Buddham Dhammam

Anurādhasutta

SN 44.2

With Anurādha

Venerable Anurādha is questioned by a number of ascetics, and ends up by saying that a realized one is described in terms other than “still existing after death” and so on. The wanderers say he’s a fool, so he checks with the...

Translations

Paṭhamasāriputtakoṭṭhikasutta

SN 44.3

With Sāriputta and Koṭṭhita (1st)

Mahākoṭṭhita asks Sāriputta whether a Realized One exists after death. Sāriputta says that to answer this would be to get involved in the five aggregates, something that a Realized One is free from.

Translations

Dutiyasāriputtakoṭṭhikasutta

SN 44.4

With Sāriputta and Koṭṭhita (2nd)

Mahākoṭṭhita asks Sāriputta whether a Realized One exists after death. Sāriputta says that one who understands the five aggregates would not think in such terms.

Translations

Tatiyasāriputtakoṭṭhikasutta

SN 44.5

With Sāriputta and Koṭṭhita (3rd)

Mahākoṭṭhita asks Sāriputta whether a Realized One exists after death. Sāriputta says that only someone who has desire for the five aggregates would think in such terms.

Translations

Catutthasāriputtakoṭṭhikasutta

SN 44.6

With Sāriputta and Koṭṭhita (4th)

Sāriputta asks Mahākoṭṭhita whether a Realized One exists after death. Mahākoṭṭhita says that only someone who delights in the five aggregates would think in such terms, and offers a variety of further explanations of the same...

Translations

Moggallānasutta

SN 44.7

With Moggallāna

The wanderer Vacchagotta asks Moggallāna the ten metaphysical questions, starting with whether the cosmos is eternal. Moggallāna says such questions would only be answered by someone who identifies with the six senses...

Translations

Vacchagottasutta

SN 44.8

With Vacchagotta

The wanderer Vacchagotta asks the Buddha the ten metaphysical questions, starting with whether the cosmos is eternal. He says such questions would only be answered by someone who identifies with the five aggregates.

Translations

Kutūhalasālāsutta

SN 44.9

The Debating Hall

The wanderer Vacchagotta reports to the Buddha a conversation among ascetics on the views of the six heretical teachers as to where a perfected one is reborn. Unsure of what the Buddha’s position was, he asks how it is to be...

Translations

Ānandasutta

SN 44.10

With Ānanda

Vacchagotta asks the Buddha whether a self exists, but the Buddha is silent. When Ānanda later asks him why he didn’t answer, the Buddha replied that it was to avoid misunderstanding.

Translations

Sabhiyakaccānasutta

SN 44.11

With Sabhiya Kaccāna

The wanderer Vacchagotta asks Venerable Sabhiya Kaccāna whether a Realized One exists after death. He answers that the basis for describing a Realized One no longer applies. Vacchagotta is impressed that such a junior monk...

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