The Debate of King Milinda

by Unknown, Bhikkhu Pesala (Editor)

The Milinda Paha 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, Nàgasena. 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 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, and list of Pali quotations will provide readers with an incentive to read further from the translations of the Pali texts.

Genres: Philosophy, Buddhism, Religion, Nonfiction, India

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 101

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Unknown" when the author or editor (as applicable) is not known and cannot be discovered. If at all possible, list at least one actual author or editor for a book instead of using "Unknown".

Books whose authorship is purposefully withheld should be attributed instead to Anonymous.

Reviews

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most astounding exposition of the Buddha's teachings I have ever come across. it resonates with the spirit of the modern inquirer, with his/her ceaseless probing into the depths of the nature of reality, with an endless stream of questions that answers to the apparent contradictions in the teachings, and the answers of Nagasena to the great king Milinda are as relevant today as they were in those days. The version I'm reading (by bhikkhu Pesala) is a quick read which adds to the dynamism of the debate between an atypical monk and a disciple king.

[7vika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giving a very good insight into the Buddhist beliefs and practices, the debate clears doubts even a non follower has.
Helps your stranded mind from confusion and ficklesness.

[James Violand · Rating 2 out of 5]

I believe every great religion - with one exception - searches for God and instills a discipline of loving kindness to make this world a better place. This book is a classic in the Pali Canon of the lesser vehicle of Buddhism - Theravada. Supposedly a dialogue between the Bactrian Greek King Milinda and a Buddhist sage, Nagasena, it explains Buddhist doctrine to a civilized Greek proficient in the dialectic to arrive at truth. Apart from advocating Theravada's basic truths, I find this book disappointing. To anyone conversant with philosopy, it obviously was written by someone who had no exposure to that broad subject. Instead of arriving at basic truth through a true dialogue between a philosopher and an advocate, Milinda is in awe at simple similes by Nagasena that never answer his questions. Why it has canonical status bewilders me. Yet, as I've said before, it espouses in its own way, a uniform creed shared by nearly all religions. Some similies are easily remembered for their universal application.

[Jalkukda · Rating 4 out of 5]

First contact between a Greek king and an Indian buddhist monk, really cool stuff !
My favorite aphorism :
The Marks of Attention and Wisdom (I,8)

King Milinda said: "What is the distinguishing mark of attention and what is the distinguishing mark of wisdom?" "Examination is the distinguishing mark of attention and

cutting off is the distinguishing mark of wisdom." "How is this so? Make a simile."

"Do you know about barley-reapers, sire?" "Yes. revered sir. I do."

"How, sire, do barley-reapers reap barley?"

"Revered sir, grasping a handful of barley in the left hand and a sickle in the right, they cut it off with the sickle.

"Even so, sire, does one who is devoted to mental training take hold of the mind with attention and cut off the defile- ments with wisdom."

"You are dexterous, revered Nāgasena."

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some useful answers in here to questions a practitioner is likely to be asked, and also some questions and answers which are clearly a product of their time.

I'm presently comparing this edition to Rhys David's more direct translation. I can't, at this time, recommend one over the other.

[Gurmukh Sandhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ancient wisdom

[Kandachamy Vijayakumaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and simple rendition of the Milindapanna. Exemplary demonstration of question-and-answer mode of education.

[Karimayed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un'edizione ottimamente curata, con un apparato di note e commenti che aiutano ad apprezzare compiutamente questo testo della letteratura buddista.

[Gerardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

(IN SPANISH BELOW)

The Questions of King Milinda collects the series of questions and answers (allegedly) posed by the historical greek King Melandro to Nagasena, a Buddhist monk. The topics cover all the spectrum of the Mulasarvastivadin Buddhist philosophy (one of the Shravakayanas schools of thought), including what is Nirvana, the aggregates, the ultimate nature of things, the Four Noble Truths, reincarnation and the (non)existence of a soul.

The questions are clever and the answers sparkle full of lucid metaphors and similes that help convey the deep meaning of the Buddhadharma. Moreover, the book is written in such a way that you can almost feel like you're witnessing the debate between these two great figures, eagerly reading and flipping the pages to see whether Nagasena does convince the always inquiring, never satisfied King. In this regard, I very much appreciate that the first book (out of the three that compose this volume) is devoted to tracing the origins of these two great men, their knowing each other dating back to the Buddha Kashyapa's dispensation, when they were both monks who, because of their pledges at that time, came to know each other again in our time to set an ancestral intelectual dispute.

I recommend this book to any student of Buddhism, regardless of their being in the Shavaka or the Mahayana system, for its clarity, straightforward explanations of the Buddhist teachings, aswell as for the historical value that it has, being one of the few (if not only) documents recording one of the first contacts in spiritual terms between East and West.


Las preguntas del rey Milinda recoge la serie de preguntas y respuestas supuestamente planteadas por el histórico rey griego Melandro a Nagasena, un monje budista. Los temas tratados cubren todo el espectro de la filosofía Mulasarvastivadin de filosofía budista (una de las escuelas de pensamiento Shravakayana), incluyendo qué es el Nirvana, los agregados, la naturaleza úlitma de las cosas, las Cuatro Nobles Verdades, la reencarnación y la (no) existencia de un alma.

Las preguntas son ingeniosas y las respuestas brillan llenas de lúcidas metáforas y símiles que ayudan a transmitir el significado profundo del Buddhadharma. Además, el libro está escrito de tal manera que casi puedes sentirte com si estuvieras siendo testigo del debate entre estas dos grandes figuras, leyendo con avidez y pasando las páginas para ver si Nagasena termina convenciendo al siempre inquisitivo y nunca satisfecho Rey. En este aspecto, he apreciado mucho que el primer libro (de los tres que componen este volumen) esté dedicado a trazar los orígenes de estos dos grandes hombres, ya que se explica cómo se conocen desde las enseñanzas del Buda Kashyapa, cuando ambos eran monjes que, por las promesas que hicieron entonces, llegaron a encontrarse de nuevo en nuestra época para zanjar una ancestral disputa intelectual.

Recomiendo este libro a cualquier estudiante de Budismo, independientemente de si pertenecen al sistema Shravaka o Mahayana, por sus claras explicaciones de las enseñanzas budistas, así como por el valor histórico que posee, siendo uno de los pocos (si no el único) documentos dejando constancia de uno de los primeros contactos entre Oriente y Occidente en términos espirituales.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a freely available translation of the Milinda Pahna, which is an ancient Buddhist text from about 100 BC. The Milinda Pahna itself is constructed as a dialogue between the King Milinda and Buddhist monk Nagasena, in which the king asks many probing questions about Buddhist history, practices, and metaphysics, allowing Nagasena to illustrate these aspects of Buddhism with his answers. Many of these answers illustrate concepts by simile, a common technique in this time period.

This specific translation is described as abridged by the author, because it cuts down on some of the simile and flourish in favor of directness. This makes the answers read quickly and easily, but I think I appreciate a full translation. Cutting the simile to the core removes some of the beauty in the comparison, in the same way that shorting all instances of simile to the Illiad to single sentences would make them seem shallow.

I think what the text does best is to bring some of the foreign or irrational sounding concepts of Buddhism into familiar terms, rather than providing precisely metaphysical explanations. Experiences we feel to be true carry these concepts into the realm of understanding.

[Swe Gyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this abridged translation. Thank you so much, bhante..._/\_

[Mahesh De Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't finish it yet...