Throughout the forty-five years after his enlightenment, the Buddha had answered many questions asked to him both by human beings and divine beings. Depending on the nature of the questions, the Buddha had largely responded using one of the four ways: 1) He gave unequivocal answers to questions which have direct answers; 2) He elaborated on answers to questions which require careful analysis; 3) He replied with counter-questions to guide the inquirer towards forming an answer; and 4) He kept some questions aside. In particular the Buddha kept silent on ten questions. These undeclared questions that were kept aside are:
(1) Is the universe eternal?
(2) Is the universe not eternal?
(3) Is the universe finite?
(4) Is the universe infinite?
(5) Are the soul and the body the same?
(6) Are the soul and the body not the same?
(7) Will the enlightened one be reborn after death?
(8) Will the enlightened one not be reborn after death?
(9) Will the enlightened one both be reborn and not be reborn after death?
(10) Will the enlightened one neither be reborn nor not be reborn after death?
It was recounted that while Venerable Malunkyaputta was in seclusion practising his meditation, these ten questions arose in his mind. He thus went to the Buddha with these questions, going so far as to insist that he would disrobe and renounce his training with the Buddha should the answers not be provided. The Buddha declined and instead calmly asked Venerable Malunkyaputta if a promise was made to answer these ten questions, or if a request was ever put forth for these questions to be answered in return for his practice with the Buddha. After Venerable Malunkyaputta replied in the negative, the Buddha said,
“Remember what I have declared as declared. Remember what I have not declared as what I have not declared. What I have not declared are these ten questions. The answers to these ten questions I have not declared. What I have declared: ‘This is suffering’, I have declared; ‘This is the cause of suffering’, I have declared; ‘This is the cessation of suffering’, I have declared; and ‘This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering’, I have declared. I have declared the Four Noble Truths. Why did I make these Four Noble Truths known and declared? This is because they are beneficial, leading to the cessation of suffering and enlightenment, and they lead to perfect peace, happiness and Nibbāna. Why did I not declare these ten questions? It is because they do not lead to enlightenment, peace and awakening.”
It had been speculated that the Buddha kept silent on these questions simply because he did not know the answers. This belief, however, could not be supported when the discourses were analysed – the Buddha had proclaimed on several occasions his ability to comprehend the unseen and unheard. One such discourse was in the Siṃsapā Forest where he took a handful of leaves and asked his disciples which are greater in number, those in his hand or those in the forest. Affirming his disciples’ answer that the number of leaves in the forest was undisputedly greater, he likened this to the difference between what he had taught and what he had known.
A second possible reason was that although the Buddha had the answers, their profundity meant that it was difficult to provide an explanation in a manner for the inquirers to comprehend. Indeed, immediately after his enlightenment, the Buddha hesitated to teach the Dhamma that he had realised due to its subtle, sublime and profound nature which is difficult for humans who are embroiled with delusions. The Buddha changed his mind after Brahma Sahampati, a divine being, entreated him to teach the Dhamma as there may be some who might see the Truth.
The third reason for Buddha’s silence was that the questions were speculative or wrongly composed, or that the questioners were not in the position to understand the answer. Answering these questions could only lead to more confusion. Instead, the Buddha encouraged individuals to practise diligently so as to attain enlightenment in order to realise the answers independently.
Finally, the Buddha’s refusal to answer could also stem from his refusal to fall into either of the two major belief systems of other religions – eternalism and nihilism. Answering these questions would have led the Buddha into a pitfall that he wisely avoided. In fact the answers to some of these questions about the universe have remained a mystery despite numerous scientific researches attempted over the years. However, in light of such researches, some theories formulated by various religions had been disproved. On the other hand, Buddha’s teachings, which focus on the Four Noble Truths, Dependent Origination, Three Marks of Existence and Five Aggregates of Clinging, are coexistent with science. Followers are thus encouraged not to be disappointed with Buddha’s non-answers as Buddhism, a spiritual path that leads to awakening, is fundamentally focused on suffering and the cessation of this suffering.
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