[314] "Even though the worthy Kassapa says this, still it seems to me here thus: 'There is no other world; there are no beings spontaneously reborn (opapātika); there is no fruit or result of deeds well done or ill done.'"
"But is there, chieftain, a method (pariyāya) …"
"There is, worthy Kassapa, a method …"
"Like what, chieftain?"
"Here, worthy Kassapa, my men arrest a bandit, a criminal, and present him to me, saying: 'Venerable sir, this is your bandit, a criminal. Pronounce whatever punishment you wish for him.' I say to them: 'Well then, sirs, deprive this man of life without damaging his outer skin, inner skin, flesh, sinews, bones, or bone-marrow. Perhaps we shall see his soul (jīva) departing.' Having replied, 'Very well,' they deprive that man of life without damaging his outer skin, inner skin, flesh, sinews, bones, or bone-marrow. When he is half-dead, I say to them: 'Well then, sirs, lay this man on his back. Perhaps we shall see his soul departing.' They lay that man on his back. We do not see his soul departing. I say to them: 'Well then, sirs, lay this man face down; lay him on his side; lay him on the other side; stand him upright; stand him head downwards; strike him with the hand; strike him with clods; strike him with sticks; strike him with blades; shake him downwards, shake him about, shake him thoroughly. Perhaps we shall see his soul departing.' They shake that man downwards, shake him about, shake him thoroughly. We do not see his soul departing. For him that very eye is present, and those forms are present, yet he does not experience that sense base (āyatana). That very ear is present, and those sounds are present, yet he does not experience that sense base. That very nose is present, and those odors are present, yet he does not experience that sense base. That very tongue is present, and those tastes are present, yet he does not experience that sense base. That very body is present, and those tangibles are present, yet he does not experience that sense base. This too, worthy Kassapa, is the method by which I hold thus: 'There is no other world; there are no beings spontaneously reborn; there is no fruit or result of deeds well done or ill done.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.