Pãyãsi Sutta : The Evidence of Refusing and Affirming Next Life in Buddha’s time

Abstract

Pãyãsi Sutta is the historical evidence, showing the controversy of thought between  Buddhism  and the other contemporaneous cults. The contents in the sutta’s are quotations of the reasons refusing and affirming the existence of next life which are the King Pãyãsi, as a representative of materialism negated the existence of the next life by giving hypothetical argument along with the proof by Emperical  method and finally concluded that there is no next life. Only this world exists. Other entities beyond the recognition of our five sense-organs, do not exist. On the other hand, Ven. Kumara Kassapa, as a representative of Buddhism, affirmed the existence of the next life by analogical argument. He argued that things that we cannot see or hear also exist. It is so, owing to the limitation of ear sense-organs. He explains the abstract things by giving analogy to make it more understandable to the audience.         The content of Pãyãsi Sutta can be applied to Thai Societies in order that the teaching of the next life and the law of Kamma will render more reasonable. It will be a good instrument for teaching and preaching the abstract one, as exemplified by arguments of both Pãyãsi and Ven. Kumara Kassapa. This will lead to rightly understanding and finally to the right practice in Buddhism.