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Trung Boä Kinh
Majjhima Nikaya63. Tieåu kinh Maølunkyaø
(Cula Maølunkyaø sutta)
Nhö vaày toâi nghe.
Moät thôøi, Theá Toân truù ôû Savatthi, Jetavana, taïi tònh xaù oâng Anathapindika (Caáp Coâ Ñoäc).
Roài Toân giaû Malunkyaputta, trong khi ñoäc truù tònh cö, khôûi leân söï suy tö nhö sau: Coù moät soá vaán ñeà naøy, Theá Toân khoâng traû lôøi, boû moät beân, loaïi boû ra: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn, theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng, theá giôùi laø höõu bieân, theá giôùi laø voâ bieân; sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø moät, sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø khaùc; Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát, Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát, Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát. Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát". Theá Toân khoâng traû lôøi cho ta nhöõng vaán ñeà aáy. Vì Theá Toân khoâng traû lôøi cho ta nhöõng vaán ñeà aáy, neân ta khoâng ñöôïc haøi loøng, khoâng ñöôïc thoûa maõn. Vaäy ta haõy ñi ñeán Theá Toân, vaø seõ hoûi yù nghóa naøy. Neáu Theá Toân traû lôøi cho ta: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn, theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng, theá giôùi laø höõu bieân, theá giôùi laø voâ bieân; sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø moät, sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø khaùc; Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát, Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát; Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát, hay Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát", thôøi ta seõ soáng Phaïm haïnh döôùi (söï chæ daãn cuûa) Theá Toân. Coøn neáu Theá Toân khoâng traû lôøi cho ta: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn, theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng... (nhö treân)... Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát", thôøi ta seõ boû hoïc phaùp vaø hoaøn tuïc.
Roài Toân giaû Malunkyaputta vaøo buoåi chieàu, töø Thieàn tònh ñöùng daäy, ñi ñeán Theá Toân; sau khi ñeán, ñaûnh leã Theá Toân roài ngoài xuoáng moät beân. Sau khi ngoài xuoáng moät beân, Toân giaû Malunkyaputta baïch Theá Toân:
-- ÔÛ ñaây, baïch Theá Toân, trong khi ñoäc truù tònh cö, con khôûi leân yù nghó nhö sau: Coù moät soá vaán ñeà naøy, Theá Toân khoâng traû lôøi, boû moät beân loaïi boû ra: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn, theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng... (nhö treân)... Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát". Theá Toân khoâng traû lôøi cho ta nhöõng vaán ñeà aáy. Vì Theá Toân khoâng traû lôøi cho ta nhöõng vaán ñeà aáy, neân ta khoâng ñöôïc haøi loøng, khoâng ñöôïc thoûa maõn. Vaäy ta haõy ñi ñeán Theá Toân vaø seõ hoûi yù nghóa naøy. Neáu Theá Toân traû lôøi cho ta: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn, theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng... (nhö treân)... Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát", thôøi ta seõ soáng Phaïm haïnh döôùi (söï chæ daãn cuûa) Theá Toân. Coøn neáu Theá Toân khoâng traû lôøi cho ta: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn, theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng... (nhö treân)... Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát", thôøi ta seõ boû hoïc phaùp vaø hoaøn tuïc.
Neáu Theá Toân bieát: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn", Theá Toân haõy traû lôøi cho con: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn". Neáu Theá Toân bieát: "Theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng". Theá Toân haõy traû lôøi cho con: "Theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng". Neáu Theá Toân khoâng bieát: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn" hay "Theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng", thôøi khoâng bieát, khoâng thaáy, haõy thaúng thaén traû lôøi: "Ta khoâng bieát, Ta khoâng thaáy".
Neáu Theá Toân bieát: "Theá giôùi laø höõu bieân", Theá Toân haõy traû lôøi cho con: "Theá giôùi laø höõu bieân". Neáu Theá Toân bieát: "Theá giôùi laø voâ bieân", Theá Toân haõy traû lôøi cho con: "Theá giôùi laø voâ bieân". Neáu Theá Toân khoâng bieát: "Theá giôùi laø höõu bieân" hay "Theá giôùi laø voâ bieân," thôøi khoâng bieát, khoâng thaáy, haõy thaúng thaén traû lôøi: "Ta khoâng bieát, Ta khoâng thaáy".
Neáu Theá Toân bieát: "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø moät", Theá Toân haõy traû lôøi cho con: "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø moät". Neáu Theá Toân bieát: "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø khaùc," Theá Toân haõy traû lôøi cho con: "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø khaùc". Neáu Theá Toân khoâng bieát: "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø moät" hay "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø khaùc," thôøi khoâng bieát, khoâng thaáy, haõy thaúng thaén traû lôøi: "Ta khoâng bieát, Ta khoâng thaáy".
Neáu Theá Toân bieát: "Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát", Theá Toân haõy traû lôøi cho con: "Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát". Neáu Theá Toân bieát: "Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát", Theá Toân haõy traû lôøi cho con: "Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát". Neáu Theá Toân khoâng bieát: "Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát," hay "Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát", thôøi khoâng bieát, khoâng thaáy, haõy thaúng thaén traû lôøi: "Ta khoâng bieát, Ta khoâng thaáy".
Neáu Theá Toân bieát: "Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát", Theá Toân haõy traû lôøi cho con: "Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát", Theá Toân haõy traû lôøi cho con: "Nhö Lai khoâng toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát". Neáu Theá Toân khoâng bieát: "Nhö Lai toàn taïi vaø khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát," hay "Nhö Lai khoâng toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát", thôøi khoâng bieát, khoâng thaáy, haõy thaúng thaén traû lôøi: "Ta khoâng bieát, Ta khoâng thaáy".
-- Naøy Malunkyaputta, Ta naøo coù noùi vôùi OÂng: Naøy Malunkyaputta, haõy ñeán vaø soáng Phaïm haïnh theo Ta, Ta seõ traû lôøi cho OÂng: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn," hay "Theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng... (nhö treân)... Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát"?
-- Thöa khoâng, baïch Theá Toân.
-- Hay OÂng coù noùi vôùi Ta nhö sau: Baïch Theá Toân, con seõ soáng Phaïm haïnh theo Theá Toân, neáu Theá Toân seõ traû lôøi cho con: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn" hay "Theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng... (nhö treân)... Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát" ?
-- Thöa khoâng, baïch Theá Toân.
-- Nhö vaäy, naøy Malunkyaputta, Ta khoâng noùi vôùi OÂng: Naøy Malunkyaputta, haõy ñeán vaø soáng Phaïm haïnh theo Ta vaø Ta seõ traû lôøi cho OÂng: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn" hay "Theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng... (nhö treân)... Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát", vaø OÂng cuõng khoâng noùi vôùi Ta: Baïch Theá Toân, con seõ soáng Phaïm haïnh theo Theá Toân neáu Theá Toân seõ traû lôøi cho con: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn" hay "Theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng... (nhö treân)... Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát". Söï tình laø nhö vaäy, thôøi naøy keû ngu kia, OÂng laø ai, vaø OÂng phuû nhaän caùi gì ?
Naøy Malunkyaputta, neáu coù ai noùi nhö sau: Ta seõ soáng Phaïm haïnh theo Theá Toân khi naøo Theá Toân seõ traû lôøi cho ta: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn" hay "Theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng... (nhö treân)... Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát", thôøi naøy Malunkyaputta, ngöôøi aáy seõ cheát (vaø) vaãn khoâng ñöôïc Nhö Lai traû lôøi. Naøy Malunkyaputta, ví nhö moät ngöôøi bò muõi teân baén, muõi teân ñöôïc taåm thuoác ñoäc raát daøy. Baïn beø vaø baø con huyeát thoáng cuûa ngöôøi aáy môøi moät vò y só khoa moå xeû ñeán saên soùc. Nhöng ngöôøi aáy laïi noùi: "Toâi seõ khoâng ruùt muõi teân naøy ra khi naøo toâi chöa bieát ñöôïc ngöôøi ñaõ baén toâi thuoäc gioøng hoaøng toäc, hay Baø-la-moân, hay buoân baùn, hay ngöôøi laøm coâng". Ngöôøi aáy coù theå noùi nhö sau: "Toâi seõ khoâng ruùt muõi teân naøy ra khi naøo toâi chöa bieát ñöôïc ngöôøi ñaõ baén toâi teân laø gì, toäc taùnh laø gì?" Ngöôøi aáy coù theå noùi nhö sau: "Toâi seõ khoâng ruùt muõi teân naøy ra khi naøo toâi chöa bieát ñöôïc ngöôøi ñaõ baén toâi laø cao hay thaáp, hay ngöôøi baäc trung". Ngöôøi aáy coù theå noùi nhö sau: "Toâi seõ khoâng ruùt muõi teân naøy ra khi naøo toâi chöa bieát ñöôïc ngöôøi ñaõ baén toâi laø da ñen, da saãm hay da vaøng". Ngöôøi aáy coù theå noùi nhö sau: "Toâi seõ khoâng ruùt muõi teân naøy ra khi naøo toâi chöa bieát ñöôïc ngöôøi ñaõ baén toâi thuoäc laøng naøo, thuoäc thò traán naøo, thuoäc thaønh phoá naøo". Ngöôøi aáy coù theå noùi nhö sau: "Toâi seõ khoâng ruùt muõi teân naøy ra khi naøo toâi chöa bieát caùi cung maø toâi bò baén, caùi cung aáy thuoäc loaïi cung thoâng thöôøng hay loaïi cung noû". Ngöôøi aáy coù theå noùi nhö sau: "Toâi seõ khoâng ruùt muõi teân naøy ra khi naøo toâi chöa bieát ñöôïc daây cung maø toâi bò baén, daây cung aáy laøm baèng caây leo, hay caây lau, hay moät thöù gaân, hay moät thöù daây gai, hay moät thöù caây coù nhöïa". Ngöôøi aáy coù theå noùi nhö sau: "Toâi seõ khoâng ruùt muõi teân naøy ra khi naøo toâi chöa bieát caùi teân maø toâi bò baén, caùi teân aáy thuoäc moät loaïi caây lau naøy hay caây lau khaùc". Ngöôøi aáy coù theå noùi nhö sau: "Toâi seõ khoâng ruùt muõi teân naøy ra khi naøo toâi chöa bieát caùi teân maø toâi bò baén, muõi teân aáy coù keát loâng gì, hoaëc loâng con keân, hoaëc loâng con coø, hoaëc loâng con où, hoaëc loâng con coâng, hoaëc loâng moät loaïi keùt". Ngöôøi aáy coù theå noùi nhö sau: "Toâi seõ khoâng ruùt muõi teân naøy ra khi naøo toâi chöa bieát caùi teân maø toâi bò baén, caùi teân aáy ñöôïc cuoán (parikkhittam) bôûi loaïi gaân naøo, hoaëc laø gaân boø caùi, hoaëc laø gaân traâu, hoaëc laø gaân nai, hoaëc laø gaân löøa". Ngöôøi aáy coù theå noùi nhö sau: "Toâi seõ khoâng ruùt muõi teân naøy ra khi naøo toâi chöa bieát caùi teân maø toâi bò baén, caùi teân aáy thuoäc loaïi teân nhoïn, hay thuoäc loaïi teân moùc, hay thuoäc loaïi teân nhö ñaàu saøo, hay thuoäc loaïi teân nhö raêng boø, hay thuoäc loaïi teân nhö keõm gai". Naøy Malunkyaputta, ngöôøi aáy seõ cheát vaø vaãn khoâng ñöôïc bieát gì.
Cuõng vaäy, naøy Malunkyaputta, ai noùi nhö sau: "Ta seõ soáng Phaïm haïnh theo Theá Toân khi naøo Theá Toân traû lôøi cho ta: "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn hay theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng... (nhö treân)... Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát", thôøi naøy Malunkyaputta, ngöôøi aáy seõ cheát (vaø) vaãn khoâng ñöôïc Nhö Lai traû lôøi.
Naøy Malunkyaputta, ñôøi soáng Phaïm haïnh khoâng theå noùi laø tuøy thuoäc vôùi quan ñieåm "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn". Naøy Malunkyaputta, ñôøi soáng Phaïm haïnh khoâng theå noùi laø tuøy thuoäc vôùi quan ñieåm "Theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng". Naøy Malunkyaputta, daàu cho coù quan ñieåm "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn", hay daàu cho coù quan ñieåm "Theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng", thôøi vaãn coù sanh, coù giaø, coù cheát, coù saàu, bi, khoå, öu, naõo, maø Ta giaûng daïy söï ñoaïn tröø ngay trong hieän taïi.
Naøy Malunkyaputta, ñôøi soáng Phaïm haïnh khoâng theå noùi laø tuøy thuoäc vôùi quan ñieåm "Theá giôùi laø höõu bieân". Naøy Malunkyaputta, ñôøi soáng Phaïm haïnh khoâng theå noùi laø tuøy thuoäc vôùi quan ñieåm "Theá giôùi laø voâ bieân". Naøy Malunkyaputta, daàu cho coù quan ñieåm "Theá giôùi laø höõu bieân", hay daàu cho coù quan ñieåm "Theá giôùi laø voâ bieân" thôøi vaãn coù sanh, coù giaø, coù cheát, coù saàu, bi, khoå, öu, naõo, maø Ta giaûng daïy söï ñoaïn tröø ngay trong hieän taïi.
Naøy Malunkyaputta, ñôøi soáng Phaïm haïnh khoâng theå noùi laø tuøy thuoäc quan ñieåm "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø moät". Naøy Malunkyaputta, ñôøi soáng Phaïm haïnh khoâng theå noùi laø tuøy thuoäc quan ñieåm "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø khaùc". Naøy Malunkyaputta, daàu cho coù quan ñieåm "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø moät", hay daàu cho coù quan ñieåm "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø khaùc", thôøi vaãn coù sanh, coù giaø, coù cheát, coù saàu, bi, khoå, öu, naõo maø Ta giaûng daïy söï ñoaïn tröø ngay trong hieän taïi.
Naøy Malunkyaputta, ñôøi soáng Phaïm haïnh khoâng theå noùi laø tuøy thuoäc quan ñieåm "Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát". Naøy Malunkyaputta, ñôøi soáng Phaïm haïnh khoâng theå noùi laø tuøy thuoäc quan ñieåm "Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát". Naøy Malunkyaputta, daàu cho coù quan ñieåm "Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát" hay daàu cho coù quan ñieåm "Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát," thôøi vaãn coù sanh, coù giaø, coù cheát, coù saàu, bi, khoå, öu, naõo maø Ta giaûng daïy söï ñoaïn tröø ngay trong hieän taïi.
Naøy Malunkyaputta, ñôøi soáng Phaïm haïnh khoâng theå noùi laø tuøy thuoäc vaøo quan ñieåm "Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát". Naøy Malunkyaputta, ñôøi soáng Phaïm haïnh khoâng theå noùi laø tuøy thuoäc vôùi quan ñieåm "Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát". Naøy Malunkyaputta, daàu cho coù quan ñieåm "Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát", hay daàu cho coù quan ñieåm: "Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát", thôøi vaãn coù sanh, coù giaø, coù cheát, coù saàu, bi, khoå, öu, naõo maø Ta giaûng daïy söï ñoaïn tröø ngay trong hieän taïi".
Do vaäy, naøy Malunkyaputta, haõy thoï trì laø khoâng traû lôøi nhöõng gì Ta khoâng traû lôøi. Haõy thoï trì laø coù traû lôøi nhöõng gì Ta coù traû lôøi. Vaø naøy Malunkyaputta, ñieàu gì Ta khoâng traû lôøi? "Theá giôùi laø thöôøng coøn", naøy Malunkyaputta laø ñieàu Ta khoâng traû lôøi. "Theá giôùi laø voâ thöôøng" laø ñieàu Ta khoâng traû lôøi. "Theá giôùi laø höõu bieân" laø ñieàu Ta khoâng traû lôøi. "Theá giôùi laø voâ bieân" laø ñieàu Ta khoâng traû lôøi. "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy laø moät" laø ñieàu Ta khoâng traû lôøi. "Sinh maïng naøy vaø thaân naøy khaùc" laø ñieàu Ta khoâng traû lôøi. "Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát" laø ñieàu Ta khoâng traû lôøi. "Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi sau khi cheát" laø ñieàu Ta khoâng traû lôøi. "Nhö Lai coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát" laø ñieàu Ta khoâng traû lôøi. "Nhö Lai khoâng coù toàn taïi vaø khoâng khoâng toàn taïi sau khi cheát" laø ñieàu Ta khoâng traû lôøi.
Vaø naøy Malunkyaputta, vì sao ñieàu aáy Ta khoâng traû lôøi? Naøy Malunkyaputta, vì ñieàu aáy khoâng lieân heä ñeán muïc ñích, ñieàu aáy khoâng phaûi laø caên baûn Phaïm haïnh, ñieàu aáy khoâng ñöa ñeán yeåm ly, ly tham, ñoaïn dieät, an tònh, thaéng trí, giaùc ngoä, Nieát-baøn, cho neân ñieàu aáy Ta khoâng traû lôøi.
Vaø naøy Malunkyaputta, ñieàu gì Ta traû lôøi? "Ñaây laø khoå", naøy Malunkyaputta laø ñieàu Ta traû lôøi". "Ñaây laø khoå taäp" laø ñieàu Ta traû lôøi. "Ñaây laø khoå dieät" laø ñieàu Ta traû lôøi. "Ñaây laø con ñöôøng ñöa ñeán khoå dieät" laø ñieàu Ta traû lôøi.
Vaø naøy Malunkyaputta,vì sao ñieàu aáy Ta traû lôøi? Naøy Malunkyaputta, vì ñieàu aáy coù lieân heä ñeán muïc ñích, ñieàu aáy laø caên baûn Phaïm haïnh, ñieàu aáy ñöa ñeán yeåm ly, ly tham, ñoaïn dieät, an tònh, thaéng trí, giaùc ngoä, Nieát-baøn, vì vaäy ñieàu aáy Ta traû lôøi. Do vaäy, naøy Malunkyaputta, haõy thoï trì laø khoâng traû lôøi nhöõng ñieàu Ta khoâng traû lôøi. Haõy thoï trì laø traû lôøi nhöõng ñieàu Ta coù traû lôøi.
Theá Toân thuyeát giaûng nhö vaäy. Toân giaû Malunkyaputta hoan hyû tín thoï lôøi Theá Toân daïy.
Hoøa thöôïng Thích Minh Chaâu dòch Vieät
Chaân thaønh caùm ôn anh HDC vaø nhoùm Phaät töû VH ñaõ coù thieän taâm göûi taëng aán baûn ñieän töû.
(Bình Anson hieäu ñính, döïa theo baûn Anh ngöõ "The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha", Tyø kheo Nanamoli vaø Tyø kheo Bodhi dòch, 1995).
10/99
Majjhima Nikaya 63
Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta
The Shorter Instructions to MalunkyaTranslation by Bhikkhu Thanissaro For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi at Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Then, as Ven. Malunkyaputta was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose in his awareness: "These positions that are undisclosed, set aside, discarded by the Blessed One -- 'The cosmos is eternal,' 'The cosmos is not eternal,' 'The cosmos is finite,' 'The cosmos is infinite,' 'The soul and the body are the same,' 'The soul is one thing and the body another,' 'After death a Tathagata exists,' 'After death a Tathagata does not exist,' 'After death a Tathagata both exists and does not exist,' 'After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist' -- I don't approve, I don't accept that the Blessed One has not disclosed them to me. I'll go ask the Blessed One about this matter. If he discloses to me that 'The cosmos is eternal,' that 'The cosmos is not eternal,' that 'The cosmos is finite,' that 'The cosmos is infinite,' that 'The soul and the body are the same,' that 'The soul is one thing and the body another,' that 'After death a Tathagata exists,' that 'After death a Tathagata does not exist,' that 'After death a Tathagata both exists and does not exist,' or that 'After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist,' then I will live the holy life under him. If he does not disclose to me that 'The cosmos is eternal,'...or that 'After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist,' then I will renounce the training and return to the lower life."
Then, when it was evening, Ven. Malunkyaputta arose from seclusion and went to the Blessed One. On arrival, having bowed down, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One, "Lord, just now, as I was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose in my awareness: 'These positions that are undisclosed, set aside, discarded by the Blessed One...I don't approve, I don't accept that the Blessed One has not disclosed them to me. I'll go ask the Blessed One about this matter. If he discloses to me that "The cosmos is eternal,"...or that "After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist," then I will live the holy life under him. If he does not disclose to me that "The cosmos is eternal,"...or that "After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist," then I will renounce the training and return to the lower life.'
"Lord, if the Blessed One knows that 'The cosmos is eternal,' then may he disclose to me that 'The cosmos is eternal.' If he knows that 'The cosmos is not eternal,' then may he disclose to me that 'The cosmos is not eternal.' But if he doesn't know or see whether the cosmos is eternal or not eternal, then, in one who is unknowing and unseeing, the straightforward things is to admit, 'I don't know. I don't see.'...If he doesn't know or see whether after death a Tathagata exists...does not exist...both exists and does not exist...neither exists nor does not exist,' then, in one who is unknowing and unseeing, the straightforward things is to admit, 'I don't know. I don't see.'"
"Malunkyaputta, did I ever say to you, 'Come, Malunkyaputta, live the holy life under me, and I will disclose to you that 'The cosmos is eternal,' or 'The cosmos is not eternal,' or 'The cosmos is finite,' or 'The cosmos is infinite,' or 'The soul and the body are the same,' or 'The soul is one thing and the body another,' or 'After death a Tathagata exists,' or 'After death a Tathagata does not exist,' or 'After death a Tathagata both exists and does not exist,' or 'After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist'?"
"No, lord."
"And did you ever say to me, 'Lord, I will live the holy life under the Blessed One and [in return] he will disclose to me that 'The cosmos is eternal,' or 'The cosmos is not eternal,' or 'The cosmos is finite,' or 'The cosmos is infinite,' or 'The soul and the body are the same,' or 'The soul is one thing and the body another,' or 'After death a Tathagata exists,' or 'After death a Tathagata does not exist,' or 'After death a Tathagata both exists and does not exist,' or 'After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist'?"
"No, lord."
"Then that being the case, foolish man, who are you to be claiming grievances/making demands of anyone?
"Malunkyaputta, if anyone were to say, 'I won't live the holy life under the Blessed One as long as he does not disclose to me that "The cosmos is eternal,"...or that "After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist,"' the man would die and those things would still remain undisclosed by the Tathagata.
"It's just as if a man were wounded with an arrow thickly smeared with poison. His friends and companions, kinsmen and relatives would provide him with a surgeon, and the man would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know whether the man who wounded me was a noble warrior, a priest, a merchant, or a worker.' He would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know the given name and clan name of the man who wounded me...until I know whether he was tall, medium, or short...until I know whether he was dark, ruddy-brown, or golden-colored...until I know his home village, town, or city...until I know whether the bow with which I was wounded was a long bow or a crossbow...until I know whether the bowstring with which I was wounded was fiber, bamboo threads, sinew, hemp, or bark...until I know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was wild or cultivated...until I know whether the feathers of the shaft with which I was wounded were those of a vulture, a stork, a hawk, a peacock, or another bird...until I know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was bound with the sinew of an ox, a water buffalo, a langur, or a monkey.' He would say, 'I won't have this arrow removed until I know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was that of a common arrow, a curved arrow, a barbed, a calf-toothed, or an oleander arrow.' The man would die and those things would still remain unknown to him.
"In the same way, if anyone were to say, 'I won't live the holy life under the Blessed One as long as he does not disclose to me that 'The cosmos is eternal,'...or that 'After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist,' the man would die and those things would still remain undisclosed by the Tathagata.
"Malunkyaputta, it's not the case that when there is the view, 'The cosmos is eternal,' there is the living of the holy life. And it's not the case that when there is the view, 'The cosmos is not eternal,' there is the living of the holy life. When there is the view, 'The cosmos is eternal,' and when there is the view, 'The cosmos is not eternal,' there is still the birth, there is the aging, there is the death, there is the sorrow, lamentation, pain, despair, and distress whose destruction I make known right in the here and now.
"It's not the case that when there is the view, 'The cosmos is finite,' there is the living of the holy life. And it's not the case that when there is the view, 'The cosmos is infinite,' there is the living of the holy life. When there is the view, 'The cosmos is finite,' and when there is the view, 'The cosmos is infinite,' there is still the birth, there is the aging, there is the death, there is the sorrow, lamentation, pain, despair, and distress whose destruction I make known right in the here and now.
"It's not the case that when there is the view, 'The soul and the body are the same,' there is the living of the holy life. And it's not the case that when there is the view, 'The soul is one thing and the body another,' there is the living of the holy life. When there is the view, 'The soul and the body are the same,' and when there is the view, 'The soul is one thing and the body another,' there is still the birth, there is the aging, there is the death, there is the sorrow, lamentation, pain, despair, and distress whose destruction I make known right in the here and now.
"It's not the case that when there is the view, 'After death a Tathagata exists,' there is the living of the holy life. And it's not the case that when there is the view, 'After death a Tathagata does not exist,' there is the living of the holy life. And it's not the case that when there is the view, 'After death a Tathagata both exists and does not exist,' there is the living of the holy life. And it's not the case that when there is the view, 'After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist' there is the living of the holy life. When there is the view, 'After death a Tathagata exists'...'After death a Tathagata does not exist'...'After death a Tathagata both exists and does not exist'...'After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist,' there is still the birth, there is the aging, there is the death, there is the sorrow, lamentation, pain, despair, and distress whose destruction I make known right in the here and now.
"So, Malunkyaputta, remember what is undisclosed by me as undisclosed, and what is disclosed by me as disclosed. And what is undisclosed by me? 'The cosmos is eternal,' is undisclosed by me. 'The cosmos is not eternal,' is undisclosed by me. 'The cosmos is finite'...'The cosmos is infinite'...'The soul and the body are the same'...'The soul is one thing and the body another'...'After death a Tathagata exists'...'After death a Tathagata does not exist'...'After death a Tathagata both exists and does not exist'...'After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist,' is undisclosed by me.
"And why are they undisclosed by me? Because they are not connected with the goal, are not fundamental to the holy life. They do not lead to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, calming, direct knowledge, self-awakening, Unbinding. That's why they are undisclosed by me.
"And what is disclosed by me? 'This is stress,' is disclosed by me. 'This is the origination of stress,' is disclosed by me. 'This is the cessation of stress,' is disclosed by me. 'This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of stress,' is disclosed by me. And why are they disclosed by me? Because they are connected with the goal, are fundamental to the holy life. They lead to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, calming, direct knowledge, self-awakening, Unbinding. That's why they are disclosed by me.
"So, Malunkyaputta, remember what is undisclosed by me as undisclosed, and what is disclosed by me as disclosed."
That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, Ven. Malunkyaputta delighted in the Blessed One's words.
Source: Access-to-Insight, http://world.std.com/~metta/canon/majjhima/mn63.html
Source = BuddhaSasana
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