[268] When this was said, the naked ascetic Kassapa said to the Blessed One: "Hard to do, worthy Gotama, is asceticism (sāmañña); hard to do is brahminhood (brahmañña)."
"That, Kassapa, is the usual way of it in the world: 'Hard to do is asceticism, hard to do is brahminhood.' Even if, Kassapa, one is a naked ascetic, flouting conventions, licking one's hands … and thus dwells devoted to the practice of taking food at set intervals, even up to once a fortnight — if, Kassapa, it were merely by this measure, merely by this course of austerity, that asceticism or brahminhood were hard to do, so very hard to do, then it would not be fitting to say: 'Hard to do is asceticism, hard to do is brahminhood.' For it would be possible for a householder, or a householder's son, or even a slave-girl who carries the water-jar, to do this, saying: 'Come now, I shall be a naked ascetic, flouting conventions, licking my hands … and thus I shall dwell devoted to the practice of taking food at set intervals, even up to once a fortnight.' But since, Kassapa, it is quite apart from this measure, apart from this course of austerity, that asceticism or brahminhood is hard to do, so very hard to do, therefore it is fitting to say: 'Hard to do is asceticism, hard to do is brahminhood.' When, Kassapa, a bhikkhu develops a mind of loving-kindness (mettā) that is without enmity and without ill will (byāpāda), and, with the destruction of the taints (āsava), realizes for himself with direct knowledge (abhiññā), in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it dwells therein — this bhikkhu, Kassapa, is called both 'an ascetic' and 'a brahmin.'
"Even if, Kassapa, one is an eater of greens, or an eater of millet … or subsists on wild roots and fruits, eating fallen fruit — if, Kassapa, it were merely by this measure, merely by this course of austerity, that asceticism or brahminhood were hard to do, so very hard to do, then it would not be fitting to say: 'Hard to do is asceticism, hard to do is brahminhood.' For it would be possible for a householder, or a householder's son, or even a slave-girl who carries the water-jar, to do this, saying: 'Come now, I shall be an eater of greens, or an eater of millet … or I shall subsist on wild roots and fruits, eating fallen fruit.' But since, Kassapa, it is quite apart from this measure, apart from this course of austerity, that asceticism or brahminhood is hard to do, so very hard to do, therefore it is fitting to say: 'Hard to do is asceticism, hard to do is brahminhood.' When, Kassapa, a bhikkhu develops a mind of loving-kindness that is without enmity and without ill will, and, with the destruction of the taints, realizes for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it dwells therein — this bhikkhu, Kassapa, is called both 'an ascetic' and 'a brahmin.'
"Even if, Kassapa, one wears hemp cloth, or wears cloth of mixed hemp … and dwells devoted to the practice of going down into the water to bathe three times daily, including in the evening — if, Kassapa, it were merely by this measure, merely by this course of austerity, that asceticism or brahminhood were hard to do, so very hard to do, then it would not be fitting to say: 'Hard to do is asceticism, hard to do is brahminhood.' For it would be possible for a householder, or a householder's son, or even a slave-girl who carries the water-jar, to do this, saying: 'Come now, I shall wear hemp cloth, and I shall wear cloth of mixed hemp … and I shall dwell devoted to the practice of going down into the water to bathe three times daily, including in the evening.' But since, Kassapa, it is quite apart from this measure, apart from this course of austerity, that asceticism or brahminhood is hard to do, so very hard to do, therefore it is fitting to say: 'Hard to do is asceticism, hard to do is brahminhood.' When, Kassapa, a bhikkhu develops a mind of loving-kindness that is without enmity and without ill will, and, with the destruction of the taints, realizes for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it dwells therein — this bhikkhu, Kassapa, is called both 'an ascetic' and 'a brahmin.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.