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III
THE MIDDLE WAY AND THE NON-ONESIDED' WAY
The Majjhimanikäya (Cūlamälunk ya-sutta) lists the ten avyäkata ‘not to be answered or explained questions as follows :
1. Is the loka (world, man) eternal ? 2. Is the loka not eternal ?
3. Is it (the loka) finite (with an end) ? 4. Is it not finite ? 5. Is that which is the body the soul ? (Is the soul identical
with the body ?)
6. Is the soul different from the body ? 7. Does the Tathāgata exist after death? 8. Does he not exist after death? 9. Does he both exist and not exist after death?
10. Does he neither exist nor not exist after death ?
Various speculations have been made with regard to these avyākata questions. One explanation is that these questions were irrelevant to the practical teachings of the Buddha, viz., the four noble truths. One can refer to the parable of the man shot with an arrow. When that man is bleeding to death, it is irrelevant, and rather stupid, to ask “Who shot the arrow ?” etc. For the immediate need would be to pull out the arrow and save the man from dying. In another place, the Buddha exposed how utterly senseless was the question about whether the Tathāgata exists after death or not. Let me quote the dialogue in full: Majjhimanikāya 11. 22., Vacchägottasutta.
“The Buddha: 'There is no need, Vacchā, to be confused, no need to resort to ignorance. This doctrine is, Vacchā, very deep, difficult to fathom, difficult to understand...Let me ask you questions, and you, Vacchā, try to answer as clearly as you can. What do you think of the following, Vacchā: “If a flame burns before you, would you know, that the flame is burning before you?"
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