Saṃyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
16. Kassapa Saṃyutta
The Connected Discourses of the Buddha
Part II.
The Book of Causation Nidāna-Vagga
16. Connected Discourses with Kassapa
Sutta 12
Tathāgata Param-Māraṇa Suttaṃ
After Death
Translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Copyright Bhikkhu Bodhi 2000, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, 2000)
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[1][pts] On one occasion the Venerable Mahā Kassapa and the Venerable Sāriputta were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana.
Then, in the evening, the Venerable Sāriputta emerged from seclusion and approached the Venerable Mahā Kassapa.
He exchanged greetings with the Venerable Mahā Kassapa and, when they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said to him:
"How is it, friend Kassapa, does the Tathāgata exist after death?"
"The Blessed One, friend, has not declared this:
'The Tathāgata exists after death."
"Then, friend, does the Tathāgata not exist after death?"
"The Blessed One, friend, has not declared this either:
'The Tathāgata does not exist after death."
[223] "How is it then, friend, does the Tathāgata both exist and not exist after death?"
"The Blessed One, friend, has not declared this:
'The Tathāgata both exists and does not exist after death."
"Then, friend, does the Tathāgata neither exist nor not exist after death?"
"The Blessed One, friend, has not declared this either:
'The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death."
"Why hasn't the Blessed One declared this, friend?"
"Because this is unbeneficial, irrelevant to the fundamentals of the holy life, and does not lead to revulsion, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna.
Therefore the Blessed One has not declared this."
"And what, friend, has the Blessed One declared?"
"The Blessed One, friend, has declared:
'This is suffering,'
and
'This is the origin of suffering,'
and
'This is the cessation of suffering,'
and
'This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering."
"And why, friend, has the Blessed One declared this?"
"Because, friend, this is beneficial, relevant to the fundamentals of the holy life, and leads to revulsion, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna.
Therefore the Blessed One has declared this."
