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said this to the Blessed One: "Prince Bodhi bows his head at the feet of Master Gotama, and asks about his freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, ease of movement, strength, and comfortable living. And he says this: 'May Master Gotama please accept tomorrow's meal from Prince Bodhi, together with the community of bhikkhus.'" The Blessed One accepted by remaining silent. Then the young man Sañjikāputta, knowing the Blessed One's acceptance, rose from his seat, approached Prince Bodhi; having approached, he said this to Prince Bodhi: "We have spoken to Master Gotama on your behalf: 'Prince Bodhi bows his head at the feet of Master Gotama, and asks about his freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, ease of movement, strength, and comfortable living. And he says this: May Master Gotama please accept tomorrow's meal from Prince Bodhi, together with the community of bhikkhus.' And it has been accepted by the recluse Gotama." 325. Then Prince Bodhi, when that night had passed, having had exquisite hard and soft food prepared in his own residence, and having had the Kokanada palace spread with white cloths up to the last step of the staircase, addressed the young man Sañjikāputta: "Come, friend Sañjikāputta, approach the Blessed One; having approached, announce the time to the Blessed One: 'It is time, venerable sir, the meal is ready.'" "Yes, sir," the young man Sañjikāputta, having assented to Prince Bodhi, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he announced the time to the Blessed One: "It is time, Master Gotama, the meal is ready." Then the Blessed One... Then, in the forenoon, having dressed, and taking his bowl and robe, he went to the residence of Prince Bodhi. Now at that time, Prince Bodhi was standing at the outer gatehouse, awaiting the Blessed One. Prince Bodhi saw the Blessed One coming from afar. Having seen him, he went forth to meet him, greeted the Blessed One, and leading the way, he went to the Kokanada Palace. Then the Blessed One stood at the foot of the western staircase. Then Prince Bodhi said to the Blessed One: "Please, Venerable Sir, let the Blessed One step on the cloths! Let the Fortunate One step on the cloths! May this be for my long-term welfare and happiness!" When this was said, the Blessed One remained silent. A second time too... A third time too, Prince Bodhi said to the Blessed One: "Please, Venerable Sir, let the Blessed One step on the cloths! Let the Fortunate One step on the cloths! May this be for my long-term welfare and happiness!" Then the Blessed One looked at Venerable Ānanda. Then Venerable Ānanda said to Prince Bodhi: "Gather up the cloths, Prince! The Blessed One will not step on cloth. The Tathāgata has compassion for future generations." Then Prince Bodhi had the cloths gathered up, and arranged seats in the upper Kokanada Palace. Then the Blessed One ascended the Kokanada Palace and sat on the prepared seat, together with the Sangha of bhikkhus. Then Prince Bodhi personally served and satisfied the Sangha of bhikkhus, with the Buddha at its head, with exquisite hard and soft food. Then, when the Blessed One had eaten and withdrawn his hand from the bowl, Prince Bodhi took a low seat and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Prince Bodhi spoke to the Blessed One thus: "Indeed, venerable sir, it occurs to me thus: 'Not by pleasure is pleasure to be attained, but by pain is pleasure to be attained.'" "To me too, Prince, before my full enlightenment, while I was still a Bodhisatta, not yet fully enlightened, it occurred thus: 'Not by pleasure is pleasure to be attained, but by pain is pleasure to be attained.' So I, Prince, at a later time, being still young, with jet-black hair, endowed with the blessing of youth, in the prime of life, against the wishes of my weeping parents, with tear-filled faces, having shaved off my hair and beard, and put on saffron robes, went forth from home into homelessness. Having thus gone forth, seeking what is wholesome, searching for the unexcelled state of peace, I approached Āḷāra Kālāma; having approached, I said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'I wish, friend Kālāma, to lead the holy life in this Dhamma and Discipline.' When this was said, Prince, Āḷāra Kālāma said to me: 'Dwell, venerable sir, such is this Dhamma, where a discerning person not long hence, would himself, having directly known and realized his own teacher's doctrine, abide.' So I, Prince, not long after, quickly mastered that Dhamma. So I, Prince, merely by the movement of the lips, by mere recitation, could speak the doctrine of knowledge, and claimed to know and see the doctrine of the elders, both I and others. Then it occurred to me, Prince: 'Āḷāra Kālāma does not merely by faith declare, "I abide having directly known and realized this Dhamma myself"; surely Āḷāra Kālāma abides knowing and seeing this Dhamma.' "Then I, Prince, approached Āḷāra Kālāma; having approached, I said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'To what extent, friend, "To this extent, friend Kālāma, do you declare, 'Having myself directly known, realized, and attained this Dhamma, I dwell in it'?" When this was said, prince, Āḷāra Kālāma declared the dimension of nothingness. Then, prince, it occurred to me: 'It is not only Āḷāra Kālāma who has faith; I also have faith; It is not only Āḷāra Kālāma who has energy... mindfulness... concentration... wisdom; I also have wisdom. What if I were to strive for the realization of that Dhamma which Āḷāra Kālāma declares, 'Having myself directly known, realized, and attained this Dhamma, I dwell in it'?'" So, prince, not long after, very quickly, I myself directly knew, realized, and attained that Dhamma and dwelt in it. Then, prince, I approached Āḷāra Kālāma; Having approached him, I said to Āḷāra Kālāma: 'To this extent, friend Kālāma, do you declare, 'Having myself directly known, realized, and attained this Dhamma'?'" 'To this extent, friend, I declare, 'Having myself directly known, realized, and attained this Dhamma' '." 'I also, friend, to this extent, having myself directly known, realized, and attained this Dhamma, dwell in it'." 'It is a gain for us, friend, it is well gained for us, friend, that we see such a venerable fellow practitioner. Thus, the Dhamma which I myself directly know, realize, and attain and declare, that Dhamma you yourself directly know, realize, and attain and dwell in. The Dhamma which you yourself directly know, realize, and attain and dwell in, that Dhamma I myself directly know, realize, and attain and declare. Thus, the Dhamma I know, that Dhamma you know; the Dhamma you know, that Dhamma I know. Thus, as I am, so are you; as you are, so am I. Come now, friend, let us both together lead this community.' Thus, prince, Sir, Āḷāra Kālāma, being my teacher, placed me, his pupil, on par with himself, and honored me with great honor. Then, prince, it occurred to me: ‘This Dhamma does not lead to disenchantment, nor to dispassion, nor to cessation, nor to peace, nor to direct knowledge, nor to full awakening, nor to Nibbāna, but only to rebirth in the dimension of nothingness.’ So then, prince, not appreciating that Dhamma, I became disenchanted with it and departed. 328. Then, prince, seeking what is wholesome, searching for the unsurpassed state of peace, I approached Uddaka Rāmaputta. Having approached Uddaka Rāmaputta, I said: ‘Friend, I wish to lead the holy life in this Dhamma and Discipline.’ When I said this, prince, Uddaka Rāmaputta said to me: ‘Dwell, venerable one. Such is this Dhamma that a discerning person, in no long time, would himself realize, directly know, and attain his own teacher’s doctrine, and dwell therein.’ So then, prince, in no long time, very quickly, I mastered that Dhamma. So then, prince, merely by lip-service, merely by speaking and reciting, I declared the doctrine of knowledge, and claimed to know and see the doctrine of the elders, both I and others. Then, prince, it occurred to me: ‘Rāma did not merely declare this Dhamma by faith alone, saying, "I myself realize, directly know, and attain it, and dwell therein." Surely, Rāma dwelt knowing and seeing this Dhamma.’ Then, prince, I approached Uddaka Rāmaputta. Having approached Uddaka Rāmaputta, I said: ‘Friend, to what extent did Rāma declare this Dhamma, saying, "I myself realize, directly know, and attain it, and dwell therein"?’ he declared? When this was said, prince, Udaka Rāmaputta declared the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception. Then, prince, it occurred to me – ‘It was not only Rāma who had faith, I too have faith; It was not only Rāma who had energy, I too have energy; It was not only Rāma who had mindfulness, I too have mindfulness; It was not only Rāma who had concentration, I too have concentration; It was not only Rāma who had wisdom, I too have wisdom. What if I were to strive for the realization of that Dhamma which Rāma, having directly known and realized for himself, declared he dwelt in?’ So I, prince, not long after, quickly, having directly known and realized that Dhamma for myself, dwelt in it. Then I, prince, approached Udaka Rāmaputta; and having approached, I said to Udaka Rāmaputta – ‘Is it to this extent, friend, that Rāma, having directly known and realized this Dhamma for himself, declared he dwelt in it?’ ‘To this extent, friend, Rāma, having directly known and realized this Dhamma for himself, declared he dwelt in it.’ ‘I too, friend, to this extent, having directly known and realized this Dhamma for myself, dwell in it.’ ‘It is a gain for us, friend, it is well-gained for us, that we see such a venerable companion in the holy life. Thus, the Dhamma which Rāma, having directly known and realized for himself, declared he dwelt in, that Dhamma you, having directly known and realized for yourself, dwell in. The Dhamma which you, having directly known and realized for yourself, dwell in, that Dhamma Rāma, having directly known and realized for himself, declared he dwelt in.