“Friend Gotama, by practicing extreme austerities you didn’t gain any superhuman quality, any distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of noble ones. Since you have given up your striving and returned to a life of indulgence, how could you now have achieved any of this?” The Buddha said, “I haven’t given up striving and returned to a life of indulgence,” and he repeated what he had said before. A second time the group of five monks repeated their question and a second time the Buddha repeated his reply. A third time they repeated their question, and the Buddha then said, “Have you ever heard me speak like this?” “Then listen. I’m perfected and fully awakened. I have discovered the freedom from death. I will instruct you and teach you the Truth. When you practice as instructed, in this very life you will soon realize with your own insight the supreme goal of the spiritual life