Satkaayad.r.s.ti.  the Buddha  points  out that some

　　   recluses and Brahmans by erroneous  observations  of

　　   the skandhas  give  rise  to the false  notion  of a

　　   soul,  but  those  who  are  wise  never  make  this

　　   mistake.  Here the talk is about  the mere existence

　　   of a soul  with  reference  to the skandhas, and not

　　   the eternity or impermanence of soul. It is apparent

　　   that the Buddha  is rejecting  the Satkaayad.r.s.ti.

　　   The Buddha  does not find it necessary  to offer any

　　   extra  argument   in  favour  of  his  view,  as  he

　　   addresses  his own disciples who have absolute faith

　　   in his wisdom.

　　　　  ii) Criticism of 'Saa'svatavaada: In the account

　　   of  the  Brahmajaalasutta   which  we  have  already

　　   discussed, the Buddha gives critical description  of

　　   the  heresy  of  'Saa'svatavaada  in the  form  of a

　　   legend.   He  points  out  that  some  recluses  and

　　   Brahmanas  believe  in eternal  individual  soul for

　　   they can remember  their  past lives  in this world.

　　   The sutta implies  that the memory of the past lives

　　   is  genuine   though  the  interpretation   of  such

　　   experiences  is wrong.  In this  passage  no logical

　　   argument  is advanced  justifying  the rejection  of

　　   this heresy.  It will, however, be clear  later from

　　   our  discussion  of another  passage  from  the same

　　   sutta that the Buddha rejects this view on the basis

　　   of  his  more   extensive   knowledge   and   higher

　　   knowledge.

　　　　  iii)  Criticism of Ekaccasassatavaada: Like  the

　　   legend   about   the   'Saa'svatavaada,  the  legend

　　   concerning　　 the　　 Ekaccasassatavaada　　 in　　 the

　　   Brahmajaalasutta  implicitly  contains the criticism

　　   of the concept of an eternal soul. The legend states

　　   that

　　　　　　　　　　　　  P.410

　　   the beings  who died in the Brahmaa  world were born

　　   in  this  world.  While  in this  world  they  could

　　   remember their past birth in the Brahma-vimaana, but

　　   had no knowledge of their still earlier birth in the

　　   Aabhassara   world,  nor  could   they   know   that

　　   Mahaabrahmaa  is also subject to death.  This legend

　　   suggests that the incomplete experience coupled with

　　   imperfect  knowledge  led these beings  to interpret