[Dokescoonse]

The Milinda Panha Sutta was probably written round the turn of the first century B.C. It represents a dialogue between a Nagasena,, and an Indo-Greek king called Menander (which becomes Milinda in Pali), who desired to find out about Buddhism. The Milinda Panha is very long and adopts great detail on the wide selection of issues by what the Buddha taught. Nevertheless, Nagasena's theories about revival are especially interesting if you ask me. He provides similes about how exactly revival sometimes happens without transmigration (reincarnation). http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/milinda.htm I'll publish the part that I found most fascinating, and I hope others will provide reactions and their type observations to it: 5. The king said: 'Where there's no transmigration, Nagasena, could there be Revival'? 'Yes, there may.' 'But just how can that be? Give me an example .' 'Suppose a guy, E king, were to light a lamp from still another lamp, could it be Stated that the main one transmigrates from, or even to, another '? 'Certainly perhaps not.' 'Just therefore, good master, is rebirth without transmigration.' 'Give me an additional example.' 'Do you remember, good master, having learned, when you were a child, some passage or different from your own teacher'? 'Yes, I remember that.' 'Well then, did that passage transmigrate from your own teacher'? 'Certainly perhaps not.' 'Just therefore, good master, is rebirth without transmigration.' 'Very great, Nagasena'! D&d 6. The king said: 'Can there be any such thing, Nagasena, whilst the spirit 1'? 'In the greatest sense, E king, there's no such thing 2.' p. 112 'Very great, Nagasena'! Differentiations 7. [72] The king said: 'Can there be any being, Nagasena, who transmigrates out of this body to a different '? 'No, there's perhaps not.' 'But if that's the case, might it not get free of its bad actions.' 'Yes, if it weren't reborn; but if it were, no 1.' 'Give me an example .' 'Suppose, E king, a guy were to take still another man's mangoes, could the robber deserve consequence'? 'Yes.' 'But he'd not need taken the mangoes another occur the floor. Why Could he deserve punishment'? 'Because those he took were caused by those that were grown.' 'Just therefore, good master, this name-and-form commits actions, either real or Contaminated, and by that Karma another name-and-form. is reborn. And consequently could it be Perhaps not set free of its bad actions'? 'Very great, Nagasena'! D&d 8. The king said: 'When actions are determined, Nagasena, by one name-and-form, what becomes of these actions'? 'The actions might follow it, E king, such as for instance a shadow that never leaves it 2.' 'Can anyone explain those deeds, saying: "Here are those deeds, or there"'? 'No.' p. 113 'Give me an example .' 'Now what you think, O king? Could anyone explain the fruits which a tree Hasn't yet created, saying: "Here they're, or there"'? 'Certainly perhaps not, Sir.' 'Just so, good master, so long whilst the continuity of life isn't stop, it's Difficult to indicate the actions which are done.' 'Very great, Nagasena'! D&d 9. [73] The king said: 'Does he, Nagasena, who's going to be reborn Realize that he'll be created'? 'Yes, he knows it, E king.' 'Give me an example .' 'Suppose a player, E king, a householder, were to place seed in-the floor, and it were to water well, would he realize that a harvest would be created.' 'Yes, he'd realize that .' 'Just therefore, good master, does he who's going to be reborn know 1 that he'll be Created.' 'Very great, Nagasena 2'! D&d 10. The king said: 'Can there be this type of individual whilst the Buddha, Nagasena'? 'Yes.' 'Can then he, Nagasena, be stated to be here or there'? 'The Blessed One, E king, has passed away by that type of moving away in which nothing remains which might often the development of another p. 114 Personal 1. It Isn't possible to indicate the Blessed One to be here or there.' 'Give me an example .' 'Now what you think, O king? If you find an excellent human anatomy of fire raging, is it possible to point out anyone fire that's gone out, that it's here or there'? 'No, Sir. That relationship has ceased, it's disappeared.' 'Just therefore, good master, has got the Blessed One died by that type of moving away by which no origin remains for that development of still another person. The Blessed You have arrived at a finish, and it can't be stated of him, he is here or there. However in your body of his doctrine he is able to, E master, be stated. For that doctrine 2 was preached by the Blessed One'? 'Very great, Nagasena'!