Milinda’s Questions

Examination Chapter

13. Distinguishing Characteristic of Applied Thought Question

“Venerable Nāgasena, what is the distinguishing characteristic of applied thought?”

“Mental fixing, your majesty, is the distinguishing characteristic of applied thought.”

“Please give me an analogy.”

“Just as, your majesty, a carpenter fixes a superbly crafted piece of wood into a join,

in the same way mental fixing is the distinguishing characteristic of applied thought.”

“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”

Distinguishing Characteristic of Applied Thought Question thirteenth