z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 05.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 399
HIS SERMONS
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So seated, the venerable Sariputta said to the venerable Kassapa the Great. “How now friend Kassapa ? Does the Tathagata exist beyond death?
“Undeclared is it, friend, by the Exalted One that the Tathagata exists beyond death.
“What then friend? Does the Tathagata both exist and not exist beyond death ?
“This also, friend, is undeclared by the Exalted One.
“How then, friend ? Does the Tathagata neither not exist beyond death ? That also, friend, is not declared by the Exalted One.
“But why, friend, has it not been declared by the Exalted One?”
“This is a question not concerned with profit to humanity or with the first principles of holy life. It does not lead to perfect wisdom nor to Nihbana. That, friend, is why it is not declared by the Exalted One.”
§ 3. Prayers and Invocations to God are a Futility
Once the Blessed Lord speaking to Vasettha said :
“If this river Achiravati were full of water even to the brim and overflowing, and a man with business to be done on the further bank of it should come up, and want to cross over :
“And standing on that bank, he should invoke the further bank and say : ‘Come hither, O further bank ! Come over to this side !’
“Now what think you, Vasettha ? Would the further bank of the river Achiravati, by that man’s invoking and praying, and hoping, and praising, come over to this side ?
“In just the same way, Vasettha, do the Brahmins, versed in the three Vedas, omitting the practice of those qualities which really make a man a Brahmin, and adopting the practice of those qualities which really make men non-Brahmins say thus :
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