The Similes “Venerable Nāgasena, with which qualities must a monk be endowed in order to
realise Arahantship?”1
1. The Donkey“Just, O king, as the donkey, wherever he may lie down, does not rest long; so
should the monk who is intent on Arahantship not rest long.” 2. The Cockerel“As the cockerel goes to roost at the proper time; so should the monk quickly perform his duties2 after the almsround and enter a solitary place for meditation. “As the cockerel rises early; so should the monk rise early. “As the cockerel constantly scratches the ground in search of food; so should the monk constantly
reflect on the food he takes reminding himself, ‘I eat this not for enjoyment, nor for complexion, but merely to appease the pain of hunger and to enable me to practise the holy life, thus I shall put an end to sorrow.’ “As the cockerel, though it has eyes, is blind at night; so should the monk while meditating be as if
blind, paying no attention to sense objects that might disturb his concentration. “As the cockerel, even though driven off with sticks and stones, will not desert his roost; so should the monk not give up his mindfulness whether he is engaged in making robes, in building, teaching, studying the scriptures, or in other work. 4. The Female Panther“As the panther conceives only once and does not resort again to the male; so should the monk, seeing the suffering inherent in rebirth, resolve not to enter on any future existence. For this was said by the Buddha, O king, in the Dhaniya Sutta of the Sutta Nipāta: “Having broken the fetters like a bull,
as an elephant having broken the creepers,
so there will be no more rebirth for me.
Therefore, rain, O cloud, if you like!”3
7. The Bamboo“As the bamboo bends whichever way the wind blows; so should the monk be flexible and conform to the teaching. 10. The Monkey
“As the monkey dwells in a mighty tree, well covered with branches; so should the monk dwell with a learned teacher, who is worthy of veneration and able to instruct him. 12. The Lotus“As the lotus remains undefiled by the water in which it is born and grows; so should the monk be undefiled by support, offerings and veneration. “As the lotus remains lifted far above the water; so should the monk remain far above worldly things. “As the lotus trembles in the slightest breeze; so should the monk tremble at the mere thought of doing any evil, seeing danger in the slightest fault. 20. The Ocean“As the ocean casts out corpses on the shore; so should the monk cast out defilements from his mind.
“As the ocean, though it contains many treasures, does not cast them up; so should the monk possess the gems of the attainments but not display them. “As the ocean associates with mighty creatures; so should the monk associate with those fellow
disciples who are of few desires, virtuous, learned and wise. “As the ocean does not overflow its shore; so should the monk never transgress the precepts even for the sake of his life. “As the ocean is not filled up even by all the rivers that flow into it; so should the monk never be
satiated with hearing the teaching and instruction in the Dhamma, Vinaya, and Abhidhamma. 21. The Earth“As the great earth is unmoved by fair or foul things thrown down on it; so should the monk remain unmoved by praise or blame, support or neglect. “As the great earth is unadorned but has its own odour; so should the monk be unadorned with perfumes but endowed with the fragrance of his virtue. “As the great earth is never weary though it bears many things; so should the monk never be weary of giving instruction, exhortation and encouragement.
“As the great earth is without malice or fondness; so should the monk be without malice or fondness. 22. Water“As water naturally remains still; so should the monk be without hypocrisy, complaining, hinting, and
improper behaviour and remain undisturbed and pure by nature. “As water always refreshes; so should the monk, full of compassion, always seek the good and benefit of all. “As water never harms anyone; so should the monk, earnest in effort, never do any wrong that would
produce quarrels or strife, or anger or discontent. For it was said by the Blessed One in the Kanha Jātaka: “O Sakka, Lord of all the world, a choice thou bidst declare:
No creature be aught harmed for me, O Sakka, anywhere,
Neither in body nor in mind: this, Sakka, is my prayer.”4
27. The Moon“As the moon increases day by day in the waxing phase; so should the monk increase in good qualities day by day. 30. The Universal Monarch“As the universal monarch gains the favour of the people by the four bases of popularity [generosity, affability, justice and impartiality] so should the monk gain the favour of monks and laity. “As the universal monarch allows no robbers to dwell in his realm; so should the monk allow no cruel, lustful or angry thought to dwell in his mind. “As the universal monarch travels all over the world examining the good and the bad; so should the monk examine himself thoroughly as to his thoughts, words and deeds. 35. The Mongoose“As the mongoose protects himself with an antidote before approaching a snake; so should the monk protect himself with loving-kindness before approaching the world, which abounds in anger and malice, strife and contention. 40. The Elephant“As the elephant turns his whole body when he looks round; so should the monk turn his whole body when he looks round, not glancing this way and that but keeping his eyes well controlled. “As the elephant lifts up his feet and walks with care; so should the monk be mindful and clearly
comprehending in walking. 46. The Indian Crane“As the Indian crane warns people about their future fate with his cry; so should the monk warn people about their future fate with his teaching of Dhamma. 47. The Bat“As the bat, though he sometimes enters men’s houses, soon leaves; so should the monk, though he enters men’s houses for alms, soon leave. “As the bat when he frequents men’s houses does no harm; so should the monk when visiting men’s
houses do no harm there being easily supportable and considerate of their welfare. 48. The Leech“As the leech feeds until he is satisfied before he lets go; so should the monk take a firm hold of his
meditation object and drink the delicious nectar of freedom until he is satisfied. 50. The Rock Snake“As the rock snake can survive for many days without food but still keep himself alive; so should the
monk be able to keep himself going even though he receives only a little alms. For this was said by Venerable Sāriputta: “Whether it be dry food or wet he eats, let him to full repletion never eat. The good recluse goes forth in emptiness, and keeps to moderation in his food. If but four mouthfuls or five he gets, let
him drink water for what cares a man with mind on Arahantship fixed for ease.”5
60. The Carpenter“As the carpenter discards rotten wood and takes only sound timber; so should the monk discard wrong views like eternalism, nihilism, the soul is the body, the soul is one thing the body another, all teachings are alike excellent, the unconditioned is an impossibility, men’s actions are useless, there is no holy life, when a being dies a new being is reborn, conditioned things are eternally existing, the one who acts
experiences the result thereof, one acts and another experiences the result, and all other such wrong views on the result of kamma (intention) and action (kiriya). Having discarded all such paths he should seize the idea of voidness, which is the true nature of conditioned things. 61. The Waterpot“As the waterpot that is full makes no noise; so should the monk be not garrulous even though he knows much, for this was said by the Blessed One: On the conclusion of this debate between the elder and the king the great earth shook six times,
lightning flashed and the gods rained down flowers from heaven. Milinda was filled with joy of heart and all his pride was subdued. He ceased to have any doubt about the Triple Gem and, renouncing all obstinacy, like a cobra deprived of its fangs he said, “Most excellent, venerable Nāgasena! You have solved the puzzles that were worthy of a Buddha to solve. Among the Buddha’s followers there is no
one like you, except for Venerable Sāriputta. Please forgive me for my faults. May you accept me as a follower, as one gone for refuge for as long as life lasts.” The king, with his soldiers, supported the elder and his large following and had a dwelling place constructed called Milinda Vihāra. Later, Milinda handed over his kingdom to his son and, going forth
into homelessness, he developed his insight and attained Arahantship. | 
