Milinda’s Questions

Time Chapter

7. Question on the Elder’s Reconnection or Non-Reconnection

The king asked:

“Venerable Nāgasena, will you then reconnect?”

“Enough, your majesty, why are you asking this? Have I not declared to you previously, ‘If, your majesty, I am with clinging I will reconnect, and if I am without clinging I will not reconnect’?”

“Please give me an analogy.”

“Just as, your majesty, some person or other might perform a service for the king,

and the king, satisfied, would repay that service. And that person, because of that service, would go about provided with and possessed of the five strands of sensual pleasure, and might announce to the populace, ‘The king does not do anything for me.’

Would that man, your majesty, be acting rightly?”

“Certainly not, venerable sir.”

“In the same way, your majesty, why are you asking this? Have I not declared to you previously, ‘If I am with clinging I will reconnect, and if I am without clinging I will not reconnect’?”

“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”

Question on the Elder’s Reconnection or Non-Reconnection seventh