Buddhism in Translations - § 46. Is This to Be My Last Existence?

Sacred-Texts Buddhism  Sources  

p. 233

§ 46. IS THIS TO BE MY LAST EXISTENCE?

Translated from the Milindapañha (41¹¹).

   "Bhante Nâgasena," said the king, "does a man know when he is not to be born into another existence?"

   "Assuredly, your majesty, a man knows when he is not to be born into another existence."

   "Bhante, how does he know it?"

   "He knows it from the cessation of all cause or reason for being born into another existence."

   "Give an illustration."

   "It is as if, your majesty, a house-holding farmer were to plow and sow and fill his granary; and then were neither to plow nor sow, and were to use the grain previously stored up, or give it away, or do with it however else might suit him: your majesty, would this house-holding farmer know that his granary would not become filled up again?"

   "Assuredly, bhante, would he know it."

   "How would he know it?"

   "He would know it from the cessation of all cause or reason for the filling up of the granary."

   "In exactly the same way, your majesty, a man knows when he is not to be born into another existence, from the cessation of all cause or reason for being born into another existence."

   "You are an able man, bhante Nâgasena."