?"
"Certainly not, friend."
"Then, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: 'May kamma that is to be experienced while unripened become for me kamma to be experienced when ripened'?"
"Certainly not, friend."
"How is it, friend Sāriputta — is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: 'May kamma that is to be experienced abundantly become for me kamma to be experienced but slightly'?"
"Certainly not, friend."
"Then, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: 'May kamma that is to be experienced but slightly become for me kamma to be experienced abundantly'?"
"Certainly not, friend."
"How is it, friend Sāriputta — is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: 'May kamma that is to be experienced become for me kamma not to be experienced'?"
"Certainly not, friend."
"Then, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: 'May kamma that is not to be experienced become for me kamma to be experienced'?"
"Certainly not, friend."
"Friend Sāriputta, when asked, 'How is it, friend Sāriputta — is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: "May kamma that is to be experienced in this present life become for me kamma to be experienced in a future life"?' you say, 'Certainly not, friend.' When asked, 'Then, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: "May kamma that is to be experienced in a future life become for me kamma to be experienced in this present life"?' you say, 'Certainly not, friend.' When asked, 'How is it, friend Sāriputta — is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: "May kamma that is to be experienced as pleasant become for me kamma to be experienced as painful"?' you say, 'Certainly not, friend.' When asked, 'Then, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: "May kamma that is to be experienced as painful become for me kamma to be experienced as pleasant"?' you say, 'Certainly not, friend.' When asked, 'How is it, friend Sāriputta — is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: "May kamma that is to be experienced when ripened become for me kamma to be experienced while unripened"?' you say, 'Certainly not, friend.' When asked, 'Then, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: "May kamma that is to be experienced while unripened become for me kamma to be experienced when ripened"?' you say, 'Certainly not, friend.' When asked, 'How is it, friend Sāriputta — is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: "May kamma that is to be experienced abundantly become for me kamma to be experienced but slightly"?' you say, 'Certainly not, friend.' When asked, 'Then, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: "May kamma that is to be experienced but slightly become for me kamma to be experienced abundantly"?' you say, 'Certainly not, friend.' When asked, 'How is it, friend Sāriputta — is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: "May kamma that is to be experienced become for me kamma not to be experienced"?' you say, 'Certainly not, friend.' When asked, 'Then, friend Sāriputta, is the holy life lived under the Blessed One for this purpose: "May kamma that is not to be experienced become for me kamma to be experienced"?' you say, 'Certainly not, friend.' Then for what purpose, friend, is the holy life lived under the Blessed One?"
"Whatever, friend, is not known, not seen, not attained, not realized, not comprehended — it is for the knowledge (ñāṇa) of that, for the vision of it, for the attainment of it, for the realization of it, for the comprehension of it, that the holy life is lived under the Blessed One. 'This is suffering (dukkha),' friend; 'this is the origin of suffering,' friend; 'this is the cessation of suffering,' friend; 'this is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering,' friend — this is not known, not seen, not attained, not realized, not comprehended; it is for the knowledge of that, for the vision of it, for the attainment of it, for the realization of it, for the comprehension of it, that the holy life is lived under the Blessed One. This indeed, friend, is what is not known, not seen, not attained, not realized, not comprehended; it is for the knowledge of that, for the vision of it, for the attainment of it, for the realization of it, for the comprehension of it, that the holy life is lived under the Blessed One."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.