Eleven Questions That Buddha Didn't Want to Answer (WE-54)
The 11 unanswered questions, often referred to as the Avyakata (unanswered or undeclared) questions, are a set of metaphysical or speculative inquiries that the Buddha chose not to answer.
His silence on these matters was because he believed such questions were not conducive to enlightenment and liberation but instead led to confusion and distraction.
The 11 questions are:
1. Is the universe eternal?
2. Is the universe not eternal?
3. Is the universe finite?
4. Is the universe infinite?
5. Is the self identical with the body?
6. Is the self different from the body?
7. Does the Tathagata (the Buddha or an enlightened being) exist after death?
8. Does the Tathagata not exist after death?
9. Does the Tathagata both exist and not exist after death?
10. Does the Tathagata neither exist nor not exist after death?
11. What is the origin of the world?
Buddha's Reason for Silence:
The Buddha explained that these questions do not lead to liberation from suffering. He emphasized practical teachings focused on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, which provide a direct path to enlightenment and the cessation of suffering.
His approach was pragmatic and aimed at addressing the immediate problem of human suffering rather than engaging in speculative philosophy.
This perspective is reflected in his parable of the "Arrow", where he likens these speculative questions to a person shot with a poisoned arrow who refuses treatment until all irrelevant questions about the arrow and the shooter are answered.
The priority, he taught, should be removing the arrow (suffering) rather than indulging in unanswerable questions.
What do you think? Was he right in not answering these questions?
Thank you for this article, Aman. My understanding is that the Buddha only answered questions that would lead to the cessation of suffering, as you said. He didn't engage in speculative philosophical conversations. He was single-focused in his intent to end all suffering for sentient beings.
I do believe he chose wisely. The mind can get lost in so many rabbit holes that it's endless. Best to use focused single-minded discourse to get to the root. And his root was the end of suffering.