[186] [Sakavādin:] "Is the person (puggala) apprehended in the sense of a real and ultimate fact (sacchikaṭṭha-paramaṭṭha)?"
[Paravādin:] "Yes."
[Sakavādin:] "Did not the Venerable Ānanda say this to the Blessed One: 'Venerable sir, it is said, "Empty is the world (suñño loko), empty is the world." In what way, venerable sir, is it said, "Empty is the world"?' [And did the Blessed One not reply:] 'It is, Ānanda, because it is empty of self (attā) or of what belongs to self (attaniya) that it is said, "Empty is the world." And what, Ānanda, is empty of self or of what belongs to self? The eye, Ānanda, is empty of self or of what belongs to self; forms are empty …; eye-consciousness is empty …; eye-contact is empty …; whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as condition—whether pleasant, painful, or neither painful nor pleasant—that too is empty of self or of what belongs to self. The ear is empty …; sounds are empty …; the nose is empty …; odours are empty …; the tongue is empty …; tastes are empty …; the body is empty …; tangible objects are empty …; the mind is empty …; mental phenomena (dhammā) are empty …; mind-consciousness is empty …; mind-contact is empty …; whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition—whether pleasant, painful, or neither painful nor pleasant—that too is empty of self or of what belongs to self. It is, Ānanda, because it is empty of self or of what belongs to self that it is said, "Empty is the world."'¹ Is there indeed such a discourse (suttanta)?"
[Paravādin:] "Yes."
[Sakavādin:] "Then it should not be said, 'The person is apprehended in the sense of a real and ultimate fact.'"
¹ Saṃ. Sa. 198.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.