A Critical Study of the Milindapanha (A Critique of Buddhist Philosophy) (An Old and Rare Book)

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The Milindapanha which is the earliest Pali non-canonical work contains a series of conversation between the Greek King Menander and the Buddhist monk Nagasena. They discuss in the style of Plato many knotty problems and disputed points of Buddhism. In course of discussion Nagasena uses certain notions and terms which are, it seems, foreign to original Buddhism. It is regarded as the most authoritative Theravada text for its lucid and comprehensible method of exposition of difficult Buddhist tenets. It is, undoubtedly, the masterpiece of early Indian prose.

Dr. Basu not only succeeds in fixing a probable date of the text (the original of which is still a desideratum) but also painstakingly discusses the nature of the text and doctrinal points of Buddhism. He also culls out a lot of valuable information on all aspects of Indian life in the first century, A. D. from the similes employed in the text.

The book will, indeed, be useful to those interested in Buddhist studies.

Rabindra Nath Basu (B. 1934-) Μ. Α. (Double), Griffith Prizeman, N. Law Gold Medalist, is a promising young Buddhalogist.

Dr. Basu was a Research Scholar in Sino-Tibetan Studies in the Department of Pali, Calcutta University. He obtained his Ph. D. degree in 1975. He also secured the Griffith Memorial Prize in 1973. He has a good number of research papers and articles to his credit published in different journals. He is associated with many learned societies and public institutions. Dr. Basu is married, His is a restless spirit, always on move intellectually and geographically. Places of Buddhist interest draw him irresistibly.

In the following pages is presented a critical study of the Milindapanha in some of its important aspects not dealt with by any other scholar. It is one of the most important non- canonical Pali texts composed not earlier than the first century of the Christian Era. It is a dialogue between king Milinda, who is no other than the Bactrian Greek king Menander, and Thera Nagasena, a famous Buddhist monk. It contains seven parts dealing mainly with the intricate philosophical problems of Buddhism. The original text which is lost to us was com- posed in Sanskrit or some northern Prakrit dialect.

The present book is divided into six chapters. The first chapter probes the probable date of composition of the text, the authorship, etc. The second one shows the importance of the book. The third one gives an outline of the text. The fourth one deals with the political, social, educational, economic and religious condition of the then India as depicted in the text. The fifth one discusses the nature of the dilemmas dealt with in the text. The sixth and the concluding one provide with the teachings as inculcated in the text.

Some of the chapters were published in various jounals.

I take the opportunity to express my gratitude to my revered teacher, Dr. Anukul Chandra Banerjee, M. A., LI. B., Ph. D., F. A. S., F. R. A. S. (London), Ex. Dean, Faculty of Arts, and Ex. Professor & Head of the Department of Pali, Calcutta University, under whose guidance I completed this work. I also express my gratitude to my revered teacher, Dr. Sukumar Sengupta, M. A., Ph. D., Suttavisarada, whose affectionate advice in course of my work helped me much. I am also indebted to Mrs. Suniti Sanyal, M, A., B. T., Inspectress of Halls and Hostels, Calcutta University, in various ways while preparing my work.