12.
Discourse on After Death
155.
On one occasion the Venerable Mahākassapa and the Venerable Sāriputta were dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana.
Then the Venerable Sāriputta, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, approached the Venerable Mahākassapa;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Mahākassapa.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Venerable Mahākassapa -
"Now what, friend Kassapa, does the Truth-finder exist after death?"
"This, friend, has been left undeclared by the Blessed One -
'The Truth-finder exists after death.'"
"But what, friend, does the Truth-finder not exist after death?"
"This too, friend, has been left undeclared by the Blessed One -
'The Truth-finder does not exist after death.'"
"Now what, friend, does the Truth-finder both exist and not exist after death?"
"This, friend, has been left undeclared by the Blessed One -
'The Truth-finder both exists and does not exist after death.'"
"But what, friend, does the Truth-finder neither exist nor not exist after death?"
"This too, friend, has been left undeclared by the Blessed One -
'The Truth-finder neither exists nor does not exist after death.'"
"And why, friend, has this been left undeclared by the Blessed One?"
"Because, friend, this is not connected with the goal, not fundamental to the holy life, it does not lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna.
Therefore this has been left undeclared by the Blessed One."
"Then what, friend, has been declared by the Blessed One?" "'This is suffering' - this, friend, has been declared by the Blessed One; 'This is the origin of suffering' - this has been declared by the Blessed One; 'This is the cessation of suffering' - this has been declared by the Blessed One; 'This is the practice leading to the cessation of suffering' - this has been declared by the Blessed One." "And why, friend, has this been declared by the Blessed One?" "Because, friend, this is connected with the goal, this is fundamental to the holy life, this leads to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna. Therefore this has been declared by the Blessed One." The twelfth.