The History of Buddhist Thought c18.41

c18.41

In spite of this repeated refusal to make any assertion one way or the other, Oldenberg came to the conclusion that it was a mere shirking of the question in order not to shock a weak-minded hearer.² He quoted another legend of Vacchagotta, who came and asked Buddha whether the ātman exists, and then whether it is non-existent. In each case Buddha remained silent. After Vacchagotta had gone, Ānanda asked Buddha why he did not reply. “ If, Ānanda, when Vacchagotta asked, ‘ is there an ātman ? ’ I had said, ‘ there is an ātman,’ then I should have been one of those ascetics and brahmins who hold the doctrine of eternalism. But if I had replied ‘ there is no ātman ’, then I should have been one of those who hold the doctrine of annihilation. And if, when Vacchagotta asked ‘ is there an ātman ’ ? I had replied, ‘ there is an ātman,’ would it have been in accordance with the knowledge that all things are without ātman ? ” “ No, Lord.” “ If I had said, ‘ there is no ātman,’ the bewildered Vacchagotta would have become still more bewildered, thinking, ‘ then did my ātman exist before, and now it does not exist ? ’ ” 3