From:
MilindapaƱha Milindaās Questions
ArÅ«padhammavavatthÄnavagga Analysis of Formless Dhammas Chapter
2. Buddhaguį¹asatipaį¹ilÄbhapaƱha Question on Obtaining Mindfulness on a Quality of the Buddha
RÄjÄ ÄhaāThe king said:
ābhante nÄgasena, tumhe etaį¹ bhaį¹athaāāVenerable NÄgasena, you said this,
āyo vassasataį¹ akusalaį¹ kareyya, maraį¹akÄle ca ekaį¹ buddhaguį¹aį¹ satiį¹ paį¹ilabheyya, so devesu uppajjeyyÄāti etaį¹ na saddahÄmi, evaƱca pana vadetha āekena pÄį¹ÄtipÄtena niraye uppajjeyyÄāti etampi na saddahÄmÄ«āti. āOne could do evil for a hundred years, but at the time of death might obtain a single mindful moment on a quality of the Buddha, and thus arise in the realm of the devas,ā I donāt believe this. And then you said, āOne might arise in a hell realm by killing one person,ā this too I donāt believe.ā
āTaį¹ kiį¹ maƱƱasi, mahÄrÄja, khuddakopi pÄsÄį¹o vinÄ nÄvÄya udake uppilaveyyÄāti. āWhat do you think, your majesty, could even a small stone float on the water without a boat?ā
āNa hi, bhanteāti. āCertainly not, venerable sir.ā
āKiį¹ nu kho, mahÄrÄja, vÄhasatampi pÄsÄį¹Änaį¹ nÄvÄya Äropitaį¹ udake uppilaveyyÄāti? āBut, your majesty, could even a load of a hundred stones loaded onto a boat float on the water?ā
āÄma, bhanteāti. āYes, venerable sir.ā
āYathÄ, mahÄrÄja, nÄvÄ, evaį¹ kusalÄni kammÄni daį¹į¹habbÄnÄ«āti. āYour majesty, skilled deeds should be considered as like a boat.ā
āKallosi, bhante nÄgasenÄāti. āYou are clever, venerable NÄgasena.ā
Buddhaguį¹asatipaį¹ilÄbhapaƱho dutiyo. Question on Obtaining Mindfulness on a Quality of the Buddha second