5-45-5 Aññatitthiyapeyyālo | Samyutta

V. Wanderers of Other Sects

41 (1) The Fading Away of Lust

At Sāvatthī.

Bhikkhus, if wanderers of other sects ask you:

‘For what purpose, friends, is the holy life lived under the ascetic Gotama?’

—being asked thus, you should answer them thus:

‘It is, friends, for the fading away of lust that the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.’

Then, Bhikkhus, if the wanderers of other sects ask you:

‘But, friends, is there a path, is there a way for the fading away of lust?’

—being asked thus, you should answer them thus:

‘There is a path, friends, there is a way for the fading away of lust.’

And what, Bhikkhus, is that path, what is that way for the fading away of lust?

It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view … right concentration.

- This is the path, this is the way for the fading away of lust.

Being asked thus, Bhikkhus, you should answer those wanderers of other sects in such a way.

42 (2)–48 (8) The Abandoning of the Fetters, Etc.

Bhikkhus, if wanderers of other sects ask you:

‘For what purpose, friends, is the holy life lived under the ascetic Gotama?’

— being asked thus, you should answer them thus:

‘It is, friends, for the abandoning of the fetters …
for the uprooting of the underlying tendencies …
for the full understanding of the course …
for the destruction of the taints …
for the realization of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation …
for the sake of knowledge and vision …

… for the sake of final Nibbāna without clinging that the holy life is lived under the Blessed One.’

Then, Bhikkhus, if the wanderers of other sects ask you:

‘But, friends, is there a path, is there a way for attaining final Nibbāna without clinging?’

—being asked thus, you should answer them thus:

 ‘There is a path, friends, there is a way for attaining final Nibbāna without clinging.’

And what, Bhikkhus, is that path, what is that way for attaining final Nibbāna without clinging?

It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view … right concentration.

- This is the path, this is the way for attaining final Nibbāna without clinging.

Being asked thus, Bhikkhus, you should answer those wanderers of other sects in such a way.