[49] Bhikkhus, there are some ascetics and brahmins who are annihilationists (ucchedavādā), who declare the annihilation, destruction, and non-existence of an existing being on seven grounds. And relying on what, taking up what, do those honorable ascetics and brahmins, being annihilationists, declare the annihilation, destruction, and non-existence of an existing being on seven grounds?
[51] (1) Bhikkhus, here some ascetic or brahmin holds this doctrine, this view: 'Good sir, since this self (attā) has form, is composed of the four great elements, and is produced by mother and father, with the breaking up of the body it is annihilated, it is destroyed, it does not exist after death — it is to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated.' Thus do some declare the annihilation, destruction, and non-existence of an existing being.
[52] (2) Another says to him: 'There is, good sir, that self of which you speak; I do not say it does not exist. But it is not to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated. There is, good sir, another self — divine, having form, belonging to the sense sphere, feeding on edible food. That you do not know or see; that I know and see. Since that self, good sir, with the breaking up of the body is annihilated, is destroyed, and does not exist after death — it is to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated.' Thus do some declare the annihilation, destruction, and non-existence of an existing being.
[53] (3) Another says to him: 'There is, good sir, that self of which you speak; I do not say it does not exist. But it is not to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated. There is, good sir, another self — divine, having form, mind-made, complete in all its major and minor limbs, not deficient in any faculty. That you do not know or see; that I know and see. Since that self, good sir, with the breaking up of the body is annihilated, is destroyed, and does not exist after death — it is to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated.' Thus do some declare the annihilation, destruction, and non-existence of an existing being.
[54] (4) Another says to him: 'There is, good sir, that self of which you speak; I do not say it does not exist. But it is not to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated. There is, good sir, another self which — with the complete transcending of perceptions of form, with the passing away of perceptions of resistance, with non-attention to perceptions of diversity, [aware that] "space is infinite" — has attained the base of the infinity of space. That you do not know or see; that I know and see. Since that self, good sir, with the breaking up of the body is annihilated, is destroyed, and does not exist after death — it is to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated.' Thus do some declare the annihilation, destruction, and non-existence of an existing being.
[55] (5) Another says to him: 'There is, good sir, that self of which you speak; I do not say it does not exist. But it is not to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated. There is, good sir, another self which — having completely transcended the base of the infinity of space, [aware that] "consciousness is infinite" — has attained the base of the infinity of consciousness. That you do not know or see; that I know and see. Since that self, good sir, with the breaking up of the body is annihilated, is destroyed, and does not exist after death — it is to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated.' Thus do some declare the annihilation, destruction, and non-existence of an existing being.
[56] (6) Another says to him: 'There is, good sir, that self of which you speak; I do not say it does not exist. But it is not to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated. There is, good sir, another self which — having completely transcended the base of the infinity of consciousness, [aware that] "there is nothing at all" — has attained the base of nothingness. That you do not know or see; that I know and see. Since that self, good sir, with the breaking up of the body is annihilated, is destroyed, and does not exist after death — it is to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated.' Thus do some declare the annihilation, destruction, and non-existence of an existing being.
[57] (7) Another says to him: 'There is, good sir, that self of which you speak; I do not say it does not exist. But it is not to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated. There is, good sir, another self which — having completely transcended the base of nothingness — has attained the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. That you do not know or see; that I know and see. Since that self, good sir, with the breaking up of the body is annihilated, is destroyed, and does not exist after death — it is to this extent, good sir, that this self becomes completely annihilated.' Thus do some declare the annihilation, destruction, and non-existence of an existing being.
Bhikkhus, it is on these seven grounds that those ascetics and brahmins who are annihilationists declare the annihilation, destruction, and non-existence of an existing being. Bhikkhus, whatever ascetics or brahmins, being annihilationists, declare the annihilation, destruction, and non-existence of an existing being, all of them do so on these very seven grounds … concerning which those speaking rightly would speak praise of the Tathāgata in accordance with what is real.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.