From:
MilindapaƱha Milinda's Questions
MahÄvagga Great Chapter
15. PaƱƱÄlakkhaį¹apaƱha Distinguishing Characteristic of Wisdom Question
RÄjÄ ÄhaāThe king asked:
ābhante nÄgasena, kiį¹lakkhaį¹Ä paƱƱÄāti? āVenerable NÄgasena, what is the distinguishing characteristic of wisdom?ā
āPubbeva kho, mahÄrÄja, mayÄ vuttaį¹āāPreviously, your majesty, I said that
āchedanalakkhaį¹Ä paƱƱÄāti, api ca obhÄsanalakkhaį¹Ä paƱƱÄāti. severing is a distinguishing characteristic of wisdom, and also illuminating is a distinguishing characteristic of wisdom.ā
āKathaį¹, bhante, obhÄsanalakkhaį¹Ä paƱƱÄāti? āHow, venerable sir, is illuminating a distinguishing characteristic of wisdom.ā
āPaƱƱÄ, mahÄrÄja, uppajjamÄnÄ avijjandhakÄraį¹ vidhameti, vijjobhÄsaį¹ janeti, ƱÄį¹Älokaį¹ vidaį¹seti, ariyasaccÄni pÄkaį¹Äni karoti. āWisdom arising, your majesty, dispels the darkness of ignorance, generates the radiance of true knowledge, displays the light of understanding, and makes evident the noble truths.
Tato yogÄvacaro āaniccanāti vÄ ādukkhanāti vÄ āanattÄāti vÄ sammappaƱƱÄya passatÄ«āti. Then, a spiritual practitioner sees with right wisdom what is āimpermanentā, āsufferingā, or ānot selfā.ā
āOpammaį¹ karohÄ«āti. āPlease give me an analogy.ā
āYathÄ, mahÄrÄja, puriso andhakÄre gehe padÄ«paį¹ paveseyya, paviį¹į¹ho padÄ«po andhakÄraį¹ vidhameti, obhÄsaį¹ janeti, Älokaį¹ vidaį¹seti, rÅ«pÄni pÄkaį¹Äni karoti; āJust as, your majesty, a person might bring a lamp into a dark house, and this lamp brought in dispels the darkness, generates radiance, displays light, and makes evident forms.
evameva kho, mahÄrÄja, paĆ±Ć±Ä uppajjamÄnÄ avijjandhakÄraį¹ vidhameti, vijjobhÄsaį¹ janeti, ƱÄį¹Älokaį¹ vidaį¹seti, ariyasaccÄni pÄkaį¹Äni karoti. In the same way, your majesty, wisdom arising dispels the darkness of ignorance, generates the radiance of true knowledge, displays the light of understanding, and makes evident the noble truths.
Tato yogÄvacaro āaniccanāti vÄ ādukkhanāti vÄ āanattÄāti vÄ sammappaƱƱÄya passati. Then, a spiritual practitioner sees with right wisdom what is āimpermanentā, āsufferingā, or ānot selfā.
Evaį¹ kho, mahÄrÄja, obhÄsanalakkhaį¹Ä paƱƱÄāti. Thus, your majesty, is illuminating a distinguishing characteristic of wisdom.ā
āKallosi, bhante nÄgasenÄāti. āYou are clever, venerable NÄgasena!ā
PaƱƱÄlakkhaį¹apaƱho pannarasamo. Distinguishing Characteristic of Wisdom Question fifteenth