Purana Kassapa
Also called: Purana Kashyapa · Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Pūraṇa Kassapa (also called Pūraṇa Kashyapa) was a teacher who lived at the same time as the Buddha. He taught that actions, good or bad, bring no moral result. In his view, killing or stealing brings no sin, and giving gifts brings no merit. This view is called akiriyavāda, the "doctrine of non-action", because it denies that deeds have any moral effect. We know his ideas only from rival Buddhist texts.
Example
In the Sāmaññaphala Sutta of the Buddhist Sutta Pitaka, King Ajātasattu of Magadha reports to the Buddha what six rival teachers believe. Pūraṇa Kassapa is one of them. He is said to hold that even a man who killed every creature on earth would earn no evil from it.
Don't confuse with
- Makkhali Gosāla: the Ājīvika leader taught that everything is fixed in advance by fate. Pūraṇa Kassapa denied that deeds bring moral reward or punishment at all.