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The Questions of King Milinda: Zen Commentaries on the Milindapañha
Paperback
Series: Books on Chan (Zen) Buddhism
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Publisher: Independently Published
Pages: 442
Weight: 1.17
Height: 1.10 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
An Ancient Dialogue on Buddhist Wisdom-Made Accessible for the Modern Practitioner
The Questions of King Milinda is one of the great classics of Buddhist literature-an extended dialogue between an intellectually formidable Indo-Greek king and a Buddhist monk renowned for his wisdom. King Milinda asks the hard questions: If there is no permanent self, who acts and who receives the consequences of karma? If nirvana is not produced, how can it be real? If the Buddha was awakened, why did he continue to meditate?
In this new edition, Christopher Shen-Wen Johnson presents the complete question-and-answer exchanges from T. W. Rhys Davids's classic translation, accompanied by fresh commentary that bridges ancient Buddhist thought with contemporary practice. Drawing from his training in Linji Chan, Soto Zen, Korean Seon, Stoicism, and American Pragmatism, Johnson illuminates the text's teachings on no-self and dependent origination, karma and causality, meditation and wisdom, ethical conduct, and what awakening really means.
Whether you are a long-term practitioner seeking deeper understanding or a newcomer curious about Buddhist thought, The Questions of King Milinda offers a clear, practical, and accessible guide to one of the Dharma's most profound dialogues. The commentary speaks directly to the concerns of contemporary life-work, relationships, responsibility, suffering, and freedom-while remaining grounded in the living traditions of Zen and Chan.
About the Author
Christopher Shen-Wen Johnson is a priest and monk in the Linji Chan (Rinzai Zen) tradition, a member of the Order of Engaged Buddhists, and a student of Soto Zen, Korean Seon, and Stoic philosophy. He is a former US Marine, a husband and father, and an eternal student. His writing reflects a commitment to making the Dharma accessible, practical, and alive for modern practitioners.
These questions and dilemmas speak to many of the questions and dilemmas that we, as practitioners, have. It is my most earnest hope that these answers provide some idea of how to effectively live the lessons of the Buddhadharma in your own life.
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