[12] Then the Blessed One, wandering by stages on tour, arrived at Bārāṇasī, at the Deer Park at Isipatana, and approached the bhikkhus of the group of five. The bhikkhus of the group of five saw the Blessed One coming from afar, and seeing him, they agreed among themselves: "Friends, here comes the ascetic Gotama — one who lives in abundance, who has strayed from striving and reverted to abundance. He should not be greeted, nor should we rise up for him, nor should his bowl and robe be received; but a seat may be set out — if he wishes, he will sit down." Yet as the Blessed One approached the bhikkhus of the group of five, so those bhikkhus of the group of five, unable to keep to their own agreement, went out to meet the Blessed One: one received the Blessed One's bowl and robe, one prepared a seat, one set out water for the feet, a footstool, and a foot-stand. The Blessed One sat down on the seat prepared. Having sat down, the Blessed One washed his feet. Moreover, they addressed the Blessed One by name and with the word "āvuso" (friend). When this was said, the Blessed One said to the bhikkhus of the group of five: "Bhikkhus, do not address the Tathāgata by name and with the word 'āvuso.' Bhikkhus, the Tathāgata is an Arahant, a Perfectly Self-Awakened One (sammāsambuddha). Lend your ear, bhikkhus: the Deathless (amata) has been attained. I shall instruct; I shall teach the Dhamma. Practising as instructed, before long you will, in this very life, having realized it for yourselves with direct knowledge (abhiññā), enter upon and dwell in that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life (brahmacariya) for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from home into homelessness."
When this was said, the bhikkhus of the group of five said to the Blessed One: "Friend Gotama, even by that conduct, by that practice, by that performance of austerities, you did not attain any superhuman state (uttarimanussadhamma), any distinction of knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. How then will you now — one who lives in abundance, who has strayed from striving and reverted to abundance — attain any superhuman state, any distinction of knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones?"
When this was said, the Blessed One said to the bhikkhus of the group of five: "Bhikkhus, the Tathāgata does not live in abundance, has not strayed from striving, has not reverted to abundance. Bhikkhus, the Tathāgata is an Arahant, a Perfectly Self-Awakened One. Lend your ear, bhikkhus: the Deathless has been attained. I shall instruct; I shall teach the Dhamma. Practising as instructed, before long you will, in this very life, having realized it for yourselves with direct knowledge, enter upon and dwell in that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from home into homelessness."
For a second time the bhikkhus of the group of five said this to the Blessed One … For a second time the Blessed One said this to the bhikkhus of the group of five … For a third time the bhikkhus of the group of five said to the Blessed One: "Friend Gotama, even by that conduct, by that practice, by that performance of austerities, you did not attain any superhuman state, any distinction of knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. How then will you now — one who lives in abundance, who has strayed from striving and reverted to abundance — attain any superhuman state, any distinction of knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones?"
When this was said, the Blessed One said to the bhikkhus of the group of five: "Bhikkhus, do you recall that I have ever spoken to you in this way before now?"
"No indeed, venerable sir."
"Bhikkhus, the Tathāgata is an Arahant, a Perfectly Self-Awakened One. Lend your ear, bhikkhus: the Deathless has been attained. I shall instruct; I shall teach the Dhamma. Practising as instructed, before long you will, in this very life, having realized it for yourselves with direct knowledge, enter upon and dwell in that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from home into homelessness."
The Blessed One was able to convince the bhikkhus of the group of five. Then the bhikkhus of the group of five were willing to listen to the Blessed One; they lent their ear and established their minds (citta) for final knowledge (aññā).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.