Ajita-Keśakambala

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Ajita Keśakambala (T. mi pham skra'i la ba can). A prominent teacher of the Cārvāka (Lokayta) school, one of the sramana traditions in India during the Buddha’s time.[1] His doctrine is recounted in the Pāli Sāmaññaphala Sutta, "where he is claimed to have denied the efficacy of moral cause and effect because of his materialist rejection of any prospect of transmigration or rebirth."[1]

Bhikkhu Bodhi states:

Ajita Kesakambala’s doctrine was a straightforward materialism which maintained that the person is essentially identical with his body. The breaking up of the body at death thus entails the utter annihilation of the person, without any principle of conscious continuity beyond the grave or moral retribution for deeds.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Buswell & Lopez 2014, s.v. Ajita.
  2. ↑ Bhikkhu Bodhi 2008, Introduction.

Sources

Further reading