So what's the go with Nagasena?

Exploring the Dhamma, as understood from the perspective of the ancient Pali commentaries.
Post Reply
User avatar
retrofuturist
Posts: 27848
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:52 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

So what's the go with Nagasena?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,

According to Wikipedia, Nagasena of the Milinda Pañha was a Sarvastivadan Buddhist.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasena

Is that true?

If so, why is Milinda Pañha a Theravadan text?

Was Theravada Sarvastivadanised?

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
User avatar
Ceisiwr
Posts: 22392
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:36 am
Location: Wales

Re: So what's the go with Nagasena?

Post by Ceisiwr »

retrofuturist wrote: Sat Sep 17, 2022 10:27 pm Greetings,

According to Wikipedia, Nagasena of the Milinda Pañha was a Sarvastivadan Buddhist.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasena

Is that true?

If so, why is Milinda Pañha a Theravadan text?

Was Theravada Sarvastivadanised?

Metta,
Paul. :)
He likely came from a time before the two schools had fully separated, thus belonging to both. Some of the things he said are Sarvāstivādin in nature such as space being unconditioned. Whilst certainly very old, the academic view is that the Milinda Pañha has also been added to over time.
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
User avatar
robertk
Posts: 5613
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:08 am

Re: So what's the go with Nagasena?

Post by robertk »

See this thread

viewtopic.php?t=38255

In fact other sects copy many suttas from Theravada.
SarathW
Posts: 21227
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: So what's the go with Nagasena?

Post by SarathW »

Ceisiwr wrote: Sat Sep 17, 2022 10:55 pm
retrofuturist wrote: Sat Sep 17, 2022 10:27 pm Greetings,

According to Wikipedia, Nagasena of the Milinda Pañha was a Sarvastivadan Buddhist.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasena

Is that true?

If so, why is Milinda Pañha a Theravadan text?

Was Theravada Sarvastivadanised?

Metta,
Paul. :)
He likely came from a time before the two schools had fully separated, thus belonging to both. Some of the things he said are Sarvāstivādin in nature such as space being unconditioned. Whilst certainly very old, the academic view is that the Milinda Pañha has also been added to over time.
Yes, I always had a problem with this.
I even ask this question in Dhamma Wheel but did not receive an answer. Can't find the post.
My question was why we do not attain Akasa instead of Nibbana.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User avatar
Ceisiwr
Posts: 22392
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:36 am
Location: Wales

Re: So what's the go with Nagasena?

Post by Ceisiwr »

SarathW wrote: Sat Sep 17, 2022 11:27 pm
Ceisiwr wrote: Sat Sep 17, 2022 10:55 pm
retrofuturist wrote: Sat Sep 17, 2022 10:27 pm Greetings,

According to Wikipedia, Nagasena of the Milinda Pañha was a Sarvastivadan Buddhist.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasena

Is that true?

If so, why is Milinda Pañha a Theravadan text?

Was Theravada Sarvastivadanised?

Metta,
Paul. :)
He likely came from a time before the two schools had fully separated, thus belonging to both. Some of the things he said are Sarvāstivādin in nature such as space being unconditioned. Whilst certainly very old, the academic view is that the Milinda Pañha has also been added to over time.
Yes, I always had a problem with this.
I even ask this question in Dhamma Wheel but did not receive an answer. Can't find the post.
My question was why we do not attain Akasa instead of Nibbana.
Space is impermanent according to Buddhism. Space here being your internal space. Regarding the external space, well that's a bit trickier. In modern physics space has a beginning. Harder to say it will ever end. I have read that according to the Big Rip theory, even spactime will eventually be torn apart in the far, far, far x1000000000000000000 future.
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
User avatar
cappuccino
Posts: 12879
Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2016 1:45 am
Contact:

Re: So what's the go with Nagasena?

Post by cappuccino »

SarathW wrote: Sat Sep 17, 2022 11:27 pm My question was why we do not attain Akasa instead of Nibbana.
Infinite space is a heavenly realm
SarathW
Posts: 21227
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: So what's the go with Nagasena?

Post by SarathW »

cappuccino wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 1:12 am
SarathW wrote: Sat Sep 17, 2022 11:27 pm My question was why we do not attain Akasa instead of Nibbana.
Infinite space is a heavenly realm
:twothumbsup:
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
asahi
Posts: 2732
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2020 4:23 pm

Re: So what's the go with Nagasena?

Post by asahi »

Nagasena aint Nagarjuna
No bashing No gossiping
Pulsar
Posts: 2641
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2019 6:52 pm

Re: So what's the go with Nagasena?

Post by Pulsar »

Retro asked
According to Wikipedia, Nagasena of the Milinda Pañha was a Sarvastivadan Buddhist.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagasena

Is that true?
I have read that it is true, the reason given was that the original Sanskrit version of Milinda Panha was lost. And from the Chinese version available it was translated to Pali. Since the text was in Pali, Theravadins thought it was Theravada? Possible?
If so, why is Milinda Pañha a Theravadan text?
It is not really a Theravada text originally.
Was Theravada Sarvastivadanised?
Probably each tradition borrowed from each other. Some Sarvastivada may have have got Thravadanised. The monks lived in close quarters.
The purest when it comes to tradition might be Mulasarvastivada. Except in a few cases the text or the doctrine in the Samyukta agama suttas is not muddled, although occasionally the Pali translations are. But the last is not really relevant to your question.
Regards :candle:
Post Reply