Theravadan

From: John Kelly

Milindapañha Milinda's Questions

Buddhavagga Buddha Chapter

8. Kammaphalaatthibhāvapañha Question on the Existence of the Fruits of Actions

Rājā āha—The king asked:

“bhante nāgasena, iminā nāmarūpena kammaṁ kataṁ kusalaṁ vā akusalaṁ vā, kuhiṁ tāni kammāni tiṭṭhantī”ti? “Venerable Nāgasena, for a wholesome or unwholesome action done by this name-and-form, where do those actions remain?”

“Anubandheyyuṁ kho, mahārāja, tāni kammāni chāyāva anapāyinī”ti. “Those actions would follow one, your majesty, like a shadow that never leaves.”

“Sakkā pana, bhante, tāni kammāni dassetuṁ ‘idha vā idha vā tāni kammāni tiṭṭhantī’”ti? “Is it then possible, venerable sir, to point to those actions and say they remain here or there?”

“Na sakkā, mahārāja, tāni kammāni dassetuṁ ‘idha vā idha vā tāni kammāni tiṭṭhantī’”ti. “It is not possible, your majesty, to point to those actions and say they remain here or there.”

“Opammaṁ karohī”ti. “Please give me an analogy.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, yānimāni rukkhāni anibbattaphalāni, sakkā tesaṁ phalāni dassetuṁ ‘idha vā idha vā tāni phalāni tiṭṭhantī’”ti. “What do you think, your majesty, for those trees where the fruit has not yet arisen, is it possible to point to those fruits and say those fruits remain here or there?”

“Na hi, bhante”ti. “Certainly not, venerable sir.”

“Evameva kho, mahārāja, abbocchinnāya santatiyā na sakkā tāni kammāni dassetuṁ ‘idha vā idha vā tāni kammāni tiṭṭhantī’”ti. “In the same way, your majesty, as long as the continuity of life is not cut off, it is not possible to point to those actions and say they remain here or there.”

“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti. “You are clever, venerable Nāgasena.”

Kammaphalaatthibhāvapañho aṭṭhamo. Question on the Existence of the Fruits of Actions eighth

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