Mil 3.5.5 Transmigration and Rebirth
Miln 3.5.5: Transmigration and Rebirth
The king asked: "Venerable Nagasena, is it so that one does not transmigrate[1] and one is reborn?"[2]
"Yes, your majesty, one does not transmigrate and one is reborn."
"How, venerable Nagasena, is it that one does not transmigrate and one is reborn? Give me an analogy."
"Just as, your majesty, if someone kindled one lamp from another, is it indeed so, your majesty, that the lamp would transmigrate from the other lamp?"
"Certainly not, venerable sir."
"Indeed just so, your majesty, one does not transmigrate and one is reborn."
"Give me another analogy."
"Do you remember, your majesty, when you were a boy learning some verse from a teacher?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"Your majesty, did this verse transmigrate from the teacher?"
"Certainly not, venerable sir."
"Indeed just so, your majesty, one does not transmigrate and one is reborn."
"You are clever, venerable Nagasena."
Notes
1. Sa"nkamati: to transmigrate, pass over.
2. Pa.tisandahati: to be reborn, reincarnate, undergo reunion.