[embefuri]

Element, yes, I think the Anguttara Kikaya is quite large. I sought to relate the particular words quoted with Stephen Batchelor's own viewpoint, which has been known to cause controversy on occasion.

hi

the relevent discourse is as follows:

kind regards



If there is a world after death, if there is the fruit of actions rightly & wrongly done, then this is the basis by which, with the break-up of the body, after death, I will reappear in a good destination, the heavenly world. This is the first assurance he acquires.

But if there is no world after death, if there is no fruit of actions rightly & wrongly done, then here in the present life I look after myself with ease — free from hostility, free from ill will, free from trouble. This is the second assurance he acquires.

If evil is done through acting, still I have willed no evil for anyone. Having done no evil action, from where will suffering touch me? This is the third assurance he acquires.

But if no evil is done through acting, then I can assume myself pure in both respects. This is the fourth assurance he acquires.

Kalama Sutta