The Questions of Tissametteyya

“Who here in the world is content?”

said Venerable Tissametteyya.

“Who has no disturbances?

What thoughtful one, having known both ends, ^[1]

is not stuck in the middle?

Who do they say is a great man?

Who here has escaped the seamstress?”

“Leading the spiritual life among sensual pleasures,”

replied the Buddha,

“rid of craving, ever mindful;

a mendicant who, after appraisal, is quenched:

that’s who has no disturbances.

That thoughtful one, having known both ends,

is not stuck in the middle.

He is a great man, I declare,

he has escaped the seamstress here.”