Then a certain brahman approached the Blessed One; having
approached the Blessed One, he exchanged friendly greetings. After
pleasant conversation had passed between them, he sat to one side.
Having sat to one side, the brahman spoke to the Blessed One
thus:
“Venerable Gotama, I am one of such a doctrine, of such a view:
‘There is no self-doer, there is no other-doer.’”[1]
“I have not, brahman, seen or heard such a doctrine, such a
view. How, indeed, could one — moving forward by himself, moving
back by himself [2] — say: ‘There is no
self-doer, there is no other-doer’? What do you think, brahmin, is
there an element or principle of initiating or beginning an
action?”[3]
“Just so, Venerable Sir.”
“When there is an element of initiating, are initiating beings
[4] clearly discerned?”
“Just so, Venerable Sir.”
“So, brahmin, when there is the element of initiating,
initiating beings are clearly discerned; of such beings, this is
the self-doer, this, the other-doer. [5]
“What do you think, brahmin, is there an element of exertion
[6] ... is there an element of
effort [7] ... is there an element of
steadfastness [8] ... is there an element of
persistence [9] ... is there an element of
endeavoring?” [10]
“Just so, Venerable Sir.”
“When there is an element of endeavoring, are endeavoring beings
clearly discerned?”
“Just so, Venerable Sir.”
“So, brahmin, when there is the element of endeavoring,
endeavoring beings are clearly discerned; of such beings, this is
the self-doer, this, the other-doer. I have not, brahmin, seen or
heard such a doctrine, such a view as yours. How, indeed, could one
— moving forward by himself, moving back by himself — say ‘There is
no self-doer, there is no other-doer’?”
“Superb, Venerable Gotama! Superb, Venerable Gotama! Venerable
Gotama has made the Dhamma clear in many ways, as though he were
turning upright what had been turned upside down, revealing what
had been concealed, showing the way to one who was lost, or holding
up a lamp in the dark: ‘Those who have eyes see forms!’ Just so,
the Venerable Gotama has illuminated the Dhamma in various ways. I
go to Venerable Gotama as refuge, and to the Dhamma, and to the
assembly of monks. From this day, for as long as I am endowed with
breath, let Venerable Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has
gone to him for refuge.”