Milinda’s Questions

Examination Chapter

4. Question on the Production of Fabrications

The king asked:

“Venerable Nāgasena, are there any fabrications which are produced?”

“Yes, your majesty, there are fabrications which are produced.”

“What are they, venerable sir?”

“When there is the eye and forms, your majesty, there is eye consciousness. When there is eye consciousness, there is eye contact. When there is eye contact, there is feeling. When there is feeling, there is craving. When there is craving, there is becoming. When there is becoming, there is birth. When there is birth, there is old age and death, and sorrow, lamentation, suffering, anguish, and despair come to be. Thus, there is the arising of this whole mass of suffering.

When there is no eye and forms, your majesty, there is no eye consciousness. When there is no eye consciousness, there is no eye contact. When there is no eye contact, there is no feeling. When there is no feeling, there is no craving. When there is no craving, there is no becoming. When there is no becoming, there is no birth. When there is no birth, there is no old age and death, and there is no sorrow, lamentation, suffering, anguish, and despair. Thus, there is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering.”

“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”

Question on the Production of Fabrications fourth