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Vacchogata asked Buddha, “What is the reason Master ,that we should not ponder over them?” “We should not ponder over them because ,such brooding has nothing to do with genuine pure conduct, does not lead to aversion, detachment, extinction, nor to peace, nor to full comprehension, enlightenment and Nirvana. People those who are accustomed to thinking in these terms, will remain entangled and not attain liberation. Neither of these views corresponds to the way things really are. The world does not exist absolutely or does not exist absolutely in time. The world is dependent on causes and conditions i.e. ignorance, craving, and clinging of living beings. Hence the question of the absolute existence or nonexistence of the world is unanswerable. Enlightened person understands that the view which is true in all respects cannot be given any particular description.” Vacchogata was filled with joy, but he still had some more questions left unanswered. “Is it true Master Gautama, that enlightened person like you, ‘exists’ after death?” Buddha remained silent. “Is it true Master Gautama, that enlightened person like you, ‘doesn’t exist’ after death?” “Is it true Master Gautama, that enlightened person like you, both ‘exists’ and ‘does not exist’ after death?” Buddha still, remained silent. “Then it must be true Master Gautama, that people like you, neither ‘exists’ nor ‘doesn’t exist’ after death? Buddha smiled and asked Vacchogata, “Suppose someone was to ask you, 'A fire that has gone out in front of you, in which direction from here has it gone? Is it East, West, North or South?' Thus asked, how would you reply?" "That doesn't apply, Master Gautama. Any fire burning dependent on a sustenance of grass and timber, being undernourished — from having consumed that sustenance and not being offered any other — is classified simply as 'out'”, replied Vacchogata. The Buddha further continued: "Even so, Vaccha, any physical form by which one describing the Buddha would describe him: That form the Buddha has abandoned, its root destroyed, made like a Palmyra stump, deprived of the conditions of development, not destined for future arising. Freed from the classification of form, Vaccha, the Buddha is deep, boundless, hard to fathom, like the sea. 'Reappears or exists' doesn't apply. 'Does not exist' doesn't apply. 'Both does & does not exist' doesn't apply. 'Neither exists nor does not exist' doesn't apply.
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