zen koans, dharma's talks, & buddhism stories

Saturday Sep 23 2023 03:32PM ET

º login º register º email º guestbook º printer friendly

Do not go after the past,
Do not lose yourself in the future.
For the past no longer exists,
And the future is not yet here.
By looking deeply at things just as they are,
In this moment, here and now,
The seeker... continue...

z
.
e
.
n

STORIES, BOOKS & MEDIA
» koans, stories & words » zen readings » recommended books » book reviews » art & prints » audio, videos, DVD's

AFTER-DEATH EXISTENCE & BELIEF TO THE BUDDHA
A wandering monk called Vaccha asked the Buddha if the Buddha would still exsist after death. The Buddha replied:
"Vaccha, the idea that I would exist or not exist after death - such ideas lead to dense jungles and arid deserts, to entanglements as though caught by thorns. They bring about anger, delusion, and argument and they do not bring about peace, knowledge, or wisdom leading to enlightenment. I do not take up any of these ideas."

"Then has the Buddha any belief of his own?"
"Vaccha, I have nothing to do with beliefs or theories, but declare what I know. I declare the nature of form, how it arises and how it perishes; the nature of perception, how it arises and how it perishes. And because I have completely abandoned all fantasies, false ideas, and imaginings about the nature of self or anything to do with the self, I am freed from self."

From Digha Nikaya of the Buddha
Edited by Anne Bancroft

Chon Tri 01/02/2011

SUPPORT ZENGUIDE.COM

If you are planning on purchasing any product from amazon.com, you can help us out by using the search box to the right or by clicking on this link to begin shopping.

Purchase posters, art prints, media (music CD & DVD)

TENZIN GYASTO, XIV DALAI LAMA
by Olivier Follmi
→Puchase this Item
→More Art Prints & Media
→Zen & Buddhism books

s
.
t
.
o
.
r
.
i
.
e
.
s
.
,
.

.
b
.
o
.
o
.
k
.
s
.

.
&
.

.
m
.
e
.
d
.
i
.
a
.