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| Kapilavastu, capital of Shakya-land, was beyond the northwest frontier of ancient India, which later became an ancient Greek empire, the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom of King Milinda. |
Questions on Distinguishing Characteristics
Miln III.5.5: Transmigration and Rebirth {Miln 71}
KING MENANDER'S PALACE,
Bactria (Afghanistan) - The king asked: "Venerable Nagasena, is it so that one does not transmigrate [
sankamati, to transmigrate, pass over; go, cross over] yet one is reborn?" [
patisandahati: to be reborn, rebirth, undergo reunion, relinking.]
"Yes, your majesty, one does not transmigrate yet one is reborn."
"How,
Venerable Nagasena, is it that one does not transmigrate yet one is reborn? Give me an analogy."
"Just as, your majesty, if someone kindled one lamp from another, is it indeed so that the lamp would transmigrate from the other lamp?"
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| Shakyan/Bactrian princess, gold |
[In other words, Would the flame die from the first candle, transmigrate, and be "reincarnated" in the new candle?]
"Certainly not, venerable sir."
"Indeed, your majesty, just so; one does not transmigrate yet one is reborn."
"Give me another analogy."
"Do you remember, your majesty, when you were a boy learning some verse [lesson] from a teacher?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"Your majesty, did this verse transmigrate from the teacher?" [Did it go from the teacher to be reincarnated in the student?]
"Certainly not, venerable sir."
"Indeed, your majesty, just so; one does not transmigrate yet one is reborn."
"You are clever, Venerable Nagasena."
[Is there a "soul"?]
Miln III.5.6: Soul {Miln 71}
The king asked: "Venerable Nagasena, is a soul [
vedagu,
a "knower," a permanent subject of experience, a permanent self or soul] to be found?"
The elder Buddhist monk replied: "According to
ultimate reality, your majesty, no soul is to be found."
"You are clever, Venerable Nagasena."
COMMENTARY
[One may make an argument for it in conventional reality, and it indeed exists in normal terms of our experience. But what in the ultimate sense is being referred to?
[That is what prevents liberating insight, "sainthood" (arhatship), enlightenment, and nirvana -- clinging to notions of a self. And what is
the self in conventional terms? The Buddha talked about it the
atta (a idea central to the concept of
anatta,
not-self), in terms of the
Five Aggregates of Clinging.
These are the five composite categories of something regarded as unitive, unitary, noncomposite: form, feelings, perceptions, formations, and consciousnesses. Whereas form is the physical, the remaining four aggregates or heaps are mental or psychological, matter and mind, body and "soul," self as these four invisible processes.]
Vedagu is an interesting word, originally a Brahminical term related to mastery of the Vedas [the ancient sacred texts inherited by India and Central Asia from the much more ancient Indus Valley Civilization].
The Buddha appropriated the word to mean, "one who has attained highest knowledge," that is, synonymous with "arhat" [fully enlightened, accomplished disciple of the Buddha]. However, as the PED notes: "A peculiar meaning of
vedagu is that of "soul" (lit. attainer of wisdom) at Miln 54 & 71."
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ne of the most entertaining and enticing aspects of ancient Greek culture is its elaborate mythology that involves gods (devas in Buddhist terms), titans (asuras), heroes, deeds, and mortals, all of which colored the physical world with elaborate stories and personalities. Myths and legends permeated ancient Greek thought, enriching its literature and art. But were these "myths" accounts of actual beings during that time? And were these "beings" actually the Anunnaki of Nibiru? Website: ancientastronautarchive.com
Bark unto Dust: Recovering the Ancient Buddhist Texts of GandhΔra (UC Berkeley)
