Venerable Upavana

Venerable Upavana approached venerable Sāriputta, exchanged friendly greetings, sat on a side and said:

Friend, Sāriputta, is the end gained through knowledge?

Friend, it is not so.

Friend, Sāriputta, is the end gained through conduct?

Friend, it is not so.

Friend, Sāriputta, is the end gained through knowledge and conduct?

Friend, it is not so.

Friend, Sāriputta, is the end gained without knowledge and conduct?

Friend, it is not so.

Friend, Sāriputta, when asked, is the end gained through knowledge, it was said no. When asked. is the end gained through conduct, it was said no.

When asked. is the end gained through knowledge and conduct, it was said no.

When asked. is the end gained without knowledge and conduct, it was said no.

Friend, if it is so, how is the end gained?

Friend, if the end was gained through knowledge, the end would be supported. Friend, if the end was gained through conduct, the end would be supported. Friend, if the end was gained through knowledge and conduct, the end would be supported. Friend, if the end was gained without knowledge and conduct, the end would be attained by the ordinary folk. The ordinary folk are without knowledge and conduct and gone wrong in conduct, they do not know and see it, as it really is. The one endowed with knowledge and conduct knows and sees it, as it really is and attains the end.