The Debate of King Milinda

Author: Bhikkhu Pesala
Translator(s)/ Editors(s): Bhikkhu Pesala
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 114
ISBN/UPC (if available): 9788120808935

Description

The Milinda Panha is, with good reason, a famous work of Buddhist literature, probably compiled in the first century B.C. It presents Buddhist doctrine in a very attractive and memorable form as a dialogue between a Bactrian Greek king, Milinda, who plays the `Devil`s Advocate` and a Buddhist sage, Nagasena. The topics covered include most of those questions commonly asked by Westerners such as "If there is no soul, what is it that is reborn'" and "If there is no soul, who is talking to you now?"

This abridgement provides a concise presentation of this master-piece of Buddhist literature. This abridgement provides a concise presentation of this masterpiece of Buddhist literature. The introduction outlines the historical background against which the dialogues took place, indicating the meeting of two great cultures--that of ancient Greece and the Buddhism of the Indus valley which was a legacy of the great Emperor Asoka. It is hoped that the adequate references, glossary, index and list of Pali quotations will provide readers with an incentive to read further from the translations of the Pali texts.

Contents

Foreword by Series Editor
Foreword
Editor’s Preface
Milinda’s India
Introduction
The Rise of the Magadha Kingdom
The Rise of the Bactrian Kingdom
Comparison with the Chinese Text
The Arrangement of the Pali Book
Abbreviations

THE DEBATE OF KING MILINDA
Prologue

THE GREAT CHAPTER
A question of Concepts

THE LONG JOURNEY
Continuity of Dhamma

SUSTAINED APPLICATION
Beginning the Journey

NIBBANA
Separation of Phenomena

THE BUDDHA
Did the Buddha Exist?

MINDFULNESS
Attachment to the Body

MENTALITY IS HARD TO DISCERN
Memory

THE RESOLUTION OF PARADOXES
Preliminary Discussion
1. On Honours Paid to the Buddha
2. The Omniscience of the Buddha
3. Devadatta’s Ordination
4. Causes of Earthquakes
5. Asseveration of Truth
6. The Paradox of Conception
7. The Duration of the Religion
8. Purity of the Buddha
9. Perfection of the Buddha
10. Equanimity of the Buddha

THE SCHISM CHAPTER
11. The Minor and Lesser Precepts
12. The Esoteric Teaching
13. The Fear of Death
14. Protection from Death
15. The Power of Mara
16. Knowledge of Wrong Doing
17. The Buddha is Not Order
18. The Unity of the Order

THE DISMISSAL CHAPTER
19. Dhamma is Best
20. The Compassion of the Buddha
21. The Modesty of the Buddha
22. The Buddha’s Perfect Speech
23. The Talking Tree
24. The Last Meal
25. Adoration of Relics
26. The Buddha’s Foot is Injured
27. The True Recluse
28. The Boasting of the Buddha
29. Who Deserves Punishment?
30. Dismissal of the Order

THE OMNISCIENCE CHAPTER
31. The Murder of Moggallana
32. Secrecy of the Vinaya
33. Intentional Lying
34. Investigations of the Bodhisatta
35. On Suicide
36. Protection by Loving-kindness
37. Why Did Devadatta Prosper?
38. The Weakness of Women
39. Venerable Ananda’s Courage
40. The Buddha’s Change of Heart

THE DWELLING PLACE CHAPTER
41. On Dwelling Places
42. Restraint of the Stomach
43. The Best of Men
44. The Ancient Path
45. The Bodhisatta’s Weakness
46. Respect for the Robe
47. The Merit of the Potter
48. King or Brahman?
49. Right Livelihood
50. The Reluctance of the Buddha
51. The Buddha’s Teachers

QUESTIONS SOLVED BY INFERENCE
1. Two Buddhas Cannot Exist Together
2. Gifts to the Order
3. The Advantage of a Recluse’s Life
4. The Practice of Austeroties
5. Reverting to Laylife
6. The Mastery of the Crimes
7. The Unvirtuous
8. Is Water Alive?
9. Is Water Alive?

THE IMPEDIMENTS CHAPTER
10. Be Without Impediments
11. The Lay Arahant
12. The Offences of Arahants
13. What is Not Found in the World
14. The Uncaused
15. Modes of Production
16. Demons
17. Laying Down of Rules
18. The Heart of the Sun
19. The Winter Sun

THE VESSANTARA CHAPTER
20. The Gift of Vessantara
21. Austerities
22. The Power of Evil
23. Sharing of Merit
24. Dreams
25. Premature Death
26. Miracles at Shrines of Arahants
27. Can Everyone Understand the Dhamma?
28. The Bliss of Nibbana
29. Description of Nibbana
30. The Realisation of Nibbana
31. Where is Nibbana?

THE INFERENCE CHAPTER
32. A Question Solved by Inference
33. The Ascetic Practices

THE SIMILES
1. The Donkey
2. The Cockerel
4. The Female Panther
7. The Bamboo
10. The Monkey
12. The Lotus
20. The Ocean
21. The Earth
22. Water
27. The Moon
30. The Universal Monarch
35. The Mongoose
40. The Elephant
46. The Indian Crane
47. The Bat
48. The Leech
50. The Rock Snake
60. The Carpenter
61. The Waterpot

Biography
Glossary
Quotations
Index