Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s7.t16.30

v1.c7.s7.t16.30

Agamas contain many of his deeds or ideas. For instance, the *Samyuktagama sutra* in Book 31, mentions his opposition to killing, As Nigantha says, “Those who kill and keep killing frequently are destined for naraka, and so are those who tell lies.” According to Bie Yi Za A Han Jing, “Nigantha Nataputta often says: all those who take life are destined for a state of deprivation, are destined for hell. All those who steal… All those who indulge in illicit sex… All those who tell lies are destined for a state of deprivation, are destined for hell. Whatever one keeps doing frequently, by that is one led to a state of rebirth”. One reaps what he sows. What about religious practices? As the *Dirghagama-sutra* (Book 17) states, someone asks Nigantha Nataputta, “Great merit, like a man rides an elephant or a horse and the like, now has retribution, will those that are now cultivating themselves have retribution?” Nigantha replies, “I am omniscient and know everything. Like walking, staying, sitting and lying down, wisdom will arise when a full knowledge is there.” He does not give a direct reply, and uses “omniscient” to answer the question of retribution. The *Ekottaragama-sutra*, in Book 51, reports Nigantha as “persuasive, often deranged and unsettled”, and in Book 41, states that Nigantha has similar ideas as other teachers, and reports, “there is an old man in Rājagriha, named Shi Li Jue,…… neglectts Buddhist dharma but follows the heterodox Nigantha. The King and ministers all know him. Then, non-orthodox Brahmans and Nigantha as well as laymen and monks belittle Buddhism, including all Six Teachers.” This revealed some of Nigantha Nataputta’s features and his view on Buddhism.