The Related Suttas Collection 44.4

1. The Undeclared Points

With Sāriputta and Koṭṭhita (2nd)

At one time Venerable Sāriputta and Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita were staying near Varanasi, in the deer park at Isipatana. …

(The same down as far as:)

“What’s the cause, friend, what’s the reason why this has not been declared by the Buddha?”

“Friend, not truly knowing and seeing form, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation, one thinks ‘a Realized One still exists after death’ or ‘A Realized One no longer exists after death’ or ‘a Realized One both still exists and no longer exists after death’ or ‘a Realized One neither still exists nor no longer exists after death.’

Not truly knowing or seeing feeling … perception … functioning patterns … consciousness, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation, one thinks ‘a Realized One still exists after death’ or ‘A Realized One no longer exists after death’ or ‘a Realized One both still exists and no longer exists after death’ or ‘A Realized One neither still exists nor no longer exists after death.’

Truly knowing and seeing form … feeling … perception … functioning patterns … consciousness, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation, one doesn’t think ‘a Realized One still exists after death’ or ‘A Realized One no longer exists after death’ or ‘a Realized One both still exists and no longer exists after death’ or ‘a Realized One neither still exists nor no longer exists after death.’

This is the cause, this is the reason why this has not been declared by the Buddha.”