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p. vii

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION

xi

    The Simhalese version of the Milinda

xii

    Buddhaghosa's four references to it.

xiv

    MSS. and edition of the text

xvi

    King Milinda the same as Menander

xviii

    Notices of him in classical writers

xix

    His coins

xx

    His birthplace, Kalasi, probably = Karisi

xxiii

    The author not the same as Nâgârguna

xxv

    Passages in the Pitakas referred to silently

xxvii

    Pâli books, &c., referred to by name

xxix

    Pitaka passages quoted

xxxi

    Length of the Pitakas

xxxvi

    Results of these comparisons

xxxviii

    Differences between our author and the Pitakas

xl

    Proper names outside the Pitakas

xliii

    Differences of language between our author and the Pitakas

xlv

    The Milinda as a work of art

xlviii

TRANSLATION OF THE TEXT.

 

  Book I. The Secular Narrative

1

    Description of Sâgala

2

    Previous births of Milinda and Nâgasena

4

    Milinda's greatness and wisdom and love of disputation

6

    Birth story of Nâgasena

10

    His admission as a novice into the Order

20

    His conversion

25

    His attainment of Arahatship

29

    Milinda confutes Âyupâla

30

    Nâgasena arrives; his character

34

    Milinda goes to him

36

p. viii

 

  Book II. The Distinguishing Characteristics of Ethical Qualities

40

    Individuality and name

41

    The chariot simile

43

    The riddle of seniority

45

    (Interlude) How kings and scholars respectively discuss

46

    No soul in the breath

48

    Aim of Buddhist renunciation

49

    Re-incarnation

50

    Wisdom and reasoning distinguished

51

    'Virtue's the base'

53

    Faith

54

    Perseverance

57

    Mindfulness

58

    Meditation

60

    Continued identity and re-individualisation

63-77

    Wisdom and intelligence distinguished

66

    Time

77

    Origin and development of qualities

82

    Is there a soul?

86

    Thought and sight

89

    Contact, sensation, and idea

92

  Book III. The Removal of Difficulties

100

    Rich and poor

100

    Renunciation again

101

    Nirvâna and Karma

106

    Difficulties of various kinds as to transmigration, individuality, and the Buddha

120

  Book IV. The Solving of Dilemmas

137

    Milinda finds dilemmas in the Holy Writ

137

    And takes the Buddhist vows

138

    Third meeting between him and Nâgasena.

140

    1st Dilemma. If the Buddha has really quite passed away, what is the good of paying honour to his relics?

144

    2nd Dilemma. How can the Buddha be omniscient, when it is said that he reflects?

154

    3rd Dilemma. Why did he admit Devadatta to the Order, if he knew of the schism he would create?

162

p. ix

 

    4th Dilemma. Vessantara's earthquake

170

    5th Dilemma. King Sivi

179

    7th Dilemma. Difference in prophecies as to the duration of the faith

185

    8th Dilemma. The Buddha's sinlessness and his sufferings

190

    9th Dilemma. Why should the Buddha have meditated?

196

    10th Dilemma. Why did the Buddha boast?

198

    11th Dilemma. How could the Buddha revoke regulations he had made?

202

    12th Dilemma. Why did the Buddha refuse to answer certain questions?

204

    13th Dilemma. Contradictory statements by the Buddha as to fear

206

    14th Dilemma. How can Pirit cure disease?

213

    15th Dilemma. How could the evil one turn people against the Buddha?

219

    16th Dilemma. Contradiction as to conscious crime

224

    17th Dilemma. Contradiction as to the Buddha's wish to be the chief

225

    18th Dilemma. How could a schism have arisen in the Buddha's life?

227

    19th Dilemma. Why do members of the Order accept reverence?

232

    20th Dilemma. The evil results of preaching

234

    22nd Dilemma. Was not the Buddha once angry with Sudinna?

237

    23rd Dilemma. The tree talking

241

    24th Dilemma. The Buddha's last meal

242

    25th Dilemma. Adoration of relics

246

    26th Dilemma. The splinter of rock

248

    27th Dilemma. Contradictory description of the Samana

251

    28th Dilemma. Buddha's boasting

253

    29th Dilemma. How can the kind punish others?

254

    30th Dilemma. Was not the Buddha angry at Kâtumâ?

257

    31st Dilemma. How could Moggallâna have had miraculous powers seeing that he was murdered?

261

    32nd Dilemma. Why should the rules of the Order be kept secret?

264

    33rd Dilemma. Contradictions about falsehood

268

p. x

 

    34th Dilemma. Did not the Omniscient One once doubt?

270

    35th Dilemma. Suicide

273

    36th Dilemma. Love to all beings

279

    37th Dilemma. Wickedness and prosperity

283

    38th Dilemma. Women's wiles

294

    39th Dilemma. Did not the Arahats once show fear?

297

    40th Dilemma. Did not the Omniscient One once change his mind?

301

Appendix. Devadatta in the Gâtakas

303

Addenda et Corrigenda

305

Index of Proper Names

307

Index of Subjects

311

Transliteration of Oriental Alphabets adopted for the Translations of the Sacred Books of the East

317

 


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