{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn44.7/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn44.7","id":"suttacentral_sn44.7","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn44.7/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"Then the wanderer Vacchagotta went up to Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and said to Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na: \u201cWorthy Moggall\u0101na, is this right: \u2018the cosmos is eternal\u2019?\u201d \u201cVaccha, this has not been declared by the Buddha.\u201d \u201cThen is this right: \u2018the cosmos is not eternal\u2019 \u2026 \u2018the cosmos is finite\u2019 \u2026 \u2018the cosmos is infinite\u2019 \u2026 \u2018the soul and the body are one and the same\u2019 \u2026 \u2018the soul is one thing, the body another\u2019 \u2026 \u2018a realized one still exists after death\u2019 \u2026 \u2018a realized one no longer exists after death\u2019 \u2026 \u2018a realized one both still exists and no longer exists after death\u2019 \u2026 \u2018a realized one neither still exists nor no longer exists after death\u2019?\u201d \u201cThis too has not been declared by the Buddha.\u201d \u201cWhat\u2019s the cause, worthy Moggall\u0101na, what\u2019s the reason why, when the wanderers of other religions are asked these questions, they declare one of these to be true? And what\u2019s the reason why, when the ascetic Gotama is asked these questions, he does not declare one of these to be true?\u201d \u201cVaccha, the wanderers of other religions regard the eye like this: \u2018This is mine, I am this, this is my self.\u2019 They regard the ear \u2026 nose \u2026 tongue \u2026 body \u2026 mind like this: \u2018This is mine, I am this, this is my self.\u2019 That\u2019s why, when asked, they declare one of those answers to be true. The Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha regards the eye like this: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 He regards the ear \u2026 nose \u2026 tongue \u2026 body \u2026 mind like this: \u2018This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.\u2019 That\u2019s why, when asked, he does not declare one of those answers to be true.\u201d Then the wanderer Vacchagotta rose from his seat and went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. He asked the Buddha the same questions, and received the same answers. He said, \u201cIt\u2019s incredible, worthy Gotama, it\u2019s amazing! How the meaning and the phrasing of the Teacher and the disciple fit together and agree without contradiction when it comes to the chief matter! Just now I went to the ascetic Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na and asked him about this matter. And he explained it to me with these words and phrases, just like the worthy Gotama. It\u2019s incredible, worthy Gotama, it\u2019s amazing! How the meaning and the phrasing of the Teacher and the disciple fit together and agree without contradiction when it comes to the chief matter!\u201d","title":"With Moggall\u0101na","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":457}