Brahmajāla Sutta

The Discourse on Brahma's Net

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Translated by Max Makki


The Theories
The Round of the Future

Theories About Consciousness Surviving Death

"There are recluses and Brahmans, monks, who, upon sixteen grounds, theorize that consciousness survives death. What are the means and references that these honorable recluses and Brahmans use?

They say: 'The soul, upon death, is not subject to decay, remains conscious, and:

  • Has a form
  • Is formless
  • Both has a form and is without form
  • Neither has a form nor is without form
  • Is finite
  • Is infinite
  • Is both finite and infinite
  • Is neither finite nor infinite
  • Possesses a singular ability for perception
  • Possesses a diverse ability for perception
  • Is limited in perception
  • Is unlimited in perception
  • Is always happy
  • Is always miserable
  • Is both happy and miserable
  • Is neither happy nor miserable.'

These, monks, are those recluses and Brahmans who, upon sixteen grounds, theorize that consciousness survives death. Recluses and Brahmans who theorize that consciousness survives death do so only within the boundaries of these sixteen cases.

Monks, the Tathāgata understands how these misguided theories were formulated. These are the Dhammas that an outsider, when speaking well of the Tathāgata, might speak."

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