Saɱyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
44. Avyākata Saɱyutta

Sutta 7

Moggalāna (or Āyatana) Suttaɱ

Moggallāna

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 Saɱyutta Nikāya by Bhikkhu Bodhi is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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[1][pts][than] Then the wanderer Vacchagotta approached the Venerable Mahā Moggallāna and exchanged greetings with him.

When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said to the Venerable Mahā Moggallāna:

"How is it, Master Moggallāna, is the world eternal?"

"Vaccha, the Blessed One has not declared this: 'The world is eternal.'"

"Then, Master Moggallāna, is the world not eternal?"

"Vaccha, the Blessed One has not declared this either: 'The world is not eternal.'"

"How is it then, Master Moggallāna, is the world finite?"

Vaccha, the Blessed One has not declared this: 'The world is finite.'"

Then, Master Moggallāna, is the world infinite?"

Vaccha, the Blessed One has not declared this either: 'The world is infinite.'"

How is it then, Master Moggallāna, are the soul and the body the same?"

Vaccha, the Blessed One has not declared this: 'The soul and the body are the same.'"

Then, Master Moggallāna, is the soul one thing, the body another?"

Vaccha, the Blessed One has not declared this either: 'The soul is one thing, the body is another.'"

How is it, Master Moggallāna, does the Tathāgata exist after death?"

Vaccha, the Blessed One has not declared this: 'The Tathāgata exists after death.'"

Then, Master Moggallāna, does the Tathāgata not exist after death?"

Vaccha, the Blessed One has not declared this either: 'The Tathāgata does not exist after death.'"

How is it, then, Master Moggallāna, does the Tathāgata both exist and not exist after death?"

Vaccha, the Blessed One has not declared this either: 'The Tathāgata both exists and does not exist after death.'"

Then, Master Moggallāna, does the Tathāgata neither exist nor not exist after death?"

Vaccha, the Blessed One has not declared this either: 'The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death.'"

What, Master Moggallāna, is the cause and reason why, when wanderers of other sects are asked such questions, they give such answers as:

'The world is eternal'

or

'The world is not eternal';

or

'The world is finite'

or

'The world is infinite';

or

'The soul and the body are the same'

or

'The soul is one thing, the body is another';

or

'The Tathāgata exists after death,'

or

'The Tathāgata does not exist after death,'

or

'The Tathāgata both exists and does not exist after death,'

or

'The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death'?

And what is the cause and reason why, when the ascetic Gotama is asked such questions, he does not give such answers?"

Vaccha, wanderers of other sects regard the eye thus:

'This is mine, this I am, this is my self.'

They regard the ear ...

the nose ...

the tongue ...

the body ...

the mind thus:

'This is mine, this I am, this is my self.'

Therefore, when the wanderers of other sects are asked such questions, they give such answers as:

'The world is eternal' ...

or

'The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death.'

But, Vaccha, the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, regards the eye thus:

'This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.'

He regards the ear ...

the mind thus:

'This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.'

Therefore, when the Tathāgata is asked such questions, he does not give such answers."

Then the wanderer Vacchagotta rose from his seat and approached the Blessed One.

He exchanged greetings with the Blessed One ... and said to him:

"How is it, good Gotama, is the world eternal?"

(/All as above down to:/)

"Vaccha, I have not declared this either: 'The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death.'"

What, Master Gotama, is the cause and reason why, when wanderers of other sects are asked such questions, they give such answers as:

'The world is eternal' ...

or

'The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death'?

And what is the cause and reason why, when the ascetic Gotama is asked such questions, he does not give such answers?"

Vaccha, wanderers of other sects regard the eye ... the mind thus:

'This is mine, this I am, this is my self.'

Therefore, when the wanderers of other sects are asked such questions, they give such answers as:

'The world is eternal' ...

or

'The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death.'

But, Vaccha, the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, regards the eye ... the mind thus:

'This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.'

Therefore, when the Tathāgata is asked such questions, he does not give such answers."

"It is wonderful, Master Gotama!

It is amazing, Master Gotama!

How the meaning and the phrasing of both teacher and disciple coincide and agree with each other and do not diverge,
that is, in regard to the chief matter.

Just now, Master Gotama, I approached the ascetic Moggallāna and asked him about this matter.

The ascetic Moggallāna explained this matter to me in exactly the same terms and phrases that Master Gotama used.

It is wonderful, Master Gotama!

It is amazing, Master Gotama!

How the meaning and the phrasing of both teacher and disciple coincide and agree with each other and do not diverge,
that is, in regard to the chief matter."