Milinda’s Questions

Nibbāna Chapter

10. Question on Knowing the Happiness of Nibbāna

The king asked:

“Venerable Nāgasena, does one who does not attain nibbāna know the happiness of nibbāna?”

“Yes, your majesty, one who does not attain nibbāna knows the happiness of nibbāna.”

“How, Venerable Nāgasena, not attaining it does one know the happiness of nibbāna?”

“What do you think, your majesty, would those who haven’t had their hands and feet cut off know the suffering of having one’s hands and feet cut off?”

“Yes, venerable sir, they would know.”

“How would they know?”

“Having heard, venerable sir, the sounds of lamentation of those who have had their hands and feet cut off, they would know the suffering of having one’s hands and feet cut off.”

“In the same way, your majesty, having heard the sound of one who has seen nibbāna, one knows the happiness of nibbāna.”

“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”

Question on Knowing the Happiness of Nibbāna tenth

Nibbāna Chapter fourth

In this chapter ten questions