From:
MilindapaƱha Questions of Milinda
Buddhavagga Buddha Chapter
3. BuddhassaanuttarabhÄvajÄnanapaƱha Question on Knowing the Unsurpassed Nature of the Buddha
RÄjÄ ÄhaāThe king asked:
ābhante nÄgasena, sakkÄ jÄnituį¹ ābuddho anuttaroāāti? āVenerable NÄgasena, is it possible to know that the Buddha is unsurpassed?ā
āÄma, mahÄrÄja, sakkÄ jÄnituį¹ ābhagavÄ anuttaroāāti. āYes, your majesty, it is possible to know that the Blessed One is unsurpassed.ā
āKathaį¹, bhante nÄgasena, sakkÄ jÄnituį¹ ābuddho anuttaroāāti? āHow, venerable NÄgasena, is it possible to know that the Buddha is unsurpassed?ā
āBhÅ«tapubbaį¹, mahÄrÄja, tissatthero nÄma lekhÄcariyo ahosi, bahÅ«ni vassÄni abbhatÄ«tÄni kÄlaį¹
katassa kathaį¹ so ƱÄyatÄ«āti. āIn the past, your majesty, an elder named Tissa was a teacher of writing and many years have passed since he passed away. How is it that he is still known?ā
āLekhena, bhanteāti. āBy his writing, venerable sir.ā
āEvameva kho, mahÄrÄja, yo dhammaį¹ passati, so bhagavantaį¹ passati, dhammo hi, mahÄrÄja, bhagavatÄ desitoāti. āIn the same way, your majesty, whoever sees the Dhamma sees the Blessed One, for the Dhamma was taught by the Blessed One.ā
āKallosi, bhante nÄgasenÄāti. āYou are clever, venerable NÄgasena.ā
Buddhassa anuttarabhÄvajÄnanapaƱho tatiyo. Question on Knowing the Unsurpassed Nature of the Buddha third