{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn44.8/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn44.8","id":"suttacentral_sn44.8","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn44.8/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"Then the wanderer Vacchagotta 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, is this right: \u2018the cosmos is eternal\u2019?\u201d \u201cThis has not been declared by me, Vaccha.\u201d \u2026 \u201cThen is this right: \u2018a realized one neither still exists nor no longer exists after death\u2019?\u201d \u201cThis too has not been declared by me.\u201d \u201cWhat\u2019s the cause, worthy Gotama, 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 worthy Gotama is asked these questions, he does not declare one of these to be true?\u201d \u201cVaccha, the wanderers of other religions regard form as self, self as having form, form in self, or self in form. They regard feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness as self, self as having consciousness, consciousness in self, or self in consciousness. That\u2019s why, when asked, they declare one of those answers to be true. The Realized One doesn\u2019t regard form as self, self as having form, form in self, or self in form. He doesn\u2019t regard feeling \u2026 perception \u2026 choices \u2026 consciousness as self, self as having consciousness, consciousness in self, or self in consciousness. 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 Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. He asked Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na the same questions, and received the same answers. He said, \u201cIt\u2019s incredible, worthy Moggall\u0101na, 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 Gotama and asked him about this matter. And he explained it to me with these words and phrases, just like the worthy Moggall\u0101na. It\u2019s incredible, worthy Moggall\u0101na, 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 Vacchagotta","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":375}