Saɱyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
44. Avyākata Saɱyutta

Sutta 11

Sabhiya Suttaɱ

Sabhiya Kaccāna

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] On one occasion the Venerable Sabhiya Kaccāna was dwelling at Ñātika in the Brick Hall.

Then the wanderer Vacchagotta approached the Venerable Sabhiya Kaccāna and exchanged greetings with him.

When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said to him:

"How is it, Master Kaccāna, does the Tathāgata exist after death?"

(/All as in §1 down to:/)

"What then, Master Kaccāna, is the cause and reason why this has not been declared by the Blessed One?"

"Vaccha, as to the cause and condition for describing him as 'consisting of form' or as 'formless' or as 'percipient' or as 'nonpercipient' or as 'neither percipient nor nonpercipient': if that cause and condition were to cease completely and totally without remainder, in what way could one describe him as 'consisting of form' or as 'formless' or as 'percipient' or as 'nonpercipient' or as 'neither percipient nor nonpercipient'?"

"How long has it been since you went forth, Master Kaccāna?"

"Not long, friend. Three years."

"One, friend, who has gotten so much in such a time has indeed gotten much, not to speak of one who has surpassed this!"

The Book of the Six Sense Bases is finished.