On one occasion Ven. Sāriputta and Ven. Mahā Koṭṭhita were staying near Vārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana. Then Ven. Mahā Koṭṭhita, emerging from his seclusion in the evening, went to Ven. Sāriputta and exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to Ven. Sāriputta, “Now then, friend Sāriputta, does the Tathāgata exist after death?”
“That, friend, has not been declared by the Blessed One: ‘The Tathāgata exists after death.’”
“Well then, friend Sāriputta, does the Tathāgata not exist after death?”
“Friend, that too has not been declared by the Blessed One: ‘The Tathāgata does not exist after death.’”
“Then does the Tathāgata both exist and not exist after death?”
“That has not been declared by the Blessed One: ‘The Tathāgata both exists and does not exist after death.’”
“Well then, does the Tathāgata neither exist nor not exist after death?”
“That too has not been declared by the Blessed One: ‘The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death.’”
“Now, friend Sāriputta, when asked if the Tathāgata exists after death, you say, ‘That has not been declared by the Blessed One: “The Tathāgata exists after death.”’ When asked if the Tathāgata does not exist after death… both exists and does not exist after death… neither exists nor does not exist after death, you say, ‘That too has not been declared by the Blessed One: “The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death.”’ Now, what is the cause, what is the reason, why that has not been declared by the Blessed One?”
“‘The Tathāgata exists after death’ is immersed in form. ‘The Tathāgata does not exist after death’ is immersed in form. ‘The Tathāgata both exists and does not exist after death’ is immersed in form. ‘The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death’ is immersed in form.
“‘The Tathāgata exists after death’ is immersed in feeling…
“‘The Tathāgata exists after death’ is immersed in perception…
“‘The Tathāgata exists after death’ is immersed in fabrication…
“‘The Tathāgata exists after death’ is immersed in consciousness. ‘The Tathāgata does not exist after death’ is immersed in consciousness. ‘The Tathāgata both exists and does not exist after death’ is immersed in consciousness. ‘The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death’ is immersed in consciousness.
“This is the cause, this is the reason, why that has not been declared by the Blessed One.”
Origin URL: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN44_3.html