Extremes

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One lived in the monastery offered by Anathapindika in Jeta's grove in Savatthi.

2. Then the monks approached the Blessed One, worshipped and sat on a side and the Blessed One said:

3. ßMonks, these four are extremes. What four? Extreme self view, extreme of the arising of self view, extreme of the cessation of self view and the extreme of the path, leading to the cessation of self view.

4. ßMonks, what is extreme self view? The reply is the five holding masses. What five? The holding masses of matter, feelings, perceptions, intentions, and consciousness. Monks, to this is said the extreme self view.

5. ßMonks, what is the extreme of the arising of self view? It is craving to be again, with interest and greed, delighting here and there, such as craving for sensuality, craving to be and craving not to be. Monks, to this is called the extreme, of the arising of self view.

6. ßMonks, what is the extreme, of the cessation of self view? It is giving up interest and ceasing that same craving; forsaking, rejecting, finding release, and not settling in it. This is the extreme of the cessation of self view.

7. ßMonks, what is the extreme of the path leading to the cessation of self view? It is this same eight factored noble path, such as right view ... re ... right concentration. To this is said the extreme of the path leading to the cessation of self view.

8. ßMonks, these are the four extremes.