[261] "There are, Kassapa, some ascetics and brahmins who are learned, subtle, practiced in debating the doctrines of others, hair-splitters as it were; they go about, one would think, demolishing views (diṭṭhigata) with their exercise of wisdom (paññā). With them I agree on some points, and on some points I do not agree. Some things that they say are good, we too say are good. Some things that they say are not good, we too say are not good. Some things that they say are good, we say are not good. Some things that they say are not good, we say are good. Some things that we say are good, others too say are good. Some things that we say are not good, others too say are not good. Some things that we say are good, others say are not good. Some things that we say are not good, others say are good.
"I approach them and speak thus: 'Friends, as to those points on which we do not agree, let those points stand. As to those points on which we agree, there let the wise question, press, and cross-examine, comparing teacher with teacher, or community with community: "Those qualities of these venerable ones which are unwholesome (akusala) and reckoned as unwholesome, blameworthy and reckoned as blameworthy, not to be cultivated and reckoned as not to be cultivated, unworthy of the noble ones and reckoned as unworthy of the noble ones, dark and reckoned as dark—who conducts himself having abandoned these qualities without remainder: the ascetic Gotama, or the other venerable teachers of groups?"'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.