[StevenS]

(I've mostly been reading Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation of this sutta, because the only other version I've seen online, which I believe was Bhikkhu Bodhi's, more or less reeked of eisegesis. If there's a better translation out there, please let me know.)

In this sutta, the Buddha is essentially saying that even if there is no "next world", Buddhist practice is still a good idea. That's nice. However, he also appears to be saying that not believing in a "next world" is wrong view. In fact, it seems almost impossible to interpret it in any other way, unless his talk of a "next world" is a metaphor, of course.

Not believing in this "next world" is, according to Thanissaro's interpretation, anti-Dhamma, and the Buddha basically says that you are bashing the arahants by not believing in it. Ouch.

From the sutta:

"Because there actually is the next world, the view of one who thinks, 'There is no next world' is his wrong view. Because there actually is the next world, when he is resolved that 'There is no next world,' that is his wrong resolve. Because there actually is the next world, when he speaks the statement, 'There is no next world,' that is his wrong speech. Because there actually is the next world, when he is says that 'There is no next world,' he makes himself an opponent to those arahants who know the next world. Because there actually is the next world, when he persuades another that 'There is no next world,' that is persuasion in what is not true Dhamma. And in that persuasion in what is not true Dhamma, he exalts himself and disparages others. Whatever good habituation he previously had is abandoned, while bad habituation is manifested. And this wrong view, wrong resolve, wrong speech, opposition to the arahants, persuasion in what is not true Dhamma, exaltation of self, & disparagement of others: These many evil, unskillful activities come into play, in dependence on wrong view. It has been suggested that the Buddha referred to beliefs of this kind as "right view with defilements" in the Maha Kammavibhanga Sutta. In the Apannaka Sutta, however, the Buddha appears to be defining these superstitious beliefs as right view (without defilements). Confusing to say the least.

Now, keep in mind that I'm an amateur when it comes to sutta reading. It's possible that my interpretation is completely whack, which is why I'm really interested in hearing whether anyone here has a different interpretation of this aspect of the sutta. Is the Buddha really saying that not believing in a "next world" is wrong view? Is he even referring to a literal world, or does he mean something else? Could he simply be referring to nibbana?

What's your opinion?

Overall a really cool sutta, by the way. I dig the somewhat agnostic/open-minded tone of the Buddha. Quite different from the attitude of most hell-fearing, self-proclaimed Dhamma experts over at DW, for example.