old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

Chapter Sixty-Nine
Where Will the Buddha Go?
One day during a rainstorm, an ascetic named Uttiya came to visit the Buddha. Ananda led him into the hut and introduced him to the
Buddha. The ascetic was invited to sit down, and Ananda offered him a towel to dry himself.
Uttiya asked the Buddha, “Monk Gautama, is the world eternal or will it one day perish?”
The Buddha smiled and said, “Ascetic Uttiya, with your consent, I will not answer that question.”
Uttiya then asked, “Is the world finite or infinite?”
“I will not answer that question either.”
“Well then, are body and spirit one or two?”
“I will not answer that question either.”
“After you die, will you continue to exist or not?”
“This question too, I will not answer.”
“Or perhaps you hold that after death you will neither continue to exist nor cease to exist?”
“Ascetic Uttiya, I will not answer that question either.”
Uttiya looked confounded. He said, “Monk Gautama, you have refused to answer every question I’ve asked. What question will you
answer?”
The Buddha replied, “I only answer questions that pertain directly to the practice of gaining mastery over one’s mind and body in order
to overcome all sorrows and anxieties.”
“How many people in the world do you think your teaching can save?”
The Buddha sat silently. Ascetic Uttiya said no more.
Sensing that the ascetic felt that the Buddha didn’t want to answer him or was unable to, Ananda took pity on the man and spoke up,
“Ascetic Uttiya, perhaps this example will help you better understand my teacher’s intent. Imagine a king who dwells in a strongly fortified
palace surrounded by a wide moat and wall. There is only one entrance and exit to the palace which is guarded day and night. The vigilant
guard will only allow persons he knows into the palace. No one else is granted permission to enter. The guard has furthermore made a
careful check of the palace wall to make sure there are no gaps or cracks big enough for even a kitten to squeeze through. The king sits on
his throne without concern for how many people enter the palace. He knows the guard will prevent all unwelcome guests from entering. It is
similar for Monk Gautama. He is not concerned with the number of people who follow his Way. He is only concerned with teaching the
Way which has the capacity to dissolve greed, violence, and delusion, so that those who follow the Way can realize peace, joy, and
liberation. Ask my teacher questions about how to master the mind and body, and he will surely answer you.”
Ascetic Uttiya understood Ananda’s example, but because he was still entangled in questions of a metaphysical nature, he asked no
more. He departed feeling somewhat unsatisfied with his encounter with the Buddha.
A few days later, another ascetic, named Vacchagota, came to visit the Buddha. He asked the Buddha questions of a similar nature. For
instance, he asked, “Monk Gautama, could you please tell me whether or not there is a self?”
The Buddha sat silently. He did not say a word. After asking several questions and receiving no reply, Vacchagota stood up and left.
After he was gone, Venerable Ananda asked the Buddha, “Lord, you speak about the non-self in your Dharma talks. Why wouldn’t you
answer Vacchagota’s questions about the self?”
The Buddha replied, “Ananda, the teaching on the emptiness of self is meant to guide our meditation. It is not to be taken as a doctrine.
If people take it as a doctrine, they will become entangled by it. I have often said that the teaching should be considered as a raft used to
cross to the other shore or a finger pointing to the moon. We should not become caught in the teaching. Ascetic Vacchagota wanted me to
hand him a doctrine, but I do not want him to become trapped by any doctrine, whether it be a doctrine of the self or the non-self. If I told
him there was a self, that would contradict my teaching. But if I told him there was no self and he clings to that as a doctrine, it would not
benefit him. It is better to remain silent than to answer such questions. It is better for people to think I do not know the answers to their
questions than for them to become trapped in narrow views.”