Buddha Unanswerable Questions

7/28/2019 Buddha Unanswerable Questions

1/9

The Buddhas Unanswerable Questions

By

Sthiramati ([email protected])

August, 2012
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/9

Introduction

The Buddha considered the truth of several propositions to be indeterminate. Hetherefore considered the establishing the truth or falsehood of these propositions as

unnecessary, distracting, and unfruitful. These propositions (ten in number) concern the

nature of the universe, the individual soul, and the enlightened being.

There are several places in the Tipitaka where these propositions are listed; however

there are two suttas who exclusively deal with these propositionsCamlukya Suttam(Majjhima Nikya 63), andAggivaccha Suttam (Majjhima Nikya 72). Excerpts fromthese two suttas will be used to explain the Buddhas teaching on these matters.

Excerpt from the Camlyukya Suttam ()

This sutta is a dialogue betweenMlukyaputta (also referred to asMlunkyaputta) and

the Buddha. Once,Mlukyaputta was greatly troubled by the fact that there were several

topics that have not been explained by the Buddha. He then resolved that either he wouldget the Buddha to explain these topics, or, failing which, he would give up the life of a

recluse and return to worldly life. What follows is an interesting dialogue between

Mlukyaputta and the Buddha in which the Buddha uses the famous parable of the man

stricken by an arrow. For the gist of this parable, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_arrow

Here is the concluding part of the Camlukya Suttam:

,,;Therefore (),Mlukyaputta (), understand () that what has beenunexplained () to be unexplained () and () what has been explained() as explained ().

Notes:

Sanskrit (+ + +) = explained Sanskrit (from to hold) = hold in your mind; understand properly

,, ?What then (),Mlukyaputta (), has not been explained () by me()?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_arrowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_arrowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_arrow


3/9

,;

This world is eternal (),Mlukyaputta (), has not been explained() by me ()This world is not eternal (),Mlukyaputta (), has not beenexplained () by me ()

Note: Sanskrit= eternal

; This world is finite (),Mlukyaputta (), has not been explained

() by me ()This world is infinite (),Mlukyaputta (), has not beenexplained () by me ()

; The soul () is [the same] as the body (),Mlukyaputta (), has notbeen explained () by me ()The soul () is one () and the body () is another (),Mlukyaputta

(), has not been explained () by me ()

Note: = life or soul; Sanskrit = another, different

; ;

;

The Tathgata () exists () after death (),Mlukyaputta (),has not been explained () by me ()The Tathgata () does not exist () after death (),Mlukyaputta(), has not been explained () by me ()


4/9

The Tathgata () both exists () and () does not exist () after death (),Mlukyaputta (), has not been explained () by me ()The Tathgata () neither () exists () nor () does not exist () afterdeath (),Mlukyaputta (), has not been explained () by me()

Note: Sanskrit = is, exists

,,?,,

Why then (),Mlukyaputta (), has this () been left unexplained() by me ()? Because,Mlukyaputta (), this () is devoid ofmeaning (), does not pertain to the spiritual life ( ), and is not() conducive () to dispassion (), non-attachment (), cessation(), peace (), wisdom (), awakening (), andenlightenment (). Therefore (), this () has not been explained () byme ()

Notes:

Sanskrit = equipped with meaning Sanskrit = pertaining to the beginning () ofspiritual life (). The Buddha used to word (Sanskrit) to meanspiritual life. The original meaning of the word was the life devoted () to the studyof the Veda (), hence student life. So a student was called. Since the studentwas unmarried, the wordeventually came to mean bachelor

Sanskrit = goes with, is conducive towards Sanskrit= for dispassion (= feeling, passion, emotion) Sanskrit= for non-attachment (= attachment) Sanskrit= for cessation, stopping Sanskrit= for peace Sanskrit= for wisdom


5/9

Sanskrit= for awakening Sanskrit= for enlightenment

,,? ,,;

; ; What then (),Mlukyaputta () has been explained () by me ()?This () is suffering (), is what has been explained () by me (); this ()is the arising of suffering (), is what has been explained () by me ();this () is the cessation of suffering (), is what has been explained ()by me (); this () is the way to the ending of suffering (), iswhat has been explained () by me ()

Note:

= the way () that goes () to the cessation () ofsuffering ()

,,?,,

Why then (),Mlukyaputta (), has this () been explained () byme ()? Because,Mlukyaputta (), this indeed () is meaningful(), pertains to the spiritual life ( ), and is conducive () todispassion (), non-attachment (), cessation (), peace (),wisdom (), awakening (), and enlightenment (). Therefore(), this () has been explained () by me ()

,,;Therefore (),Mlukyaputta (), understand () that what has beenunexplained () to be unexplained () and () what has been explained() as explained (). [Repetition of the first sentence]


6/9

Excerpts from theAggivaccha Suttam ()

This sutta records the conversation between the Buddha and Vacchagotta. Vacchagottaasks the Buddha whether he holds views such as This world is eternal this is the true

view and all other views are false the same set of views as those in the previous

section are mentioned. To each question the Buddha replies, Vaccha, I do not hold suchand such a view.

Then Vacchagotta asks him why he does not hold such views. Here is an excerpt:

Vacchagotta asks:

?

Gotama (), seeing () what () danger (), then (), have allthese views () not been thus () resorted to () [by you]?

Notes:

Sanskrit respectful address, equivalent to Sir Sanskrit = wretchedness, from, poor orwretched Sanskrit = seeing completely, plural of Sanskrit= that which has come into view, from

= view, speculation, negative of= approached, resorted to

The Buddha replies:

,,,Vaccha (), this view () that the world is eternal () is indeed

() a thicket of speculations (), a wilderness of speculations (), aconfusion of speculations (), a vacillation of speculations (), afetter of speculations (), associated with sorrow (), with distress(), with loss of energy (), with fever (), and is not () conducive() to dispassion (), non-attachment (), cessation (), peace(), wisdom (), awakening (), and enlightenment ().


7/9

Notes:

Sanskrit = indeed, certainly Sanskrit = thicket of views

Sanskrit ? (uncertain origin), translated as wilderness

Probably from the Sanskrit This word occurs five times in theRigVeda and has been translated by Syaa asmoving in all directions.Here is means unsteady

Sanskrit = made highly unstable, from =vibration

Sanskritmeans joining together; however used inthe Pali texts in the sense ofbond orfetter

Sanskrit, from: = injury, obstruction, distress

Sanskrit, from(approaching) + (tiredness) Sanskrit, from = burning, pain, distress (in Telugu, meansthirst, because the throat is parched)

The second part of this sentence () has already been explained in theprevious section.

This passage is repeated for each of the ten propositions, at the end of which the Buddhasays:

,,

Therefore, Vaccha (), seeing the danger (), I () have notresorted to () any of these views ().

Whereupon Vaccha asks:

?

In that case (), is there () any view () at all of the revered Gotama ()?

Note: Sanskrit= is; Sanskrit

To which the Buddha replies:


8/9

,,Vaccha, the Tathgatahas abandoned all views. Literally: Vaccha (), all views() of the Tathgata () have indeed () been removed ().

Note:, from = away from, and = led

,,,,;,,;,,;,,;,,

Vaccha (), this has been seen () by the Tathagata () such is form(), such is the arising of form (), such is the cessation of form(); such is sensation (), such is the arising of sensation (), such is the cessation of sensation (), such is cognition(), such is the arising of cognition (), such is the cessation ofcognition (), such are the aggregates (), such is the arisingof aggregates (), such is the cessation of aggregates (), such is consciousness (), such is the arising of consciousness (), such is the cessation of consciousness ().

Notes:

Sanskrit = arising together Sanskrit = setting Sanskrit = form Sanskrit= sensation, feeling Sanskrit= cognition Sanskrit = aggregates Sanskrit = consciousness (though in Sanskrit, it means specializedknowledge orintelligence)


9/9

Therefore (), I say that () that the Tathgata (), becomes liberated() with the destruction (), non-attachment (), obstruction (),abandonment (), rejection () and non-acquisition () of all opinions(), all churning (), and all tendencies () towards feelingsof I and mine, and conceit ().

Notes:

from Sanskrit = destruction from Sanskrit= abandonment from Sanskrit+ = releasing, relinquishing, rejection from Sanskrit = rejection; = acquisition

Conclusion

As mentioned in the introduction, these questions pertain to three topics: the nature of theuniverse, the nature of the soul, and the nature of the enlightened being

The nature of the world

The Buddha kept stressing on the fact that whether or not the universe is eternal or

infinite, the fact is that there is suffering. Furthermore the solution to suffering is

independent of the nature of the world. Questions about the nature of the universe arebest left for scientists to answer, and that is precisely the purpose of science.

Considerable progress has already been made pertaining to ascertaining the age of the

universe, the evolution of life on earth, and so on. The Buddha also expressly rejects theidea that the universe was created by God ().

The nature of the soul

The Buddha makes it clear that he does not believe that there is a soul that is different

from the body. He also rejects the idea that consciousness moves from one body to

another after death, since consciousness arises based on conditions. However, he doesbelieve in some form of continuity since he talks about his previous lives. For example,

while narrating his experiences before his enlightenment to the brhmaaJnussoni in

theBhayabherava sutta (Majjhima Nikya 4), he talks about how much effort he put induring the period prior to his enlightenment and the various stages of meditation he wentthrough, during which he had a recollection of his own past lives.

The nature of the enlightened being

The nature of the enlightened being (the Tathgata) defies any kind of description or

classification. This is elaborated further as the discussion with Vaccha continues.

Documents

Buddha Unanswerable Questions