{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an6.38/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an6.38","id":"suttacentral_an6.38","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an6.38/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"Then a certain brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: \u201cWorthy Gotama, this is my doctrine and view: One does not act of one\u2019s own volition, nor does one act of another\u2019s volition.\u201d \u201cBrahmin, may I never see or hear of anyone holding such a doctrine or view! How on earth can someone who comes and goes on his own say that one does not act of one\u2019s own volition, nor does one act of another\u2019s volition? What do you think, brahmin, is there an element of initiative?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cSince this is so, do we find sentient beings who initiate activity?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cSince there is an element of initiative, and sentient beings who initiate activity are found, sentient beings act of their own volition or that of another. What do you think, brahmin, is there an element of persistence \u2026 exertion \u2026 strength \u2026 endurance \u2026 exertion?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cSince this is so, do we find sentient beings who have exertion?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d \u201cSince there is an element of exertion, and sentient beings who have exertion are found, sentient beings act of their own volition or that of another. Brahmin, may I never see or hear of anyone holding such a doctrine or view! How on earth can someone who comes and goes on his own say that one does not act of one\u2019s own volition, nor does one act of another\u2019s volition?\u201d \u201cExcellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! \u2026 From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"One\u2019s Own Volition","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":284}