[94] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Campā, on the bank of the Gaggarā lotus pond. Then the householder Vajjiyamāhita left Campā in the middle of the day to see the Blessed One. Then it occurred to the householder Vajjiyamāhita: "It is not yet the right time to see the Blessed One; the Blessed One is in seclusion. Nor is it the time to see the bhikkhus worthy of esteem (manobhāvanīya); the bhikkhus worthy of esteem are in seclusion. Suppose I were to approach the park of the wanderers of other sects." Then the householder Vajjiyamāhita approached the park of the wanderers of other sects.
Now on that occasion the wanderers of other sects, having gathered and assembled, were sitting making an uproar, with loud and great noise, talking about many kinds of pointless talk (tiracchānakathā). Those wanderers of other sects saw the householder Vajjiyamāhita coming in the distance, and having seen him, they hushed one another: "Sirs, be quiet; sirs, make no noise. This householder Vajjiyamāhita is coming, a disciple of the ascetic Gotama. Of however many white-clothed lay disciples of the ascetic Gotama dwell in Campā, this householder Vajjiyamāhita is one of them. Those venerable ones are fond of quiet, disciplined in quiet, speakers in praise of quiet. Perhaps, finding the assembly quiet, he may think it worth approaching." Then those wanderers fell silent.
Then the householder Vajjiyamāhita approached those wanderers; having approached, he exchanged greetings with those wanderers of other sects, and when the courteous and amiable talk was concluded, he sat down to one side. When the householder Vajjiyamāhita was seated to one side, those wanderers said this to him: "Is it true, householder, as they say, that the ascetic Gotama censures all austerity (tapa), and that he categorically reviles and abuses every ascetic who lives a rough life?"
"No, venerable sirs, the Blessed One does not censure all austerity, nor does he categorically revile and abuse every ascetic who lives a rough life. The Blessed One censures what deserves censure and praises what deserves praise. Censuring what deserves censure and praising what deserves praise, the Blessed One is one who speaks after making distinctions (vibhajjavādī); in this matter the Blessed One is not one who speaks one-sidedly."
When this was said, a certain wanderer said to the householder Vajjiyamāhita: "Wait, householder! That ascetic Gotama whose praise you speak is a nihilist (venayika), one who makes no declarations (appaññattika)."
"On this point too, venerable sirs, I shall speak to the venerable ones in accordance with the Dhamma. Venerable sirs, the Blessed One has declared: 'This is wholesome'; the Blessed One has declared: 'This is unwholesome.' Thus, declaring what is wholesome and unwholesome, the Blessed One is one who makes declarations; the Blessed One is not a nihilist, not one who makes no declarations."
When this was said, the wanderers sat silent, dismayed, with shoulders drooping and heads down, brooding, unable to reply. Then the householder Vajjiyamāhita, having understood that those wanderers were silent, dismayed, with shoulders drooping and heads down, brooding, unable to reply, rose from his seat and approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the householder Vajjiyamāhita reported to the Blessed One all the conversation he had had with those wanderers of other sects.
"Good, good, householder! It is in this way that those foolish men should from time to time be thoroughly refuted with legitimate refutation, in accordance with the Dhamma. Householder, I do not say that all austerity should be practised; nor do I say that all austerity should not be practised. I do not say that every undertaking (samādāna) should be undertaken; nor do I say that [every] undertaking should not be undertaken. I do not say that all striving (padhāna) should be striven at; nor do I say that all striving should not be striven at. I do not say that every relinquishment (paṭinissagga) should be relinquished; nor do I say that [every] relinquishment should not be relinquished. I do not say that one should be liberated by every liberation (vimutti); nor do I say that one should not be liberated by every liberation.
"For, householder, if when one practises a certain austerity, unwholesome states increase and wholesome states diminish, I say that such austerity should not be practised. But if, householder, when one practises a certain austerity, unwholesome states diminish and wholesome states increase, I say that such austerity should be practised. If, householder, when one undertakes a certain undertaking, unwholesome states increase and wholesome states diminish, I say that such an undertaking should not be undertaken. But if, householder, when one undertakes a certain undertaking, unwholesome states diminish and wholesome states increase, I say that such an undertaking should be undertaken. If, householder, when one strives at a certain striving, unwholesome states increase and wholesome states diminish, I say that such striving should not be striven at. But if, householder, when one strives at a certain striving, unwholesome states diminish and wholesome states increase, I say that such striving should be striven at. If, householder, when one relinquishes a certain relinquishment, unwholesome states increase and wholesome states diminish, I say that such a relinquishment should not be relinquished. But if, householder, when one relinquishes a certain relinquishment, unwholesome states diminish and wholesome states increase, I say that such a relinquishment should be relinquished. If, householder, when one is liberated by a certain liberation, unwholesome states increase and wholesome states diminish, I say that one should not be liberated by such a liberation. But if, householder, when one is liberated by a certain liberation, unwholesome states diminish and wholesome states increase, I say that one should be liberated by such a liberation."
Then the householder Vajjiyamāhita, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on his right, and departed. Then, not long after the householder Vajjiyamāhita had departed, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, even a bhikkhu who for a long time has had little dust [in his eyes] in this Dhamma and Discipline should refute the wanderers of other sects with thorough, legitimate refutation, in accordance with the Dhamma, just as the householder Vajjiyamāhita has refuted them."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.