The soul as an image of Nirvana

·期刊原文
The soul as an image of Nirvana: from 'The Questions of King Milinda.'
(excerpt from 'Buddhist Texts Throughout the Ages')(Peace issue)
by Edward Conze; I.B. Horner ; David Snellgrove ; Arthur Haley
Parabola
Vol.21 No.3 ( Fall 1996)
Pp.18-19
COPYRIGHT 1996 Society for the Study of Myth and Tradition

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According to Buddhist tradition, King Milinda (c. 155 B.C.E.) was a
local ruler of a province in India that had been part of the
conquests of Alexander the Great (d. 323 B.C.E.). Archaeological
evidence indicates that Buddhism had reached some degree of official
status under King Milinda. Popular Buddhist legend recounts that in
his constant search for new truths, King Milinda asked a number of
fundamental questions about the basic teachings of the Buddha. The
text is preserved as a dialogue between King Milinda and Nagasena, a
representative of Buddhism.
KING MILINDA SAID: "I will grant you, Nagasena, that Nirvana is
absolute Ease, and that nevertheless one cannot point to its form or
shape, its duration or size, either by simile or explanation, by
reason or by argument. But is there perhaps some quality of Nirvana
which it shares with other things, and which lends itself to a
metaphorical explanation?"
"Its form, O king, cannot be elucidated by similes, but its
qualities can."
"How good to hear that, Nagasena! Speak then, quickly, so that I may
have an explanation of even one of the aspects of Nirvana! Appease
the fever of my heart! Allay it with the cool sweet breezes of your
words!"
"Nirvana shares one quality with the lotus, two with water, three
with medicine, ten with space, three with the wishing jewel, and
five with a mountain peak. As the lotus is unstained by water, so is
Nirvana unstained by all the defilements.--As cool water allays
feverish heat, so also Nirvana is cool and allays the fever of the
passions. Moreover, as water removes the thirst of men and beasts
who are exhausted, parched, thirsty, and overpowered by heat, so
also Nirvana removes the craving for sensuous enjoyments, the
craving for further becoming [the craving for reincarnation], the
craving for the cessation of becoming [the craving for the end of
reincarnation].--As medicine protects from poison, so Nirvana from
the torments of the poisonous passions. Moreover, as medicine puts
an end to sickness, so Nirvana to all sufferings. Finally, Nirvana
and medicine both give security.--And these are the ten qualities
which Nirvana shares with space. Neither is born, grows old, dies,
passes away, or is reborn; both are unconquerable, cannot be stolen,
are unsupported, are roads respectively for birds and Arhats
[Someone who is or is becoming a Buddha] to journey on, are
unobstructed and infinite.--Like the wishing jewel, Nirvana grants
all one can desire, brings joy, and sheds light.--As a mountain peak
is lofty and exalted, so is Nirvana. As a mountain peak is
unshakeable, so is Nirvana. As a mountain peak is inaccessible, so
is Nirvana inaccessible to all the passions. As no seeds can grow on
a mountain peak, so the seeds of all the passions cannot grow in
Nirvana. And finally, as a mountain peak is free from all desire to
please or displease, so is Nirvana."
"Well said, Nagasena! So it is, and as such I accept it."