Ud 6:8 The Courtesan (Gaṇika Sutta)

What’s been attained, what’s to be attained,

are both strewn with dust

by one who trains

in line with the afflicted.

Any precept & practice life whose essence is training,

and the holy life whose essence is service:

This is one extreme.

Any who say, “There’s no harm in sensual desires”:

This, the second extreme.

Both of these extremes cause the growth of cemeteries,

and cemeteries cause views to grow.

Not directly knowing these two extremes,

some fall short,

some run too far.1

But those who, directly knowing them,

didn’t exist there,

didn’t construe

by means of them:2

For them

there’s no whirling through the cycle

to be described.