looking for a sutta

[jaycee]

hi

i'm writing an essay on the rehabilitation of the concept of the self in buddhism and i am looking for a particular sutta. I'm looking for the moment when the Buddha answers two different questioners with the same question about the existence of the self with two different answers, telling the Brahmin there is no self and the nihilist that there is self.

any help would be very welcome thanks

jaycee

[piotr]

Hi Jaycee

There is only one sutta in the Pāli Canon where the Buddha is asked point blank whether self exists or not (SN 44.10).

[jaycee]

cheers for that.

I'm sure i read or was told by my tutor about another sutra where Buddha answers a nihilist and a brahmin but i can use the quote you gave me equally as well in my essay,

thanks

[piotr]

Hi Jaycee,

As far as I know there is no sutta that would exactly fit your description.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

I'm looking for the moment when the Buddha answers two different questioners with the same question about the existence of the self with two different answers, telling the Brahmin there is no self and the nihilist that there is self.

I think the Vacchagotta Sutta given is the right reference.