Saṃyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
12. Nidāna Saṃyutta
5. Gahapati Vagga
The Connected Discourses of the Buddha
Part II.
The Book of Causation Nidāna-Vagga
12. Connected Discourses on Causation
5. The Householder
Sutta 48
Lokāya-Tika Suttaṃ
A Cosmologist
Translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Copyright Bhikkhu Bodhi 2000, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, 2000)
This selection from The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Saṃyutta Nikāya by Bhikkhu Bodhi is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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Then a brahmin who was a cosmologist approached the Blessed One ... and said to him:
"How is it, Master Gotama: does all exist?"
"'All exists': this, brahmin, is the oldest cosmology."
"Then, Master Gotama, does all not exist?"
"'All does not exist': this, brahmin, is the second cosmology."
"How is it, Master Gotama: is all a unity?"
"'All is a unity': this, brahmin, is the third cosmology."
"Then, Master Gotama, is all a plurality?"
"'All is a plurality': this, brahmin, is the fourth cosmology.
Without veering towards either of these extremes, the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma by the middle. ..."
When this was said, that brahmin said to the Blessed One:
"Magnificent, Master Gotama! ...
From today let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life."
