AN 6.38

Attakārīsutta

Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “ahañhi, bho gotama, evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi: ‘natthi attakāro, natthi parakāro’”ti. “Māhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁvādiṁ evaṁdiṭṭhiṁ addasaṁ vā assosiṁ vā. Kathañhi nāma sayaṁ abhikkamanto, sayaṁ paṭikkamanto evaṁ vakkhati: ‘natthi attakāro, natthi parakāro’ti.

One’s Own Volition

Then a certain brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: “Worthy Gotama, this is my doctrine and view: One does not act of one’s own volition, nor does one act of another’s volition.” “Brahmin, may I never see or hear of anyone holding such a doctrine or view! How on earth can someone who comes and goes on his own say that one does not act of one’s own volition, nor does one act of another’s volition?

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, atthi ārabbhadhātū”ti? “Evaṁ, bho”. “Ārabbhadhātuyā sati ārabbhavanto sattā paññāyantī”ti? “Evaṁ, bho”. “Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, ārabbhadhātuyā sati ārabbhavanto sattā paññāyanti, ayaṁ sattānaṁ attakāro ayaṁ parakāro.

What do you think, brahmin, is there an element of initiative?” “Yes, sir.” “Since this is so, do we find sentient beings who initiate activity?” “Yes, sir.” “Since there is an element of initiative, and sentient beings who initiate activity are found, sentient beings act of their own volition or that of another.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, atthi nikkamadhātu …pe… atthi parakkamadhātu … atthi thāmadhātu … atthi ṭhitidhātu … atthi upakkamadhātū”ti? “Evaṁ, bho”. “Upakkamadhātuyā sati upakkamavanto sattā paññāyantī”ti? “Evaṁ, bho”. “Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, upakkamadhātuyā sati upakkamavanto sattā paññāyanti, ayaṁ sattānaṁ attakāro ayaṁ parakāro.

What do you think, brahmin, is there an element of persistence … exertion … strength … endurance … exertion?” “Yes, sir.” “Since this is so, do we find sentient beings who have exertion?” “Yes, sir.” “Since there is an element of exertion, and sentient beings who have exertion are found, sentient beings act of their own volition or that of another.

Māhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁvādiṁ evaṁdiṭṭhiṁ addasaṁ vā assosiṁ vā. Kathañhi nāma sayaṁ abhikkamanto sayaṁ paṭikkamanto evaṁ vakkhati: ‘natthi attakāro natthi parakāro’”ti.

Brahmin, may I never see or hear of anyone holding such a doctrine or view! How on earth can someone who comes and goes on his own say that one does not act of one’s own volition, nor does one act of another’s volition?”

“Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”