The Equinox (Volume I, Number III)

THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH In place of producing a dissolution of the individual Atman in the universal Atman, the method of Buddha pro- duced a submersion of Karma in the bournless ocean of Nibbana. In Chapter I of Book II of ‘The Questions of King Mi- linda” NAgasena lays down that he who escapes rebirth does so through Wisdom (Pafifia) and Reasoning (Yonisomanasikara) and by other “Good Qualities.” The Reason grasps the object and Wisdom cuts it off, whilst the good qualities seem to be the united action of these two, thus we get Good Con- duct (Silam), Faith (Saddha), Perseverance (Viriyam), Mind- fulness (Sati) and Meditation (Samadhi), all of which rather than being separate states are but qualities of the one state of Meditation at various stages in that state of Samadhi which NAgasena calls “the leader” . . . “ All good qualities have meditation as their chief, then incline to it, lead up towards it, are as so many slopes up the side of the mountain of medita- tion.”* Just as Yama, Niyama, Pranayama, Pratydhara, Dharana and DhyAna are of Samadhi. Further Nagasena says “Cultivate in yourselves O Bhikkhus, the habit of medi- tation. He who is established therein knows things as they really are.”+ Under Faith, is classed Tranquillization (Sampasadana) and * “The Questions of King Milinda,” ii, 1, 7, 9, 13. t Lbid, 13. 142