The questions the Buddha refused to answer.

In light of these posts I've seen about discussing religion, defining agnosticism, seeing reality and such, I thought it was a good time to present the questions the Buddha refused to answer. If you asked him about these things, he would simply remain silent. I'll explain that in a minute.

These are sometimes referred to the ten questions, sometimes the fourteen. Whatever. They are (in modern English):

Is time real?
Is time an illusion?
Is it both?
Is it neither?

Is space real?
Is space an illusion?
Is it both?
Is it neither?

Is there life after death?
Is there no life after death?
Is it both?
Is it neither?

Are the soul/self and the body the same?
Are the soul/self and the body different?

When asked these questions the Buddha would simply be silent.

Why? Because it is all so much mental masturbation. The answers (if there are any, if they can be known would do nothing to inform one regarding how to take care of the present moment. Taking care of the present moment is the only task at hand.

There's wisdom in this.