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46 . JAINISM AND BUDDHISM me tam anulomam abhavissa nanassa upâdâya savve dhamma anattati nohe tambhante Ahamchananda Bachchhagottassa Paribhajakassa Natthattati puttho samano natthattati V yakareyyam. Sammudhassa Ananda Bachchhagottassa bhiyyo sammohảya abhavissa ahame nûna pubbe attâ so etarhi natthiti.”
“Once a Bachchagotta Paribrajaka went to Buddha, met Him and after talking pleasantly, sat aside and asked the question, “Gotam, Is there a soul ?” On this Gotam did not reply, but remained silent. Again he asked, “ Gotam! Is there no soul.” Then“ even he remained silent. Then, Bachchhagotta got up and went away. Just after his departure the Bhikṣu Ananda asked the Lord, “Why did you not reply to the questions of Bachchhagotta." Then Lord Gotama said “Ananda, if in reply to the question of Bachchhagotta
Is there a soul, I told him, 'there is soul,' then O Ananda I would have sided with those saints and Brahmans who maintain things (totally) indestructible : and Ananda ! if I had replied to the question of Bachchhagotta “Is there no soul' that there is no soul, then I would have sided with those Saints and Brahmans who maintain that every thing is transitory and destructible. Ananda ! if I would have replied to the question of Bachchhagotta that there is soul, then would that saying of mine be correct when I had said that for acquisition of Truth all things are not
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