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About this text

The 大薩遮尼乾子所說經 is a striking Mahāyāna discourse that unfolds through dialogue, presenting the Buddha’s teaching in direct engagement with a learned non-Buddhist interlocutor, the Nigaṇṭha (Jain) teacher Satyaka Nirgrantha-putra.

Rather than dismissing alternative views outright, the Buddha meets them precisely where they stand — examining assumptions, probing inconsistencies, and guiding the discussion toward insight through calm reasoning and experiential clarity. The text demonstrates how wisdom responds not with hostility or dogma, but with patience, discernment, and compassion.

In this sutra, liberation is shown not as allegiance to a doctrine, but as freedom from clinging to views themselves. The Buddha challenges rigid asceticism, extreme self-mortification, and fixed metaphysical positions, revealing how attachment to views — even spiritual ones — can obscure awakening.

At the heart of the sutra is a quiet but powerful principle:
when views are examined without defensiveness,
wisdom emerges naturally —
and liberation becomes possible.

The dialogue illustrates that genuine inquiry requires humility. Even great learning or discipline becomes an obstacle when it hardens into identity. True understanding arises when one is willing to see directly, beyond inherited positions and conceptual pride.

Several key themes shape this text:

• Dialogue as practice — wisdom refined through respectful engagement
• Non-attachment to views — freedom beyond philosophical allegiance
• Middle Way discernment — avoiding extremes of indulgence or mortification
• Compassionate challenge — correcting error without contempt
• Liberating insight — seeing reality beyond conceptual fixation

Unlike texts that speak primarily to committed practitioners, this sutra models how the Dharma encounters other paths, offering a timeless example of inter-traditional dialogue grounded in clarity rather than compromise.

As a practice text, it invites reflection on how we hold our own views:
Can we examine them honestly?
Can we listen without defensiveness?
And can wisdom remain flexible, compassionate, and free?

Dedication:
To the joy and wisdom of Teacher Charles

Credits

Narration, Script & Research: Created entirely through NotebookLM and supporting AI tools
Source: CBETA Taishō Canon T0272 — 大薩遮尼乾子所說經
Produced by: The Dharma × Tech Foundation