The Questions of Tissametteyya

“Who here in the world is content?” said Venerable Tissametteyya.
“Who has no perturbations?
What thoughtful one, knowing both ends,
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 perturbations.

That thoughtful one, knowing both ends,
is not stuck in the middle.
He is a great man, I declare;
he has escaped the seamstress here.”