"Revered Nagasena, things produced of karma are seen in the world, things produced of cause are seen, things produced of nature are seen. Tell me what in the world is born not of karma, not of cause, not of nature." "These two, sire, in the world are born not of karma, not of cause, not of nature. which two? Ether, sire, and Nirvana."
"Do not, revered Nagasena, corrupt the Conqueror's words and answer the question ignorantly."
"What did I say, sire, that you speak thus to me!"
"Revered Nagasena, what you said about ether - that it is born not of karma nor of cause nor of nature-is right. But with many a hundred reasons did the Lord, revered Nagasena, point out to disciples the Way to the realization of Nirvana and then you speak thus: 'Nirvana is born of no cause."'
"It is true, sire, that with many a hundred reasons did the Lord point out to disciples the Way to the realization of Nirvana; but he did not point out a cause for the production o f Nirvana."
"Well then, sire, attend carefully, listen closely, and I will tell the reason as to this. Would a man, sire, with his natural strength be able to go from here up a high Himalayan mountain?"
'Yes, revered Nagasena."
"But would that man, sire, with his natural strength be able to bring a high Himalayan mountain here.
"Certainly not, revered sir."
"Even so, sire, it is possible to point out the Way for the realization of Nirvana, but impossible to show a cause for the production of Nirvana. Would it be possible, sire, for a man who, with his natural strength, has crossed over the great sea in a boat to reach the farther shore!"
"Yes, revered sir."
"But would it be possible, sire, for that man, with his natural strength, to bring the farther shore of the great sea here?"
"Certainly not, revered sir."
"Even so, sire, it is possible to point out the Way to the realization of Nirvana, but impossible to show a cause for the production of Nirvana. For what reason? It is because of the uncompounded nature of the thing." "Revered Nagasena, is Nirvana uncompounded!"
"Yes, sire, Nirvana is uncompounded; it is made by nothing at all. Sire, one cannot say of Nirvana that it arises or that it does not arise or that it is to be produced or that it is past or future or present, or that it is cognizable by the eye, ear, nose, tongue or body."
"If, revered Nagasena, Nirvana neither arises nor does not arise and so on. as you say. well then, revered Nagasena, you indicate Nirvana as a thing that is not: Nirvana is not."
"Sire, Nirvana is; Nirvana is cognizable by mind; an ariyan disciple, faring along rightly with a mind that is purified, lofty, straight, without obstructions, without temporal desires, sees Nirvana."
"But what, revered sir, is that Nirvana like that can be illustrated by similes! Convince me with reasons according to which a thing that is can be illustrated by similes."
"Is there, sire, what is called wind?"
"Yes, revered sir."
"Please, sire, show the wind by its color or configuration or as thin or thick or long or short."
"But it is not possible, revered Nagasena, for the wind to be shown; for the wind cannot be grasped in the hand or touched, but yet there is the wind."
"If, sire, it is not possible for the wind to be shown, well then, there is no wind."
"I, revered Nagasena, know that there is wind, I am convinced of it, but I am not able to show the wind."
"Even so, sire, there is Nirvana; but it is not possible to show Nirvana by color or configuration."
"Very good, revered Nagasena, well shown is the simile. well seen the reason: thus it is and I accept it as you say: There is Nirvana."
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