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[This document can be acquired from a sub-directory coombspapers via
anonymous FTP or COOMBSQUEST gopher at the Australian National
University, Canberra on the node COOMBS.ANU.EDU.AU or from the ANU
Soc.Sci.WWW Server at http://coombs.anu.edu.au/CoombsHome.html]
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[This version: 20 July 1994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
THE GOSPEL OF BUDDHA - BY PAUL CARUS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following information was supplied on 25 Jun 94 to the
Coombspapers Social Sciences Data Archive by Cris A. Fugate
<fugate@plains.nodak.edu>
Book details
============
"The Gospel of Buddha, Compiled from Ancient Records"
Author - Paul Carus
Publisher - The Open Court Publishing Company, Chicago and London, 1915
Copyright by The Open Court Publishing Co.,
1894 in United States, 1915 in Great Britain
These copyrights have since expired
Transcriber details
===================
Cris A. Fugate currently residing at 115C
University Village, Fargo, North Dakota 50102 USA. email:
fugate@plains.nodak.edu at North Dakota State University
Date of transcription: May 1994
No copyright for transcription has been claimed by Cris A.Fugate at the time
of lodgement of this electronic text with the Coombspapers Archive.
Changes made in transcription
=============================
The transcription does not include a pronunciation chart
The transcription does not include table of reference
The transcription does not include "Remarks on the
Illustrations of the Gospel of Buddha"
Page numbers in glossary and index are converted to chapter numbers.
Transcription should otherwise be very close to the original
since the text has been proofread several times.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- PREFACE
This book is published here in form of 13 files:
gospel-buddha-01-preface.txt, gospel-buddha-02-contents.txt,
gospel-buddha-03-introdu.txt, gospel-buddha-04-enlight.txt,
gospel-buddha-05-foundat.txt, gospel-buddha-06-consolid.txt,
gospel-buddha-07-teacher.txt, gospel-buddha-08-stories.txt,
gospel-buddha-09-lastdays.txt, gospel-buddha-10-conclus.txt,
gospel-buddha-11-bibliog.txt, gospel-buddha-12-glossary.txt,
gospel-buddha-13-index.txt
----------------------------------------------------------------------- PREFACE
LXXXVIII. THE CONDITIONS OF WELFARE
When the Blessed One was residing on the mount called Vulture's
Peak, near Rajagaha, Ajatasattu the king of Magadha, who reigned in
the place of Bimbisara, planned an attack on the Vajjis, and he said
to Vassakara, his prime minister: "I will root out the Vajjis, mighty
though they be. I will destroy the Vajjis; I will bring them to utter
ruin! Come now, O Brahman, and go to the Blessed One: inquire in my
name for his health, and tell him my purpose. Bear carefully in mind
what the Blessed One may say, and repeat it to me, for the Buddhas
speak nothing untrue. 1
When Vassakara, the prime minister, had greeted the Blessed One and
delivered his message, the venerable Ananda stood behind the Blessed
One and fanned him, and the Blessed One said to him: "Hast thou heard,
Ananda, that the Vajjis hold full and frequent public assemblies?" 2
"Lord, so I have heard," replied he. 3
"So long, Ananda,"said the Blessed One, "as the Vajjis hold these
full and frequent public assemblies, they may be expected not to
decline, but to prosper. So long as they meet together in concord, so
long as they honour their elders, so long as they respect womanhood,
so long as they remain religious, performing all proper rites, so long
as they extend the rightful protection, defence and support to the
holy ones, the Vajjis may be expected not to decline, but to
prosper." 4
Then the Blessed One addressed Vassakara and said: "When I stayed,
O Brahman, at Vesali, I taught the Vajjis these conditions of welfare,
that so long as they should remain well instructed, so long as they
will continue in the right path, so long as they live up to the
precepts of righteousness, we could expect them not to decline, but to
prosper." 5
As soon as the king's messenger had gone, the Blessed One had the
brethren, that were in the neighbourhood of Rajagaha, assembled in the
service-hall, and addressed them, saying: 6
"I will teach you, O bhikkhus, the conditions of the welfare of a
community. Listen well, and I will speak. 7
"So long, O bhikkhus, as the brethren hold full and frequent
assemblies, meeting in concord, rising in concord, and attending in
concord to the affairs of the Sangha; so long as they, O bhikkhus, do
not abrogate that which experience has proved to be good, and
introduce nothing except such things as have been carefully tested; so
long as their elders practise justice; so long as the brethren esteem,
revere, and support their elders, and hearken unto their words; so
long as the brethren are not under the influence of craving, but
delight in the blessings of religion, so that good and holy men shall
come to them and dwell among them in quiet; so long as the brethren
shall exercise themselves in the sevenfold higher widom of mental
activity, search after truth, energy, joy, modest, self-control,
earnest contemplation, and equanimity of mind, - so long the Sangha
may be expected not to decline, but to prosper. 8
"Therefore, O bhikkhus, be full of faith, modest in heart, afraid
of sin, anxious to learn, strong in energy, active in mind, and full
of wisdom." 9
LXXXIX. SARIPUTTA'S FAITH
The Blessed One proceeded with a great company of the brethren to
Nalanda; and there he stayed in a mango grove. 1
Now the venerable Sariputta came to the place where the Blessed One
was, and having saluted him, took his seat respectfully at his side,
and said: "Lord! such faith have I in the Blessed One, that methinks
there never has been, nor will be, nor is there now any other, who is
greater or wiser than the Blessed One, that is to say, as regards the
higher wisdom." 2
Replied the Blessed One: "Grand and bold are the words of thy
mouth, Sariputta: verily, thou hast burst forth into a song of
ecsatcy! Surely then thou hast known all the Blessed Ones who in the
long ages of the past have been holy Buddhas?" 3
"Not so, O Lord!" said Sariputta. 4
And the Lord continued: "Then thou hast perceived all the Blessed
Ones who in the long ages of the future shall be holy Buddhas?" 5
"Not so, Lord!' 6
"But at least then, O Sariputta, thou knowest me as the holy Buddha
now alive, and hast penetrated my mind." 7
"Not even that, O Lord!" 8
"Thou seest then, Sariputta, that thou knowest not the hearts of
the holy Buddhas of the past nor the hearts of those of the future.
Why, therefore, are thy words so grand and bold? Why burstest thou
forth into such a song of ecstacy?" 9
"O Lord! I have not the knowledge of the hearts of all the Buddhas
that have been and are to come, and now are. I only know the lineage
of the faith. Just as a king, Lord, might have a border city, strong
in its foundations, strong in its ramparts and with one gate only; and
the king might have a watchman there, clever, expert, and wise, to
stop all strangers and admit only friends. And on going over the
approaches all about the city, he might not be able so to observe all
the joints and crevices in the ramparts of that city as to know where
such a small creature as a cat could get out. That might well be.
Yet all living beings of larger size that entered or left the city,
would have to pass through that gate. Thus only is it, Lord, that I
know the lineage of the faith. I know that the holy Buddhas of the
past, putting away all lust, ill-will, sloth, pride, and doubt,
knowing all those mental faults which make men weak, training their
minds in the four kinds of mental activity, throroughly exercising
themselves in the sevenfold higher wisdom, received the full fruition
of Enlightenment. And I know that the holy Buddhas of the times to
come will do the same. And I know that the Blessed One, the holy
Buddha of to-day, has done so now." 10
"Great is thy faith, O Sariputta," replied the Blessed One, "but
take heed that it be well grounded." 11
XC. PATALIPUTTA
When the Blessed One had stayed as long as convenient at Nalanda,
he went to Pataliputta, the frontier town of Magadha; and when the
disciples at Pataliputta heard of his arrival, they invited him to
their village rest-house. And the Blessed One robed himself, took his
bowl and went with the brethren to the rest-house. There he washed
his feet, entered the hall, and seated himself against the center
pillar, with his face towards the east. The brethren, also, having
washed their feet, entered the hall, and took their seats round the
Blessed One, against the western wall, facing the east. And the lay
devotees of Pataliputta, having also washed their feet, entered the
hall, and took their seats opposite the Blessed One against the
eastern wall, facing towards the west. 1
Then the Blessed One addressed the lay-disciples of Pataliputta,
and he said: 2
"Fivefold, O householders, is the loss of the wrong-doer through
his want of rectitude. In the first place, the wrong-doer, devoid of
rectitude, falls into great poverty through sloth; in the next place,
his evil repute gets noised abroad; thirdly, whatever society he
enters shyly and confusedly; fourthly, he is full of anxiety when he
dies; and lastly, on the dissolution of the body after death, his mind
remains in an unhappy state. Wherever his karma continues, there will
be suffering and woe. This, O householders, is the fivefold loss of
the evil-doer! 3
"Fivefold, O householders, is the gain of the well-doer through his
practice of rectitude. In the first place the well-doer, strong in
rectitude, acquires property through his industry; in the next place,
good reports of him are spread abroad; thirdly, whatever society he
enters, whether of nobles, Brahmans, heads of houses, or members of
the order, he enters with confidence and self-possession; fourthly, he
dies without anxiety; and lastly, on the dissolution after death, his
mind remains in a happy state. Wherever his karma continues, there
will be heavenly bliss and peace. This, O householders, is the
fivefold gain of the well-doer." 4
When the Blessed One had taught the disciples, and incited them,
and roused them, and gladdened them far into the night with religious
edification, he dimissed them, saying, "The night is far spent, O
householders. It is time for you to do what ye deem most fit." 5
"Be it so, Lord!" answered the disciples of Pataliputta, and rising
from their seats, they bowed to the Blessed One, and keeping him on
their right hand as they passed him, they departed thence. 6
While the Blessed One stayed at Pataliputta, the king of Magadha
sent a messenger to the governor of Pataliputta to raise
fortifications for the security of the town. 7
And the Blessed One seeing the labourers at work predicted the
future greatness of the place, saying: "The men who build the fortress
act as if they had consulted higher powers. For this city of
Pataliputta will be a dwelling-place of busy men and a center for the
exchange of all kinds of goods. But three dangers hang over
Pataliputta, that of fire, that of water, that of dissension." 8
When the governor heard of the prophecy of Pataliputta's future, he
greatly rejoiced and named the city-gate through which the Buddha had
gone towards the river Ganges, "The Gotama Gate." 9
Meanwhile the people living on the banks of the Ganges arrived in
great numbers to pay reverence to the Lord of the world; and many
persons asked him to do them the honour to cross over in their boats.
But the Blessed One considering the number of the boats and their
beauty did not want to show any partiality, and by accepting the
invitation of one to offend all the others. He therefore crossed the
river without any boat, signifying thereby that the rafts of
asceticism and the gaudy gondolas of religious ceremonies were not
staunch enough to weather the storms of Samsara, while the Tathagata
can walk dry-shod over the ocean of worldliness. 10
And as the city-gate was called after the name of the Tathagata so
the people called this passage of the river "Gotama Ford." 11
XCI. THE MIRROR OF TRUTH
The Blessed One proceeded to the village Nadika with a great
company of brethren and there he stayed at the Brick Hall. And the
venerable Ananda went to the Blessed One and mentioning to him the
names of the brethren and sisters that had died, anxiously inquired
about their fate after death, whether they had been reborn in animals
or in hell, or as ghosts, or in any place of woe. 1
And the Blessed One replied to Ananda and said: 2
"Those who have died after the complete destruction of the three
bonds of lust, or convetousness and of the egotistical cleaving to
existence, need not fear the state after death. They will not be
reborn in a state of suffering; their minds will not continue as a
karma of evil deeds or sin, but are assured of final salvation. 3
"When they die, nothing will remain of them but their good
thoughts, their righteous acts, and the bliss that proceeds from truth
and righteousness. As rivers must at last reach the distant main, so
their minds will be reborn in higher states of existence and continue
to be pressing on to their ultimate goal which is the ocean of truth,
the eternal peace of Nirvana. 4
"Men are anxious about death and their fate after death; but
consider, it is not at all strange, Ananda, that a human being should
die. However, that thou shouldst inquire about them, and having heard
the truth still b e anxious about the dead, this is wearisome to the
Blessed One. I will, therefore, teach thee the mirror of truth and
let the faithful disciple repeat it: 5
"'Hell is destroyed for me, and rebirth as an animal, or a ghost,
or in any place of woe. I am converted; I am no longer liable to be
reborn in a state of suffering, and am assured of final salvation.' 6
"What, then, Ananda, is this mirror of truth? It is the
conciousness that the elect disciple is in this world possessed of
faith in the Buddha, believing the Blessed One to be the Holy One, the
Fully-enlightened One, wise, upright, happy, world-knowing, supreme,
the Bridler of men's way ward hearts, the Teacher of gods and men, the
blessed Buddha. 7
"It is further the conciousness that the disciple is possessed of
faith in the truth, believing the truth to have been proclaimed by the
Blessed One, for the benefit of the world, passing not away, welcoming
all, leading to salvation, to which through truth the wise will atain,
each one by one by his own efforts. 8
"And, finally, it is the conciousness that the disciple is
possessed of faith in the order, believing in the efficacy of a union
among those men and women who are anxious to walk in the noble
eightfold path; believing the church of the Buddha, of the righteous,
the upright, the just, the law-abiding, to be worthy of honour, of
hospitality, of gifts, and of reverence; to be the supreme sowing-
ground of merit for the world; to be possesed of the virtues beloved
by the good, virtues unbroken, intact, unspotted, unblemished, virtues
which make men truly free, virtues which are praised by the wise, are
untarnished by the desire of selfish aims, either now or in a future
life, or by the belief in the efficacy of outward acts, and are
conducive to high and holy thought. 9
"This is the mirror of truth which teaches the straightest way to
enlightenment which is the common goal of all living creatures. He
who possesses the mirror of truth is free from fear; he will find
comfort in the tribulations of life, and his life will be a blessing
to all his fellow-creatures." 10
XCII. AMBAPALI
Then the Blessed One proceeded with a great number of brethren to
Vesali, and he stayed at the grove of the courtesan Ambapali. And he
said to the brethren: "Let a brother, O bhikkhus, be mindful and
thoughtful. Let a brother, whilst in the world, overcome the grief
which arises from bodily craving, from the lust of sensations, and
from the errors of wrong reasoning. Whatever you do, act always in
full presence of mind. Be thoughtful in eating and drinking, in
walking or standing, in sleeping or walking, while talking or being
silent." 1
When the courtesan Ambapali, heard that the Blessed One was staying
in her mango grove, she was exceedingly glad and went in a carriage as
far as the ground was passible for carriages. There she alighted and
thence proceeding to the place where the Blessed One was, she took her
seat respectfully at his feet on one side. As a prudent woman goes
forth to perform her religious duties, so she appeared in a simple
dress without any ornaments, yet beautiful to look upon. 2
And the Blessed One thought to himself: "This woman moves in
worldly circles and is a favourite of kings and princes; yet is her
heart calm and composed. Young in years, rich, surrounded by
pleasures, she is thoughtful and steadfast. This, indeed, is rare in
the world. Women, as a rule, are scant in wisdom and deeply immersed
in vanity; but she, although living in luxury, has acquired the wisdom
of a master, taking delight in piety, and able to receive the truth in
its completeness." 3
When she was seated, the Blessed One instructed, aroused, and
gladdened her with religious discourse. 4
As she listened to the law, her face brightened with delight. Then
she rose and said to the Blessed One: "Will the Blessed One do me the
honour of taking his meal, together with the brethren, at my house to-
morrow?" And the Blessed One gave, by silence, his consent. 5
Now, the Licchavi, a wealthy family of princely rank, hearing that
the Blessed One had arrived at Vesali and was staying at Ambapali's
grove, mounted their magnificent carriages, and proceeded with their
retinue to the place where the Blessed One was. And the Licchavi were
gorgeously dressed in bright colours and decorated with costly
jewels. 6
And Ambapali drove up against the young Licchavi, axle to axle,
wheel to whell, and yoke to yoke, and the Licchavi said to Ambapali,
the courtesan: "How is it, Ambapali, that you drive up against us
thus?" 7
"My lords," said she, "I have just invited the Blessed One and his
brethren for their to-morrow's meal." 8
And the princes replied: "Ambapali! give up this meal to us for a
hundred thousand." 9
"My lords, were you to offer all Vesali with its subject territory,
I would not give up so great an honour!" 10
Then the Licchavi went on to Ambapali's grove. 11
When the Blessed One saw the Licchavi approaching in the distance,
he addressed the brethren, and said: "O brethren, let those of the
brethren who have never seen the gods gaze upon this company of the
Licchavi, for they are dressed gorgeously, like immortals." 12
And when they had driven as far as the ground was passable for
carriages, the Licchavi alighted and went on foot to the place where
the Blesse One was, taking their seats respectfully by his side. And
when they were thus seated, the Blessed One instructed, aroused, and
gladdened, them with religious discourse. 13
Then they addressed the Blessed One and said: "Will the Blessed One
do us the honour of taking his meal, together with the brethren, at
our place to-morrow?" 14
"O Licchavi," said the Blessed One, "I have promised to dine to-
morrow with Ambapali, the courtesan." 15
Then the Licchavi, expressing their approval of the words of the
Blessed One, arose from their seats and bowed down before the Blessed
One, and, keeping him on their right hand as they passed him, they
departed thence; but when they came home, they cast up their hands,
saying: "A worldly woman has outdone us; we have been left behind by a
frivolous girl!" 16
And at the end of the night Ambapali, the courtesan, made ready in
her mansion sweet rice and cakes, and on the next day announced
through a messenger the time to the Blessed One, saying, "The hour,
Lord, has come, and the meal is ready!" 17
And the Blessed One robed himself early in the morning, took his
bowl, and went with the brethren to the place where Ambapali's
dwelling-house was; and when they had come there they seated
themselves on the seats prepared for them. And Ambapali, the
courtesan, set the sweet rice and cakes before the order, with the
Buddha at their head, and waited upon them till they refused to take
more. 18
And the Blessed One had finished his meal, the courtesan had a low
stool brought, and sat down at his side, and addressed the Blessed
One, and said: "Lord, I present this mansion to the order of bhikkhus,
of which the Buddha is the chief." 19
And the Blessed One accepted the gift; and after instructing,
arousing, and gladdening her with religious edification, he rose from
his seat and departed thence. 20
XCIII. THE BUDDHA'S FAREWELL ADDRESS
When the Blessed One had remained as long as he wished at
Ambapali's grove, he went to Beluva, near Vesali. There the Blessed
One addressed the brethren, and said: "O mendicants, take up your
abode for the rainy season round about Vesali, each one according to
the place where his friends and near companions may live. I shall
enter upon the rainy season here at Beluva." 1
When the Blessed One had thus entered upon the rainy season there
fell upon him a dire sickness, and sharp pains came upon him even unto
death. But the Blessed One, mindful and self-possessed, bore his
ailments without complaint. 2
Then this thought occured to the Blessed One, "It would not be
right for me to pass away from life without addressing the disciples,
without taking leave of the order. Let me now, by a strong effort of
the will, subdue this sickness, and keep my hold on life till the
alloted time have come." 3
And the Blessed One, by a strong effort of the will subdued the
sickness, and kept his hold on life till the time he fixed upon should
come. And the sickness abated. 4
Thus the Blessed One began to recover; and when he had quite got
rid of the sickness, he went out from the monastery, and sat down on a
seat spread out in the open air. And the venerable Ananda,
accompanied by many other disciples, approached where the Blessed One
was, saluted him, and taking a seat respectfully on one side, said: "I
have beheld, Lord, how the Blessed One was in health, and I have
beheld how the Blessed One had to suffer. And though at the sight of
the sickness of the Blessed One my body became weak as a creeper, and
the horizon became dim to me, and my faculties were no longer clear,
yet notwithstanding I took some little comfort from the thought that
the Blessed One would not pass away from existence until at least he
had left instructions as touching the order." 5
And the Blessed One addressed Ananda in behalf of the order,
saying: 6
"What, then, Ananda, does the order expect of me? I have preached
the truth without making any distinction between exoteric and esoteric
doctrine; for in respect of the truth, Ananda, the Tathagata has no
such thing as the closed fist of a teacher, who keeps some things
back. 7
"Surely, Ananda, should there be any one who harbours the thought,
'it is I who will lead the brotherhood,' or, 'The is order is
dependent upon me,' he should lay down instructions in any matter
concerning the order. Now the Tathagata, Ananda, thinks not that it
is he who should lead the brotherhood, or that the order is dependent
upon him. 8
"Why, then, should the Tathagata leave instruction in any matter
concerning the order? 9
"I am now grown old, O Ananda, and full of years; my journey is
drawing to its close, I have reached the sum of my days, I am turning
eighty years of age. 10
"Just as a worn-out cart cannot be made to move along without much
difficulty, so the body of the Tathagata can only be kept going with
much additional care. 11
"It is only, Ananda, when the Tathagata, ceasing to attend to any
outward thing, becomes plunged into that devout meditation of heart
which is concerned with no bodily object, it is only then that the
body of the Tathagata is at ease. 12
"Therefore, O Ananda, be ye lamps unto yourselves. Rely on
yourselves, and do not rely on external help. 13
"Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Seek salvation alone in the
truth. Look not for assistance to any one besides yourselves. 14
"And how, Ananda, can a brother be lamp unto himself, rely on
himself only and not on any external help, holding fast to the truth
as his lamp and seeking salvation in the truth alone, looking not for
assistance to any one besides himself? 15
"Herein, O Ananda, let a brother, as he dwells in the body, so
regard the body that he, being strenuous, thoughtful, and mindful,
may, whilst in the world, overcome the grief which arises from the
body's cravings. 16
"While subject to sensations let him continue so to regard the
sensations that he, being strenuous, thoughtful, and mindful, may,
whilst in the world, overcome the grief which arises from the
sensations. 17
"And so, also, when he thinks or reasons, or feels, let him so
regard his thoughts that being strenuous, thoughtful, and mindful he
may, whilst in the world, overcome the grief which arises from the
craving due to ideas, or to reasoning, or to feeling. 18
"Those who, either now or after I am dead, shall be lamps unto
themselves, relying upon themselves only and not relying upon any
external help, but holding fast in the truth as their lamp, and
seeking their salvation in the truth alone, and shall not look for
assistance to any one besides themselves, it is they, Ananda, among my
bhikkhus, who shall reach the very height! But they must be anxious
to learn." 19
XCIV. THE BUDDHA ANNOUNCES HIS DEATH
Said the Tathagata to Ananda: "In former years, Ananda, Mara, the
Evil One, approached the holy Buddha three times to tempt him. 1
"And now, Ananda, Mara, the Evil One, came again to-day to the
place where I was, and, standing beside me, addressed me in the same
words as he did when I was resting under the shepherd's Nigrodha tree
on the bank of the Neranyjara river: 'Be greeted, thou Holy One. Thou
hast attained the highest bliss and it is time for thee to enter into
the final Nirvana.' 2
"And when Mara had thus spoken, Ananda, I answered him and said:
'Make thyself happy, O wicked one; the extinction of the Tathagata
shall take place before long.'" 3
And the venerable Ananda addressed the Blessed One and said:
"Vouchsafe, Lord, to remain with us, O Blessed One! for the good and
the happiness of the great multitudes, out of pity for the world, for
the good and the gain of mankind!" 4
Said the Blessed One: "Enough now, Ananda, beseech not the
Tathagata!" 5
And again, a second time, the venerable Ananda besought the Blessed
One in the same words. And he received from the Blessed One the same
reply. 6
And again, the third time, the venerable Ananda besought the
Blessed One to live longer; and the Blessed One said: "Hast thou
faith, Ananda?" 7
Said Ananda: "I have, my Lord!" 8
And the Blessed One, seeing the quivering eyelids of Ananda, read
the deep grief in the heart of his beloved disciple, and he asked
again: "Hast thou, indeed, faith, Ananda?" 9
And Ananda said: "I have faith, my Lord." 10
Then the Blessed One continued: "If thou hast faith, Ananda, in the
wisdom of the Tathagata, why, then, Ananda, dost thou trouble the
Tathagata even until the third time? Have I not formerly declared to
you that it is in the very nature of all compound things that they
must be dissolved again. We must separate ourselves from all things
near and dear to us, and must leave them. How then, Ananda, can it be
possible for me to remain, since everything that is born, or brought
into being, and organized, contains within itself the inherent
necessity of dissolution? How, then, can it be possible that this
body of mine should not be dissolved? No such condition can exist!
And this mortal existence, O Ananda, has been relinquished, cast away,
renounced, rejected, and abandoned by the Tathagata." 11
And the Blessed One said to Ananda: "Go now, Ananda, and assemble
in the Service Hall such of the brethren as reside in the
neighbourhood of Vesali." 12
Then the Blessed One proceeded to the Service Hall, and sat down
there on the mat spread out for him. And when he was seated, the
Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said: 13
"O brethren, ye to whom the truth has been made known, having
thoroughly made yourselves masters of it, practise it, meditate upon
it, and spread it abroad, in order that pure religion may last long
and be perpetuated, in order that it may continue for the good and
happiness of the great multitudes, out of pity for the world, and to
the good and gain of all living beings! 14
"Star-gazing and astrology, forecasting lucky or unfortunate events
by signs, prognosticating good or evil, all these are things
forbidden. 15
"He who lets his heart go loose without restraint shall not attain
Nirvana; therefore, must we hold the heart in check, and retire from
worldly excitements and seek tranquillity of mind. 16
"Eat your food to satisfy your hunger, and drink to satisfy your
thirst. Satisfy the necessities of life like the butterfly that sips
the flower, without destroying its fragrance or its texture. 17
"It is through not understanding and grasping the four truths, O
brethren, that we have gone astray so long, and wandered in this weary
path of transmigrations, both you and I, until we have found the
truth. 18
"Practise the earnest meditations I have taught you. Continue in
the great struggle against sin. Walk steadily in the roads of
saintship. Be strong in moral powers. Let the organs of your
spiritual sense be quick. When the seven kinds of wisdom enlighten
your mind, you will find the noble, eightfold path that leads to
Nirvana. 19
"Behold, O brethren, the final extinction of the Tathagata will
take place before long. I now exhort you, saying: 'All component
things must grow old and be dissolved again. Seek ye for that which
is permanent, and work out your salvation with diligence.'" 20
XCV. CHUNDA, THE SMITH
And the Blessed One went to Pava. 1
When Chunda, the worker in metals, heard that the Blessed One had
come to Pava and was staying in his mango grove, he came to the Buddha
and respectfully invited him and the brethren to take their meal at
his house. And Chunda prepared rice-cakes and a dish of dried boar's
meat. 2
When the Blessed One had eaten the food prepared by Chunda, the
worder in metals, there fell upon him a dire sickness, and sharp pain
came upon him even unto death. But the Blessed One, mindful and self-
possessed, bore it without complaint. 3
And the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ananda, and said:
"Come, Ananda, let us go on to Kusinara." 4
On his way the Blessed One grew tired, and he went aside from the
road to rest at the foot of a tree, and said: "Fold the robe, I pray
thee, Ananda, and spread it out for me. I am weary, Ananda, and must
rest awhile!" 5
"Be it so, Lord!" said the venerable Ananda; and he spread out the
robe folded fourfold. 6
The Blessed One seated himself, and when he was seated he addressed
the venerable Ananda, and said: "Fetch me some water, I pray thee,
Ananda, I am thirsty, Ananda, and would drink." 7
When he had thus spoken, the venerable Ananda said to the Blessed
One: "But just now, Lord, five hundred carts have gone across the
brook and have stirred the water; but a river, O Lord, is not far off.
Its water is clear and pleasant, cool and transparent, and it is easy
to get down to it. There the Blessed One may both drink water and
cool his limbs." 8
A second time the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ananda,
saying: "Fetch me some water, I pray thee, Ananda, I am thirsty,
Ananda, and would drink." 9
And a second time the venerable Ananda said: "Let us go to the
river." 10
Then the third time the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ananda,
and said: "Fetch me some water, I pray thee, Ananda, I am thirsty,
Ananda, and would drink." 11
"Be it so, Lord!" said the venerable Ananda in assent to the
Blessed One; and, taking a bowl, he went down to the streamlet. And
lo! the streamlet, which stirred up by wheels, had become muddy, when
the venerable Ananda came up to it, flowed clear and bright and free
from all turbidity. And he thought: "How wonderful, how marvellous is
the great might and power of the Tathagata!" 12
Ananda brought the water in the bowl to the Lord, saying: "Let the
Blessed One take the bowl. Let the Happy One drink the water. Let
the teacher of men and gods quench his thirst." 13
Then the Blessed One drank of the water. 14
Now, at that time a man of low caste, named Pukkusa, a young Malla,
a disciple of Alara Kalama, was passing along the high road from
Kusinara to Pava. 15
And Pukkusa, the young Malla, saw the Blessed One seated at the
foot of a tree. On seeing him, he went up to the place where the
Blessed One was, and when he had come there, he saluted the Blessed
One and took his seat respectfully on one side. Then the Blessed One
instructed, edified, and gladdened Pukkusa, the young Malla, with
religious discourse. 16
Aroused and gladdened by the words of the Blessed One, Pukkusa, the
young Malla, addressed a certain man who happened to pass by, and
said: "Fetch me, I pray thee, my good man, two robes of cloth of gold,
burnished and ready for wear." 17
"Be it so, sir!" said that man in assent to Pukkusa, the young
Malla; and he brought two robes of cloth of gold, burnished and ready
for wear. 18
And the Malla Pukkusa presented the two robes of cloth of gold,
burnished and ready for wear, to the Blessed One, saying: "Lord, these
two robes of burnished cloth of gold are ready for wear. May the
Blessed One show me favour and accept them at my hands!" 19
The Blessed One said: "Pukkusa, robe me in one, and Ananda in the
other." 20
And the Tathagata's body appeared shining like a flame, and he was
beautiful above all expression. 21
And the venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: "How wonderful a
thing is it, Lord, and how marvellous, that the colour of the skin of
the Blessed One should be so clear, so exceedingly bright! When I
placed this robe of burnished cloth of gold on the body of the Blessed
One, lo! it seemed as if it had lost its splendour!" 22
The Blessed One said: "There are two occasions on which a
Tathagata's appearance becomes clear and exceeding bright. In the
night, Ananda, in which a Tathagata attains to the supreme and perfect
insight, and in the night in which he passes finally away in that
utter passing away which leaves nothing whatever of his earthly
existence to remain." 23
And the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ananda, and said: "Now
it may happen, Ananda, that someone should stir up remorse in Chunda,
the smith, by saying: 'It is evil to thee, Chunda, and loss to thee,
that the Tathagata died, having eaten his last meal from thy
provision.' Any such remorse, Ananda, in Chunda, the smith, should be
checked by saying: 'It is good to thee, Chunda, and gain to thee, that
the Tathagata died, having eaten his last meal from thy provision.
From the very mouth of the Blessed One, O Chunda, have I heard, from
his own mouth have I received this saying, "These two offerings of
food are of equal fruit and of much greater profit than any other: the
offerings of food which a Tathagata accepts when he has attained
perfect enlightenment and when he passes away by the utter passing
away in which nothing whatever of his earthly existence remains behind
- these two offerings of food are of equal fruit and of equal profit,
and of much greater fruit and much greater profit than any other.
There has been laid up by Chunda, the smith, a karma redounding to
length of life, redounding to good birth, redounding to good fortune,
redounding to good fame, redounding to the inheritance of heaven and
of great power."' In this way, Ananda should be checked any remorse
in Chunda, the smith." 24
Then the Blessed One, perceiving that death was near, uttered these
words: "He who gives away shall have real gain. He who subdues
himself shall be free, he shall cease to be a slave of passions. The
righteous man casts off evil; and by rooting out lust, bitterness, and
illusion, do we reach Nirvana." 25
XCVI. METTEYYA
The Blessed One proceeded with a great company of the brethren to
the sala grove of the Mallas, the Upavattana of Kusinara on the
further side of the river Hirannyavati, and when he had arrived he
addressed the venerale Ananda, and said: "Make ready for me, I pray
you, Ananda, the couch with its head to the north, between the twin
sala trees. I am weary, Ananda, and wish to lie down." 1
"Be it so, Lord!" said the venerable Ananda, and he spread a couch
with its head to the north, between the twin sala trees. And the
Blessed One laid himself down, and he was mindful and self-
possessed. 2
Now, at that time the twin sala trees were full of bloom with
flowers out of season; and heavenly songs came wafted from the skies,
out of reverence for the successor of the Buddhas of old. And Ananda
was filled with wander that the Blessed One was thus honoured. But
the Blessed One said: "Not by such events, Ananda, is the Tathagata
rightly honoured, held sacred, or revered. But the brother or the
sister, the devout man or the devout woman, who continually fulfils
all the greater and lesser duties, walking according to the precepts,
it is they who rightly honour, hold sacred, and revere the Tathagata
with the worthiest homage. Therefore, O Ananda, be ye constant in the
fulfilment of the greater and of the lesser duties, and walk according
to the precepts; thus, Ananda, will ye honour the Master." 3
Then the venerable Ananda went into the vihara, and stood leaning
against the doorpost, weeping at the thought: "Alas! I remain still
but a learner, one who has yet to work out his own perfection. And
the Master is about to pass away from me - he who is so kind!" 4
Now, the Blessed One called the brethren, and said: "Where, O
brethren, is Ananda?" 5
And one of the brethren went and called Ananda. And Ananda came
and said to the Blessed One: "Deep darkness reigned for want of
wisdom; the world of sentient creatures was groping for want of light,
then the Tathagata lit up the lamp of wisdom, and now it will be
extinguished again, ere he has brought it out." 6
And the Blessed One said to the venerable Ananda, as he sat there
by his side: 7
"Enough, Ananda! Let not thy self be troubled; do not weep! Have
I not already, on former occasions, told you that it is in the very
nature of all things most near and dear unto us that we must separate
from them and leave them? 8
"The foolish man conceives the idea of 'self,' the wise man sees
there is no ground on which to build the idea of 'self,' thus he has a
right conception of the world and well concludes that all compounds
amassed by sorrow will be dissolved again, but the truth will remain.9
"Why should I preserve this body of flesh, when the body of the
excellent law will endure? I am resolved; having accomplished my
purpose and attended to the work set me, I look for rest! 10
"For a long time, Ananda, thou hast been very near to me by
thoughts and acts of such love as never varies and is beyond all
measure. Thou hast done well, Ananda! Be earnest in effort and thou
too shalt soon be free from the great evils, from sensuality, from
selfishness, from delusion and from ignorance!" 11
And Ananda, suppressing his tears, said to the Blessed One: "Who
shall teach us when thou art gone?" 12
And the Blessed One replied: "I am not the first Buddha who came
upon earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will
arise in the world, a Holy One, a supremely enlightened One, endowed
with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe, an
incomparable leader of men, a master of angels and mortals. He will
reveal to you the same eteranl truths which I have taught you. He
will preach his religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at the
climax, and glorious at the goal, in the spirit and in the letter. He
will proclaim a religous life, wholly perfect and pure; such as I now
proclaim." 13
Ananda said: "How shall we know him?" 14
The Blessed One said: "He will be known as Metteyya, which means
'he whose name is kindness.'" 15
XCVII. THE BUDDHA'S FINAL ENTERING INTO NIRVANA
Then the Mallas, with their young men and maindens and their wives,
being grieved, and sad, and afflicted at heart, went to the
Upavattana, the sala grove of the Mallas, and wanted to the Blessed
One, in order to partake of the bliss that devolves upon those who are
in the presence of the Holy One. 1
And the Blessed One addressed them and said: 2
"Seeking the way, ye must exert yourselves and strive with
diligence. It is not enough to have seen me! Walk as I have
commanded you; free yourselves from the tangled net of sorrow. Walk
in the path with steadfast aim. 3
"A sick man may be cured by the healing power of medicine and will
be rid of all his ailments without beholding the physician. 4
"He who does not do what I command sees me in vain. This brings no
profit. Whilst he who lives far off from where I am and yet walks
righteously is ever near me. 5
"A man may dwell beside me, and yet, being disobedient, be far away
from me. Yet he who obeys the Dharma will always enjoy the bliss of
the Tathagata's presence." 6
Then the mendicant Subhadda went to the sala grove of the Mallas
and said to the venerable Ananda: "I have heard from fello mendicants
of mine, who were deep stricken in years and teachers of great
experience: 'Sometimes and full seldom do Tathagatas appear in the
world, the holy Buddhas.' Now it is said that to-day in the last
watch of the night, the final passing away of the samana Gotama will
take place. My mind is full of uncertainty, yet I have faith in the
samana Gotama and trust he will be able so to present the truth that I
may become rid of my doubts, O that I might be allowed to see the
samana Gotama!" 7
When he had thus spoken the venerable Ananda said to the mendicant
Subhadda: "Enough! friend Subhadda. Trouble not the Tathagata. The
Blessed One is weary." 8
Now the Blessed One overheard this conversation of the venerable
Ananda with the mendicant Subhadda. And the Blessed One called the
venerable Ananda, and said: "Ananda! Do not keep out Subhadda.
Subhadda may be allowed to see the Tathagata. Whatever Subhadda will
ask of me, he will ask from a desire for knowledge, and not to annoy
me, and whatever I may say in answer to his questions, that he will
quickly understand." 9
Then the venerable Ananda said to Subhadda the mendicant: "Step in,
friend Subhadda; for the Blessed One gives thee leave." 10
When the Blessed One had instructed Subhadda, and aroused and
gladdened him with words of wisdom and comfort, Subhadda said to the
Blessed One: 11
"Glorious Lord, glorious Lord! Most excellent are the words of thy
mouth, most excellent! They set up that which has been overturned,
they reveal that which has been hidden. They point out the right road
to the wanderer who has gone astray. They bring a lamp into the
darkness so that those who have eyes to see can see. Thus, Lord, the
truth has been made known to me by the Blessed One and I take refuge
in the Blessed One, in the Truth, and in the Order. May the Blessed
One accept me as a disciple and true believer, from this day forth as
long as life endures." 12
And Subhadda, the mendicant, said to the venerable Ananda: "Great
is thy gain, friend Ananda, great is thy good fortune, that for so
many years thou hast been sprinkled with the sprinkling of
discipleship in this brotherhood at the hands of the Master
himself!" 13
Now the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ananda, and said: "It
may be, Ananda, that in some of you the thought may arise, 'The word
of the Master is ended, we have no teacher more!' But it is not thus,
Ananda, that you should regard it. It is true that no more shall I
receive a body. for all future sorrow has now forever passed away.
But though this body will be dissolved, the Tathagata remains. The
truth and the rules of the order which I have set forth and laid down
for you all, let them, after I am gone, be a teacher unto you. When I
am gone, Ananda, let the order, if it should so wish, abolish all the
lesser and minor precepts." 14
The the Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said: "There may be
some doubt or misgiving in the mind of a brother as to the Buddha, or
the truth, or the path. Do not have to reproach yourselves afterwards
with the thought, 'We did not inquire of the Blessed One when we were
face to face with him.' Therefore inquire now, O brethren, inquire
freely." 15
And the brethren remained silent. 16
Then the venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: "Verily, I
believe that in this whole assembly of the brethren there is not one
brother who has any doubt or misgiving as to the Buddha, or the truth,
or the path!" 17
Said the Blessed One: "It is out of the fullness of faith that thou
hast spoken, Ananda! But, Ananda, the Tathagata knows for certain
that in this whole assembly of the brethren there is not one brother
who has any doubt or misgiving as to the Budda, or the truth, or the
path! For even the most backward, Ananda, of all these brethren has
become converted, and is assured of final salvation." 18
Then the Blessed One addressed the brethren and said: "If ye now
know the Dharma, the cause of all suffering, and the path of
salvation, O disciples, will ye then say: "We respect the Master, and
out of reverence for the Master do we thus speak?'" 19
The brethren replied: "That we shall not, O Lord." 20
And the Holy One continued: 21
"Of those beings who live in ignorance, shut up and confined, as it
were, in an egg, I have first broken the egg-shell of ignorance and
alone in the universe obtained the most exalted, universal Buddhahood.
Thus, O disciples, I am the eldest, the noblest of beings. 22
"But what ye speak, O disciples, is it not even that which ye have
yourselves know, yourselves seen, yourselves realised?" 23
Ananda and the brethren said: "It is, O Lord." 24
Once more the Blessed One began to speak: "Behold now, brethren,"
said he, "I exhort you, saying, 'Decay is inherent in all component
things, but the truth will remain forever!' Work out your salvation
with diligence!" This was the last word of the Tathagata. Then the
Tathagata fell into a deep meditation, and having passed through the
four jhanas, entered Nirvana. 25
When the Blessed One entered Nirvana there arose, at his passing
out of existence, a mighty earthquake, terrible and awe-inspiring: and
the thunders of heaven burst forth, and those of the brethren who were
not yet free from passions some stretched out their arms and wept, and
some fell headlong on the ground, in anguish at the thought: "Too soon
has the Blessed One passed away from exhistence! Too soon has the
light of the world gone out!" 26
Then the venerable Anuruddha exhorted the brethren and said:
"Enough, my brethren! Weep not, neither lament! Has not the Blessed
One formerly declared this to us, that it is in the very nature of all
things near and dear unto us, that we must separate from them, since
everything that is born, brought into being, and organized, contains
within itself the inherent necessity of dissolution? How then can it
be possible that the body of the Tathagata should not be dissolved?
No such condition can exist! Those who are free from passion will
bear the loss, calm and self-possessed, mindful of the truth he has
taught us." 27
And the venerable Anuruddha and the venerable Ananda spent the rest
of the night in religious discourse. 28
Then the venerable Anuruddha said to the venerable Ananda: "Go now,
brother Ananda, and inform the Mallas of Kusinara saying,'The Blessed
One has passed away: do, then, whatsoever seemeth to you fit!'" 29
And when the Mallas had heard this saying they were grieved, and
sad, and afflicted at heart. 30
Then the Mallas of Kusinara gave orders to their attendants,
saying, "Gather together perfumes and garlands, and all the music in
Kusinara!" And the Mallas of Kusinara took the perfumes and garlands,
and all the musical instruments, and five hundred garments, and went
to the sala grove where the body of the Blessed One lay. There they
passed the day in paying honour and reverence to the remains of the
Blessed One, with hymns, and music, and with garlands and perfumes,
and in making canopies of their garments, and preparing decorative
wreaths to hang thereon. And they burned the remains of the Blessed
One as they would do to the body of a king of kings. 31
When the funeral pyre was lit, the sun and moon withdrew their
shining, the peaceful streams on every side were torrent-swollen, the
earth quaked, and the sturdy forests shook like aspen leaves, whilst
flowers and leaves fell untimely to the ground, like scattered rain,
so that all Kusinara became strewn knee-deep with mandara flowers
raining down from heaven. 32
When the burning ceremonies were over, Devaputta said to the
multitudes that were assembled round the pyre: 33
"Behold, O brethren, the earthly remains of the Blessed One have
been dissolved, but the truth which he has taught us lives in our
minds and cleanses us from all error. 34
"Let us, then, go out into the world, as compassionate and merciful
as our great masterm and preach to all living beings the four noble
truths and the eightfold path of righteousness, so that all mankind
may attain to a final salvation, taking refuge in the Buddha, the
Dharma, and the Sangha." 35
And when the Blessed One had entered into Nirvana, and the Mallas
had burned the body with such ceremonies as would indicate that he was
the great king of kings, ambassadors came from all the empires that at
the time had embraced his doctrine, to claim a share of the relics;
and the relics were divided into eight parts and eight dagobas were
erected for their preservation. One dagoba was erected by the Mallas
and seven others by the seven kings of those countries, whose people
had taken refuge in the Buddha. 36
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