Theravada Buddhism - The Questions of King Menander

Theravada Buddhism

The Questions of King Menander

Overview

  • Context: A significant passage from Milindapanha, known as the Questions of King Menander (Milinda), discussing key Buddhist concepts.
  • King Menander: A Greek king ruling in northwestern India, around the middle of the second century B.C.
  • Conversion to Buddhism: Converted by Nagasena; influenced by both Buddhism and earlier religious traditions.
  • Historical Roots: Despite its later form, the content of the text likely predates the Christian era, drawing from Indian philosophical traditions including the Upanishads and potentially Greek influences.

The Simile of the Chariot

  • Dialogue with Nagasena:

    • King Menander requests clarification about Nagasena's identity.
    • Nagasena states: "I'm known as Nagasena… it's only a generally understood term, a practical designation. There is no question of a permanent individual implied in the use of the word."

  • King Menander’s Objections:

    • Questions the implications of having no permanent individuality in terms of actions and responsibilities.
    • Asks about identities related to bodily components (nails, teeth, skin) and whether they constitute "Nagasena."

  • Nagasena’s Response:

    • Uses the analogy of a chariot to explain: no single part (pole, axle, wheels, etc.) is the chariot, nor is the chariot found in the collection of its parts.
    • Ultimately concludes: "The chariot is a mere sound."

  • Conclusion of the Simile:

    • King agrees that just as the term "chariot" refers to a collection of components, "Nagasena" signifies the aggregate of his parts and experiences.

Change and Identity

  • Continuity and Change:
    • Menander questions whether a person remains the same throughout life.
    • Nagasena explains this through a series of examples demonstrating the ongoing change of a person through stages of life (baby, boy, man).
  • Analogy of the Lamp:
    • A flame does not remain the same from the start of the night to the end; yet it is understood as the same lamp providing light continuously.
    • Concludes: "One person comes into existence, another passes away, and the sequence runs continuously without self-conscious existence, neither the same nor yet another."

The Process of Rebirth

  • Rebirth Without Transmigration:
    • Nagasena asserts the possibility of rebirth without a soul or permanent self.
    • Illustrates this with the analogy of lighting one lamp from another, revealing that nothing is transferred, but new existence arises.
  • Doctrine of Karma:
    • Accepted as a governing principle that leads individuals to exist in various forms with differing fortunes (wealth, health, lifespan).
    • Differences in human experiences attributed to individual karma.

The Buddha in Nirvana

  • Understanding Nirvana:
    • Not total annihilation; it represents the disintegration of the phenomenal personality and a state beyond identification.
  • King Menander's Inquiry:
    • Asks if Buddha still exists after reaching Nirvana.
  • Nagasena’s Clarification:
    • Buddha cannot be identified as he has passed away into Nirvana, likened to a flame that has been extinguished.
    • Remains only in the teachings he left behind: “he can only be pointed out in the body of his doctrine.”

Key Themes and Philosophical Implications

  • Composite Nature of Identity:
    • The self is an aggregate of components, similar to how a chariot is comprised of parts.
  • Continuous Change:
    • Life is characterized by continuous change; identity is maintained through a pragmatic understanding of existence.
  • Rebirth and Karma:
    • The process of rebirth is influenced by karma, a key concept within Buddhist philosophy explaining disparities in human conditions.
  • Concept of Nirvana:
    • Nirvana transcends traditional concepts of existence and non-existence, presenting deep philosophical implications regarding life, death, and beyond.