A Short Talk with Mālunkya

MN 63

This is what I heard. One time the Buddha was staying at Savatthi, in Jeta’s grove, Anathapindika’s park.

At that time Venerable Malunkya was alone in meditation. He thought,

“There are several questions the Buddha hasn’t answered, he refuses to explain these:

Is the world eternal or not? Is it infinite or finite?

Are the soul and the body the same thing or different things?

After death, does a Transcendent Buddha exist or not? Do they both exist and not exist at the same time? Or do they neither exist nor not exist?

I don’t like this. I will have to go ask him. I’ll keep practicing the spiritual life with him if he answers my questions. If he doesn’t, I’ll just go back to regular life.”

Then, in the evening, Malunkya got up and went to the Buddha. He saluted and sat next to him,

“I was thinking about the questions you refuse to answer, the ones you have left unexplained, like ‘is the world eternal?’

I can’t stand it anymore, and decided that unless you explain these to me, I’m leaving.

Please, if you know these things, just tell me. And if you don’t, just be straight with me and say that you don’t know.”

The Buddha said,

“Malunkya, did I ever say I would explain things like the infinity of the world and so on if you came to train with me?”

“No, sir.”

“And did you ever ask me to explain these questions when you started practicing spirituality with me?”

“No, sir.”

“Then don’t be a fool, you are not in a position to give up anything yet.

Malunkya, imagine if someone were to say, ‘I won’t live the spiritual life unless the Buddha explains if the world is eternal, or infinite and so on. Well, that person would eventually die without knowing these things because I will never explain any of it.

This is like if a man was hit by a poisoned arrow and his friends and family called a medic to treat his wound. But the man would insist,

‘Don’t pull the arrow out yet, I need to know who fired it. Was it a priest, a nobleman, merchant or worker? What is his name and clan? What is his height and skin color? What town, city or village is he from?

Tell me was it a longbow or a crossbow, what kind of fiber was the bow-string made of, bamboo thread, sinew or hemp? What was used for the arrow, falcon, peacock, stork or vulture feathers?

How did they tie these to the shaft, did they use the sinews of a cow, monkey, antelope, or a buffalo? Was the arrowhead spiked, razor, or barbed? Was it made of iron or tooth?’

And so, that man would just die without knowing any of these things.

Just like that, if someone says they won’t practice spirituality with the Buddha without knowing if the world is eternal or finite or what happens to a Buddha after death and so on, they will just die without having made the Buddha answer these pointless questions.

If you think that living a spiritual life has anything to do with views like these, you’re wrong. It doesn’t matter whether you think the world is eternal or finite.

Whether or not you think that a realized Buddha exists after death, there is still rebirth, old age and death. There is still sorrow, grief, pain, sadness, and distress. What I actually teach is the destroying of these things.

Therefore Malunkya, remember what I have not explained, like whether the world is eternal and so on. Remember that I have left those questions unanswered.

Why? Because they aren’t helpful or useful for the practice of spirituality. They don’t lead to disenchantment, dispassion, peace, insight, awakening and nirvana.

Also, remember what I have explained. What do I teach? Suffering, the source of suffering, the end of craving and the way that takes you there.

Why? Because they are useful and relevant for the spiritual life. They lead to disenchantment, dispassion, peace, insight, awakening and vanishing.

So, remember what I have explained and also what I have not explained.”

That is what the Buddha said and Venerable Malunkya was happy.