From:
MilindapaƱha Milinda's Questions
Buddhavagga Buddha Chapter
10. BuddhanidassanapaƱha Question on Pointing Out the Buddha
RÄjÄ ÄhaāThe king asked:
ābhante nÄgasena, buddho atthÄ«āti? āVenerable NÄgasena, does the Buddha exist?ā
āÄma, mahÄrÄja, bhagavÄ atthÄ«āti. āYes, your majesty, the Blessed One exists.ā
āSakkÄ pana, bhante nÄgasena, buddho nidassetuį¹ idha vÄ idha vÄāti? āIs it then possible, venerable sir, to point to the Buddha as being either here or there?ā
āParinibbuto, mahÄrÄja, bhagavÄ anupÄdisesÄya nibbÄnadhÄtuyÄ, na sakkÄ bhagavÄ nidassetuį¹ āidha vÄ idha vÄāāti. āThe Blessed One has passed away, your majesty, in the element of NibbÄna with no residue remaining, so it is not possible to point to the Blessed One as being either here or there.ā
āOpammaį¹ karohÄ«āti. āPlease give me an analogy.ā
āTaį¹ kiį¹ maƱƱasi, mahÄrÄja, mahato aggikkhandhassa jalamÄnassa yÄ acci atthaį¹
gatÄ, sakkÄ sÄ acci dassetuį¹ āidha vÄ idha vÄāāti? āWhat do you think, your majesty, when the flame of a great burning mass of fire has been extinguished, is it possible to point to that flame and say it remains here or there?ā
āNa hi, bhante, niruddhÄ sÄ acci appaƱƱattiį¹ gatÄāti. āCertainly not, venerable sir for that flame has ceased and gone beyond description.ā
āEvameva kho, mahÄrÄja, bhagavÄ anupÄdisesÄya nibbÄnadhÄtuyÄ parinibbuto atthaį¹
gato, na sakkÄ bhagavÄ nidassetuį¹ āidha vÄ idha vÄāti, dhammakÄyena pana kho, mahÄrÄja, sakkÄ bhagavÄ nidassetuį¹. āIn the same way, your majesty, the Blessed One has passed away in the element of NibbÄna with no residue remaining, so it is not possible to point to the Blessed One as being either here or there. However, your majesty, it is possible to point out the Blessed One through the body of Dhamma,
Dhammo hi, mahÄrÄja, bhagavatÄ desitoāti. for this Dhamma has been taught by the Blessed One.ā
āKallosi, bhante nÄgasenÄāti. āYou are clever, venerable NÄgasena.ā
BuddhanidassanapaƱho dasamo. Question on Pointing Out the Buddha tenth
Buddhavaggo paƱcamo. Buddha Chapter fifth
Imasmiį¹ vagge dasa paƱhÄ. In this chapter ten questions