the Buddha refused to Answer 14 Questions

[Plenum]

I did not know this previously.

The 14 Questions are really only 4 Questions, but phrased in different ways implying an answer. These are the Questions:

Is the world eternal?
or not?
or both?
or neither?

Is the world finite?
or not?
or both?
or neither?

Is the self identical with the body?
or is it different from the body?

Does the Tathagata exist after death?
or not?
or both?
or neither?

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the questions are a bit more comprehensible when expanded out:

1. Are the self and the universe eternal?
2. Are the self and universe transient?
3. Are the self and the universe both eternal and transient?
4. Are the self and the universe neither eternal nor transient?

5. Do the self and the universe have a beginning?
6. Do the self and the universe have no beginning?
7. Do the self and the universe have both beginning and no beginning?
8. Do the self and the universe have neither beginning nor no beginning?

9. Does the Blessed One exist after death?
10. Does the Blessed One not exist after death?
11. Does the Blessed One both exist and not exist after death?
12. Does the Blessed One neither exist nor not exist after death?

13. Is the mind the same as the body?
14. Are the mind and body two separate entities?

- -

the reasons the Buddha gave for this refusal were:

It's said that the Buddha would not answer these questions because they were simply intellectual diversions and not concerned with the true knowledge that could end suffering and bring enlightenment.

The Buddha compared those who ask such questions to a man wounded by a poisoned arrow. Instead of allowing a doctor to remove the arrow, the injured man insists first on finding out the caste, name, and clan of the man who shot him. He wants to know if he's dark or fair, and whether he lives in a town, village, or city. The injured man is also obsessed with the weapon used to shoot him and must know if it was a longbow or a crossbow and what the bowstring was made of. What kind of wood was the arrow made of, the man asks, and what bird did the feathers come from which lined the shaft?

- -

there is an intellectual/philosophical side to Buddhism that is as deep as any in the Western Tradition, but at it's core, I think Buddhism is concerned with practical matters, things that affect direct experience, and possibly improve it.

- -

I think that Ra is also attempting to impart the same pragmatic knowledge, within the bounds of the questions that Don posed. Ra did answer 'conspiracy type' questions when posed, but they seemed to prefer the eternal truths, the one's that would directly lead one back to unity/intelligent infinity.

- -

funnily enough, I think that the Law of One actually addresses these 4/14 Questions that the Buddha wouldn't touch.