AN6.61 — The Discourse on the Middle
Thus have I heard:
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana.
Now at that time, a number of elder disciples had returned from their alms round, after their meal, and were sitting gathered together in the pavilion when this discussion arose among them:
Friends, this was said by the Blessed One in the Pārāyana, in the Questions of Metteyya:
Whoever, having known both ends,
Through knowing is not smeared in the middle;
Him I call a great man,
He has overcome the seamstress here.
What, friends, is one end? What is the second end? What is the middle? What is the seamstress?
When this was said, a certain disciple said to the elder disciples:
Contact, friends, is one end; the origination of contact is the second end; the cessation of contact is the middle; craving is the seamstress.
For craving sews one to the production of this and that existence.
To this extent, friends, a disciple directly knows what is to be directly known and completely knows what is to be completely known. Directly knowing what is to be directly known and completely knowing what is to be completely known, he makes an end of suffering here and now.
When this was said, another disciple said to the elder disciples:
The past, friends, is one end; the future is the second end; the present is the middle; craving is the seamstress.
For craving sews one to the production of this and that existence.
To this extent, friends, a disciple directly knows what is to be directly known and completely knows what is to be completely known. Directly knowing what is to be directly known and completely knowing what is to be completely known, he makes an end of suffering here and now.
When this was said, another disciple said to the elder disciples:
Pleasant feeling, friends, is one end; painful feeling is the second end; neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling is the middle; craving is the seamstress.
For craving sews one to the production of this and that existence.
To this extent, friends, a disciple directly knows what is to be directly known and completely knows what is to be completely known. Directly knowing what is to be directly known and completely knowing what is to be completely known, he makes an end of suffering here and now.
When this was said, another disciple said to the elder disciples:
Name, friends, is one end; form is the second end; consciousness is the middle; craving is the seamstress.
For craving sews one to the production of this and that existence.
To this extent, friends, a disciple directly knows what should be directly known and completely knows what should be completely known. Directly knowing what should be directly known and completely knowing what should be completely known, he makes an end of suffering in this very life.
When this was said, a certain disciple said to the elder disciples:
The six internal sense bases, friends, are one end, the six external sense bases are the second end, consciousness is in the middle, and craving is the seamstress. For craving stitches one to the generation of this or that existence. To this extent, friends, a disciple directly knows what should be directly known and completely knows what should be completely known. Directly knowing what should be directly known and completely knowing what should be completely known, he makes an end of suffering in this very life.
When this was said, a certain disciple said to the elder disciples:
Identity, friends, is one end, the origination of identity is the second end, the cessation of identity is the middle, and craving is the seamstress. For craving stitches one to the generation of this or that existence. To this extent, friends, a disciple directly knows what should be directly known and completely knows what should be completely known. Directly knowing what should be directly known and completely knowing what should be completely known, he makes an end of suffering in this very life.
When this was said, a certain disciple said to the elder disciples:
Friends, we have all answered according to our own inspiration. Come, friends, let us go to the Blessed One. Having approached, we will report this matter to the Blessed One. As the Blessed One answers us, so we will bear it in mind.
Yes, friend, the elder disciples replied to that disciple.
Then the elder disciples approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the elder disciples reported to the Blessed One the entire discussion they had had with one another.
Venerable sir, whose was well spoken?
Disciples, you have all spoken well in a way. However, regarding what I was referring to when I spoke in the Pārāyana, in the Questions of Metteyya:
One who, having known both ends,
Is not defiled in the middle through knowing,
Him I call a great person;
He has overcome the seamstress here.
Listen to that, pay close attention, and I will speak.
Yes, venerable sir, the elder disciples replied to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
Contact, disciples, is one end, the origination of contact is the second end, the cessation of contact is the middle, and craving is the seamstress;
For craving sews him to the arising of this or that existence.
To this extent, disciples, a disciple directly knows what should be directly known and fully knows what should be fully known. Directly knowing what should be directly known and fully knowing what should be fully known, he makes an end of suffering in this very life.