The soul as an image of Nirvana: from 'The Questions of King Milinda.'

(excerpt from 'Buddhist Texts Throughout the Ages')(Peace issue)

by Edward  Conze; I.B. Horner ; David Snellgrove  ; Arthur Haley

Parabola

Vol.21 No.3 ( Fall 1996)

Pp.18-19

COPYRIGHT 1996 Society for the Study of Myth and Tradition

            According to Buddhist tradition, King Milinda (c. 155 B.C.E.) was a 
            local ruler of a province in India that had been part of the 
            conquests of Alexander the Great (d. 323 B.C.E.). Archaeological 
            evidence indicates that Buddhism had reached some degree of official 
            status under King Milinda. Popular Buddhist legend recounts that in 
            his constant search for new truths, King Milinda asked a number of 
            fundamental questions about the basic teachings of the Buddha. The 
            text is preserved as a dialogue between King Milinda and Nagasena, a 
            representative of Buddhism. 
            KING MILINDA SAID: "I will grant you, Nagasena, that Nirvana is 
            absolute Ease, and that nevertheless one cannot point to its form or 
            shape, its duration or size, either by simile or explanation, by 
            reason or by argument. But is there perhaps some quality of Nirvana 
            which it shares with other things, and which lends itself to a 
            metaphorical explanation?" 
            "Its form, O king, cannot be elucidated by similes, but its 
            qualities can." 
            "How good to hear that, Nagasena! Speak then, quickly, so that I may 
            have an explanation of even one of the aspects of Nirvana! Appease 
            the fever of my heart! Allay it with the cool sweet breezes of your 
            words!" 
            "Nirvana shares one quality with the lotus, two with water, three 
            with medicine, ten with space, three with the wishing jewel, and 
            five with a mountain peak. As the lotus is unstained by water, so is 
            Nirvana unstained by all the defilements.--As cool water allays 
            feverish heat, so also Nirvana is cool and allays the fever of the 
            passions. Moreover, as water removes the thirst of men and beasts 
            who are exhausted, parched, thirsty, and overpowered by heat, so 
            also Nirvana removes the craving for sensuous enjoyments, the 
            craving for further becoming [the craving for reincarnation], the 
            craving for the cessation of becoming [the craving for the end of 
            reincarnation].--As medicine protects from poison, so Nirvana from 
            the torments of the poisonous passions. Moreover, as medicine puts 
            an end to sickness, so Nirvana to all sufferings. Finally, Nirvana 
            and medicine both give security.--And these are the ten qualities 
            which Nirvana shares with space. Neither is born, grows old, dies, 
            passes away, or is reborn; both are unconquerable, cannot be stolen, 
            are unsupported, are roads respectively for birds and Arhats 
            [Someone who is or is becoming a Buddha] to journey on, are 
            unobstructed and infinite.--Like the wishing jewel, Nirvana grants 
            all one can desire, brings joy, and sheds light.--As a mountain peak 
            is lofty and exalted, so is Nirvana. As a mountain peak is 
            unshakeable, so is Nirvana. As a mountain peak is inaccessible, so 
            is Nirvana inaccessible to all the passions. As no seeds can grow on 
            a mountain peak, so the seeds of all the passions cannot grow in 
            Nirvana. And finally, as a mountain peak is free from all desire to 
            please or displease, so is Nirvana." 
            "Well said, Nagasena! So it is, and as such I accept it."