[83] S. Does the person (puggala) transmigrate (sandhāvati) from this world to the other world, and from the other world to this world?
P. Yes.
S. Does the very same person transmigrate from this world to the other world, and from the other world to this world?
P. It should not be said thus. …
S. Does the very same person transmigrate from this world to the other world, and from the other world to this world?
P. Yes.
S. Is there anyone who, having been a human, becomes a deva?
P. Yes.
S. Is the very same human that deva?
P. It should not be said thus. …
S. Is the very same human that deva?
P. Yes.
S. Having been a human, he becomes a deva; having been a deva, he becomes a human — one who has come to be a human. The deva is one; the one who has come to be a human is another. [To say,] "This very same one transmigrates," is wrong. … For if the very same person — not another — transmigrates, passing away from here to the other world, then there will be no death; even the destruction of life (pāṇātipāta) will not be found. There is kamma; there is the result of kamma (kammavipāka); there is the result of deeds that have been done. When wholesome and unwholesome deeds are ripening, [to say,] "This very same one transmigrates," is wrong. …
S. Does the very same person transmigrate from this world to the other world, and from the other world to this world?
P. Yes.
S. Is there anyone who, having been a human, becomes a yakkha, becomes a peta (hungry ghost), becomes a hell-being (nerayika), becomes an animal, becomes a camel, becomes an ox, becomes a donkey, becomes a pig, becomes a buffalo?
P. Yes.
S. Is the very same human that buffalo?
P. It should not be said thus. …
S. Is the very same human that buffalo?
P. Yes.
S. Having been a human, he becomes a buffalo; having been a buffalo, he becomes a human — one who has come to be a human. The buffalo is one; the one who has come to be a human is another. [To say,] "This very same one transmigrates," is wrong. … For if the very same person — not another — transmigrates, passing away from here to the other world, then there will be no death; even the destruction of life will not be found. There is kamma; there is the result of kamma; there is the result of deeds that have been done. When wholesome and unwholesome deeds are ripening, [to say,] "This very same one transmigrates," is wrong. …
S. Does the very same person transmigrate from this world to the other world, and from the other world to this world?
P. Yes.
S. Is there anyone who, having been a khattiya (noble), becomes a brahmin (brāhmaṇa)?
P. Yes.
S. Is the very same khattiya that brahmin?
P. It should not be said thus. …
S. Is there anyone who, having been a khattiya, becomes a vessa (merchant class), becomes a sudda (menial class)?
P. Yes.
S. Is the very same khattiya that sudda?
P. It should not be said thus. …
S. Is there anyone who, having been a brahmin, becomes a vessa, becomes a sudda, becomes a khattiya?
P. Yes.
S. Is the very same brahmin that khattiya?
P. It should not be said thus. …
S. Is there anyone who, having been a vessa, becomes a sudda, becomes a khattiya, becomes a brahmin?
P. Yes.
S. Is the very same vessa that brahmin?
P. It should not be said thus. …
S. Is there anyone who, having been a sudda, becomes a khattiya, becomes a brahmin, becomes a vessa?
P. Yes.
S. Is the very same sudda that vessa?
P. It should not be said thus. …
S. Does the very same person transmigrate from this world to the other world, and from the other world to this world?
P. Yes.
S. Does one whose hand has been cut off remain just one whose hand is cut off? Does one whose foot has been cut off remain just one whose foot is cut off? Does one whose hands and feet have been cut off remain just one whose hands and feet are cut off? One whose ear has been cut off, one whose nose has been cut off, one whose ear and nose have been cut off, one whose finger has been cut off, one whose thumb has been cut off, one whose tendons have been severed, one with a crooked hand, one with a splayed hand, a leper, one afflicted with boils, one with eczema, a consumptive, an epileptic, a camel, an ox, a donkey, a pig, a buffalo — does a buffalo remain just a buffalo?
P. It should not be said thus. …
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.