A Person is a Process, Not a Noun, a Verb

In the second century B.C., an Indo-Greek king named Milinda--called Menander in the Greek chronicles--ruled over a large kingdom extending from Afghanistan into Northern India. Milinda loved to debate questions of philosophy, and he had a reputation for trying to beat others in argument. But he was also a sincere seeker who could ask practical questions. When he heard that a wise monk named Nagasena, a devoted follower of the Buddha, was traveling through his lands, Milinda was eager to pay him a visit.

Now Nagasena had heard about how King Milinda loved to debate and argue, but he told his fellow monks, "Let him come. Have no fear! Even if all the kings of India were to come, we would meet them with answers to their questions.

Soon Milinda found out where the monk was staying and went to see him, accompanied by his large Greek retinue. The Venerable Nagasena and his monks received the king warmly, and after the greetings and courtesies were over, Milinda asked the sage, "What is your reverence's name?"

The sage replied, "I am known as Nagasena, gracious king, and that is how everyone addresses me. But though I am known as Nagasena, that is only a designation, an appellation, a mere name. For there is no real person who has the name Nagasena."

Enjoying the contest of wits, the king declared, "Listen, you Greeks and monks! This Nagasena says he is not a real person! How can I be expected to agree with that? I ask you, Venerable Nagasena, if no person exists, then who receives the robes, food, and lodging that your students offer you? Who follows morality, practices meditation, and attains nirvana? Then surely there is a 'Nagasena'? Perhaps the hairs on your head are 'Nagasena'?

The poker-faced monk replied, "No, great king?"

"Perhaps the nails, teeth, skin, muscles?"

"No, great king."

"Perhaps the feelings, perceptions, mental formations, or consciousness are Nagasena?"

"No, great king."

"Then I can discover no Nagasena at all," Milinda exclaimed. "'Nagasena' is just a mere sound."

Thereupon Nagasena smiled and asked, "How did you come here, your majesty, on foot or in a chariot?"

"I did not come on foot, sir, but in a chariot."

"If you have come in a chariot, please explain to me what a chariot is. Is it the axle? Or the wheels, or the chassis, or reins, or yoke that is the chariot?"

"No, reverend sir! It is none of these."

"Is it all of these combined, or is it something apart from them?"

"No, reverend sir!"

"Then, ask as I may, I can discover no chariot at all," Nagasena replied. "Your majesty has spoken a falsehood! Now listen, you Greeks and monks, this King Milinda tells me that he has come in a chariot. But when asked to show me the chariot, he cannot. How can I approve of that?"

The Greeks applauded the Venerable Nagasena and said to Milinda, "Let your majesty get out of that if you can!"

But King Milinda said to Nagasena, "I have not spoken a falsehood." Then he pondered, inspecting the chariot and weighing his answer carefully. "It is in dependence ...  on the wheels ... the chassis ...  the reins ... the yoke ... the pole ... the axle that there is this designation 'chariot.'"

"Your majesty has spoken well about the chariot! Just so with me. In dependence on the five skandhas  [Form, sensation, perception, mental formation, and consciousness.] there takes place this denomination 'Nagasena.' In ultimate reality, however, this person cannot be apprehended," the monk explained. "Where all constituent parts are present, the word 'chariot' is applied. So likewise where the five aggregates are, the term 'a being' commonly is used."

"Wonderful, Nagasena! This is astonishing!"

Then all the Greeks applauded, with Milinda leading.

"Most brilliantly have these questions been answered. Were the Buddha himself here, he would approve all you have said. Well spoken, Nagasena, well spoken!"

Yes, there is a process called "Nagasena"--but in ultimate sense, there is no Nagasena to be found. He is not a person but a process, not a noun but a verb. He is ... impermanent. Step by step the Buddha has pushed us into a corner. His logic cannot be denied."

---Essence of the Dhammapada, by Eknath Easwaran---