Translation1 of Dhammacakka sutta version six (C6, Class 8) from the Chinese Ekotaraagama by N J Smith. 8/2001 Reading 12 : T # 125.19.

2 = T 2:593b+c // SN # 56.11-12 = SN 5:420-425 So have I heard: Once the Fortunate One dwelt in Baaraa.nasii at The Place the Sages Drop In, in the Deer Feeding Forest. At that time the World Honoured One told the mendicants2: There are two activities [that] a disciple should not be intimate with. What are the two activities? That is to say: clinging to desire to reach pleasurable processes; this is a base, common and low process; on the other hand are these stresses, many despairs and many extremes. These are called two activities a disciple should not be intimate with. In this way, having given up these two activities, I myself have attained the essential path and realised Right Enlightenment. Vision and knowledge arose, I realised understanding and rest, attained all super knowledge and the fruit of recluse-ship leading to extinguishment3. What is called attaining the essential path and realising Right Enlightenment? Vision and knowledge arising, realising understanding and rest, attaining all super knowledge and the fruit of recluse-ship leading to extinguishment? That which is called the worthy noble eightfold path. That is to say: Right View, Right Thought 4, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Memory and Right Concentration. That is the essential path [which] caused me to attain and realise Right Enlightenment. Vision and knowledge arising, realising understanding and rest, attaining all super knowledge and the fruit of recluse-ship leading to extinguishment. Thus mendicants you ought to study and reject the above two activities and practise the essential path. Thus mendicants ought to do this study. At that time the mendicants heard what the AO said and they happily went to practise.

Rather than an absolute literal translation, the principle of considering what the original Indian word was (since it is said these Chinese discourses were translated from the Indian) and translating with its meaning in mind is being followed here. The original Chinese text did not have punctuation so the use of it in translation is a matter of opinion. Later versions of the texts, including the one used here, have added punctuation. 2 Bi3 qiu1/bhiksu or mendicant is considered to be a general term here, not a Buddhist specific term. The text does not say there were five mendicants. 3 The text gives a transcription of Nibbaana (Ni2 pan4) here and below. 4 The text has zhi4 meaning to direct, to control, to study.