Sanjaya Belatthiputta
Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Sañjaya Belaṭṭhiputta was a teacher who lived at the same time as the Buddha. He was a sceptic, meaning someone who doubts that sure knowledge is possible. When people asked him big questions, such as whether there is a next world, he would not say yes or no. Buddhist texts mock this habit as "eel-wriggling", because he slipped away from every question. His school is one of the many sects of the Buddha's age.
Example
According to Buddhist tradition, Sāriputta and Moggallāna were his pupils at first. They later left him to follow the Buddha and became two of the Buddha's chief disciples. Sañjaya also appears among the six rival teachers in the Sāmaññaphala Sutta, where King Ajātasattu of Magadha reports their views to the Buddha.
Don't confuse with
- Syādvāda (Jaina): Jainas also give qualified answers ("in some way, it is"), but they do so to show that truth has many sides. Sañjaya refused to give any firm answer at all.