A questioner asks whether a realized one still exists, no longer exists, both, or neither after death; the Buddha has not declared any of these four positions as they do not lead to liberation.

SN 44.5 With Sāriputta and Koṭṭhita (3rd)

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ca sāriputto, āyasmā ca mahākoṭṭhiko bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye …pe…

(sāyeva pucchā.)

“Ko nu kho, āvuso, hetu ko paccayo, yenetaṁ abyākataṁ bhagavatā”ti?

“Rūpe kho, āvuso, avigatarāgassa avigatacchandassa avigatapemassa avigatapipāsassa avigatapariḷāhassa avigatataṇhassa ‘hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa hoti …pe… ‘neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa hoti. Vedanāya …pe… saññāya …pe… saṅkhāresu …pe… viññāṇe avigatarāgassa avigatacchandassa avigatapemassa avigatapipāsassa avigatapariḷāhassa avigatataṇhassa ‘hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa hoti …pe… ‘neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa hoti.

Rūpe ca kho, āvuso, vigatarāgassa …pe… vedanāya …pe… saññāya …pe… saṅkhāresu …pe… viññāṇe vigatarāgassa vigatacchandassa vigatapemassa vigatapipāsassa vigatapariḷāhassa vigatataṇhassa ‘hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa na hoti …pe… ‘neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa na hoti.

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yenetaṁ abyākataṁ bhagavatā”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ca sāriputto, āyasmā ca mahākoṭṭhiko bārāṇasiyaṁ viharanti isipatane migadāye …pe…

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

(sāyeva pucchā.)

(The same down as far as:)

“Ko nu kho, āvuso, hetu ko paccayo, yenetaṁ abyākataṁ bhagavatā”ti?

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

“Rūpe kho, āvuso, avigatarāgassa avigatacchandassa avigatapemassa avigatapipāsassa avigatapariḷāhassa avigatataṇhassa ‘hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa hoti …pe…

“Reverend, if you’re not rid of greed, desire, fondness, thirst, passion, and craving for form …

‘neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa hoti.

Vedanāya …pe…

feeling …

saññāya …pe…

perception …

saṅkhāresu …pe…

choices …

viññāṇe avigatarāgassa avigatacchandassa avigatapemassa avigatapipāsassa avigatapariḷāhassa avigatataṇhassa ‘hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa hoti …pe…

consciousness, you think ‘a realized one still exists after death’ …

‘neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa hoti.

‘a realized one neither still exists nor no longer exists after death.’

Rūpe ca kho, āvuso, vigatarāgassa …pe…

If you are rid of greed for form …

vedanāya …pe…

feeling …

saññāya …pe…

perception …

saṅkhāresu …pe…

choices …

viññāṇe vigatarāgassa vigatacchandassa vigatapemassa vigatapipāsassa vigatapariḷāhassa vigatataṇhassa ‘hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa na hoti …pe…

consciousness, you don’t think ‘a realized one still exists after death’ …

‘neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā’tipissa na hoti.

‘a realized one neither still exists nor no longer exists after death.’

Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, hetu, ayaṁ paccayo, yenetaṁ abyākataṁ bhagavatā”ti.

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

Pañcamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Affection

Affection

A mental quality of tender affection and fond regard, often wholesome when rooted in kindness, which inclines the mind toward warmth and care. When unguarded, it may turn toward fixation upon what is 'dear,' leading the mind to attachment and the grief that follows separation from what has been clung to as 'dear'.

Also known as: fondness, love, tender regard
Pāli: pema
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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Passion

Passion

Intense desire or lust that dyes the mind. It fixates on the features of objects, coloring perception with infatuation and making it difficult to see things as they truly are.

Also known as: burning fever, intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust
Pāli: rāga
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Last updated on July 27, 2026