“Twice I have asked the Sakyan,” said Venerable Mogharāja, “but you haven’t answered me, O Clear-eyed One. I have heard that the divine seer answers when questioned a third time.
Regarding this world, the other world, and the realm of divinity with its gods, I’m not familiar with the view of the renowned Gotama.
So I have come seeking with a question for the one of excellent vision. How to look upon the world so the King of Death won’t see you?”
“Look upon the world as empty, Mogharāja, ever mindful. Having uprooted the theory of self, you may thus cross over death. That’s how to look upon the world so the King of Death won’t see you.”
The Questions of Mogharāja
Snp 5.16 · Mogharājamāṇavapucchā
Connections
Collection & context
- Sutta NipātaThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
Books
- On The Way To The Far Shore: Q&A with The Buddha on the Way to AwakeningLeigh Brasington · Commentary
- Dependent Origination and Emptiness: Streams Of Dependently Arising Processes Interacting, 2nd EditionLeigh Brasington · Referenced in this book
- Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.