The Son of Nigaṇṭha

1. It happened in Macchikasanda.

2. At that time Nigaṇṭha Nāthaputta arrived in Macchikasanda with a large community of Nigaṇṭhas.

3. The householder Citta heard that Nigaṇṭha Nāthaputta had arrived in Macchikasanda with a large community of Nigaṇṭhas.

4. Then the householder Citta approached Nigaṇṭha Nāthaputta with a large gathering of lay disciples exchanged friendly greetings and sat on a side.

5. To the house holder Citta, sitting on a side Nigaṇṭha Nāthaputta said, “Householder, do you believe in the recluse Gotama's concentration without reasoning and investigation and the concentration of the recluse Gotama in which reasoning and investigation cease?”

“Sir, I am not so close to the Blessed One to know this much yet there is concentration without reasoning and investigation and there is cessation of reasoning and investigating.” .

6. When this was said, NNigaṇṭha Nāthaputta looked at his gathering and said: “Look! This good householder Citta is straightforward, without longing and honest that he should oppress even the wind with a net, or think to oppress, thinking the cessation of reasoning and investigating, which is like thinking to stop the source of river Ganges with the fist.”

7. “Sir, what do you think is more excellent, knowledge or faith??

“Householder, faith with knowledge is more excellent.”

8. “Venerable sir, when desired I seclude the mind from sensuality and demerit with reasoning and investigation and with pleasant joy born from seclusion, abide in the first high stage of mind. Venerable sir, when desired I overcome reasoning and investigation and with pleasant joy born from concentration abide in the second high stage of mind. Venerable sir, when desired with equanimity to joy and impartiality  re  abide in the third high stage of mind. Venerable sir, when desired I dispel pleasant and unpleasant states and  re fourth high stage of mind. Venerable sir, why should I, knowing and seeing thus, rely on the faith of other recluses and Brahmins, there is concentration without reasoning and investigation and there is cessation of reasoning and investigation. .

9. When this was said, NNigaṇṭha Nāthaputta looked away from his gathering and said: “Look! This good householder Citta is not straightforward, with longing and not honest.”

“Venerable sir, now itself you said these words, `Look, this good householder Citta is straightforward, without longing and honest' and now itself you say `Look, this good householder Citta is not straightforward, with longing and not honest''

10. Sir, if the words you said earlier are true, the words you said later are not true, if the words you said earlier are not true, the words you said later are true. Sir, there are these ten rightful inquiries common to all co-religious beliefs. When you know their meanings, you and this gathering of Nigaṇṭhas will be rightfully accused. It's one question one exposition and one explanation, two questions two expositions and two explanations, three questions three expositions and three explanations, four questions four expositions and four explanations, five questions five expositions and five explanations, six questions six expositions and six explanations seven questions seven expositions and seven explanations, eight questions eight expositions and eight explanations, nine questions nine expositions and nine explanations, ten questions ten expositions and ten explanations.

11. The householder Citta making these ten inquiries from Nigaṇṭha Nāthaputta getting up from his seat went away.