Questions of King Milinda Part 02

SR No.: 007682
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1894
Total Pages: 2240
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 38 MB

Page 81

IV, 6, 10.
A Tathagata, an Arahat Buddha supreme, is great; and he is alone in the world. Wherever any one of these spring up, then there is no room for a second. And therefore, O king, is it that only one Tathagata, an Arahat Buddha supreme, can appear at one time in the world.'
OF MILINDA THE KING.
'Well has the puzzle, Nâgasena, been discussed by simile adduced and reason given. Even an unintelligent man on hearing this would be satisfied; how much rather one great in wisdom as myself. Very good, Nagasena! That is so, and I accept it as you say.'
51
[Here ends the dilemma as to why there should be only one Buddha at a time in the world.]
[DILEMMA THE FIFTY-THIRD.
WHY SHOULD GIFTS BE GIVEN TO THE ORDER RATHER
THAN TO THE BUDDHA?]
[240] 10. 'Venerable Nâgasena, the Blessed One said to his mother's sister1, Mahâ- Pagâpati the Gotami, when she was about to give him a cloth wrapper for use in the rainy season 2:
"Give it, O Gotamâ, to the Order. If the Order is presented by you with it, then will you have paid homage thereby alike to the Order and to me "."
'But what, Nagasena? Is not the Tathagata of
1 There is no general word in Pâli for aunt or uncle. There are separate expressions for each of the degrees of relationship expressed by those words in English-mother's brother, father's sister, &c.
Vassika-sâfikâ. See the note at 'Vinaya Texts,' vol. ii, p. 225 (Sacred Books of the East, vol. xvii).
From the Ganta Sutta (Magghima Nikâya, No. 142). See Mr. Trenckner's note.
E 2
Digitized by
Google