Questions of King Milinda Part 02

SR No.: 007682
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1894
Total Pages: 2240
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 38 MB

Page 80

SO
THE QUESTIONS AND PUZZLES
IV, 6, 8.
time. If, O king, two Buddhas were to arise together, then would disputes arise between their followers, and at the words : “Your Buddha, our Buddha," they would divide off into two parties - just as would the followers of two rival powerful ministers of state. This is the other (239) reason, O king, why two Buddhas could not appear at the same time.
8. Hear a further reason, Oking, why two Buddhas could not appear at the same time. If that were so, then the passage (of Scripture) that the Buddha is the chief would become false, and the passage that the Buddha takes precedence of all would become false, and the passage that the Buddha is the best of all would become false. And so all those passages where the Buddha is said to be the most excellent, the most exalted, the highest of all, the peerless one, without an equal, the matchless one, who hath neither counterpart nor rival-all would be proved false. Accept this reason too as in truth a reason why two Buddhas cannot arise at once.
9. 'But besides that, o king, this is a natural characteristic of the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, that one Buddha only should arise in the world. And why? By reason of the greatness of the virtue of the all-knowing Buddhas. Of other things also, whatever is mighty in the world is singular. The broad earth is great, О king, and it is only one. The ocean is mighty, and it is only one. Sineru, the king of the mountains, is great; and it is only one. Space is mighty, and it is only one. Sakka (the king of the gods) is great, and he is only one. Mâra (the Evil One, Death) is great, and he is only one. Maha-Brahmâ is mighty, and he is only one.
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