The Gospel of Buddha Part 23

Not about the perversities of others, not about their sins of commission or omission, but about his own misdeeds and negligences alone should a sage be worried. 33

Good people s.h.i.+ne from afar, like the snowy mountains; had people are concealed, like arrows shot by night. 34

If a man by causing pain to others, wishes to obtain pleasure for himself, he, entangled in the bonds of selfishness, will never be free from hatred. 35

Let a man overcome anger by love, let him overcome evil by good; let him overcome the greedy by liberality, the liar by truth! 36

For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time; hatred ceases by not-hatred, this is an old rule. 37

Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked; by these three steps thou wilt become divine. 38

Let a wise man blow off the impurities of his self, as a smith blows off the impurities of silver, one by one, little by little, and from time to time. 39

Lead others, not by violence, but by righteousness and equity. 40

He who possesses virtue and intelligence, who is just, speaks the truth, and does what is his own business, him the world will hold dear. 41

As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower, or its color or scent, so let a sage dwell in the community. 42

If a traveller does not meet with one who is his better, or his equal, let him firmly keep to his solitary journey; there is no companions.h.i.+p with fools. 43

Long is the night to him who is awake; long is a mile to him who is tired; long is life to the foolish who do not know the true religion. 44

Better than living a hundred years, not seeing the highest truth, is one day in the life of a man who sees the highest truth. 45

Some form their Dharma arbitrarily and fabricate it artificially; they advance complex speculations and imagine that good results are attainable only by the acceptance of their theories; yet the truth is but one; there are not different truths in the world.

Having reflected on the various theories, we have gone into the yoke with him who has shaken off all sin. But shall we be able to proceed together with him? 46

The best of ways is the eightfold path. This is the path. There is no other that leads to the purifying of intelligence. Go on this path! Everything else is the deceit of Mara, the tempter. If you go on this path, you will make an end of pain! Says the Tathagata, The path was preached by me, when I had understood the removal of the thorn in the flesh. 47

Not only by discipline and vows, not only by much learning, do I earn the happiness of release which no worldling can know.

Bhikkhu, be not confident as long as thou hast not attained the extinction of thirst. The extinction of evil desire is the highest religion. 48

The gift of religion exceeds all gifts; the sweetness of religion exceeds all sweetness; the delight in religion exceeds all delights; the extinction of thirst overcomes all pain. 49

Few are there among men who cross the river and reach the goal.

The great mult.i.tudes are running up and down the sh.o.r.e; but there is no suffering for him who has finished his journey. 50

As the lily will grow full of sweet perfume and delight upon a heap of rubbish, thus the disciple of the truly enlightened Buddha s.h.i.+nes forth by his wisdom among those who are like rubbish, among the people that walk in darkness. 51

Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us! Among men who hate us let us dwell free from hatred! 52

Let us live happily then, free from all ailments among the ailing! Among men who are ailing let us dwell free from ailments! 53

Let us live happily, then, free from greed among the greedy!

Among men who are greedy let us dwell free from greed! 54

The sun is bright by day, the moon s.h.i.+nes by night, the warrior is bright in his armor, thinkers are bright in their meditation; but among all the brightest with splendor day and night is the Buddha, the Awakened, the Holy, Blessed. 55

XLIX.

THE TWO BRAHMANS.

At one time when the Blessed One was journeying through Kosala he came to the Brahman village which is called Manasakata. There he stayed in a mango grove. 1

And two young Brahmans came to him who were of different schools.

One was named Vasettha and the other Bharadvaja. And Vasettha said to the Blessed One: 2

"We have a dispute as to the true path. I say the straight path which leads unto a union with Brahma is that which has been announced by the Brahman Pokkharasati, while my friend says the straight path which leads unto a union with Brahma is that which has been announced by the Brahman Tarukkha. 3

"Now, regarding thy high reputation, O samana, and knowing that thou art called the Enlightened One, the teacher of men and G.o.ds, the Blessed Buddha, we have come to ask thee, are all these paths paths of salvation? There are many roads all around our village, and all lead to Manasakata. Is it just so with the paths of the sages? Are all paths paths to salvation, and do they all lead to a union with Brahma? 4

And the Blessed One proposed these questions to the two Brahmans: "Do you think that all paths are right?" 5

Both answered and said: "Yes, Gotama, we think so." 6

"But tell me," continued the Buddha, "has any one of the Brahmans, versed in the Vedas, seen Brahma face to face?" 7

"No, sir!" was the reply. 8

"But, then," said the Blessed One, "has any teacher of the Brahmans, versed in the Vedas, seen Brahma face to face?" 9

The two Brahmans said: "No, sir." 10

"But, then," said the Blessed One, "has any one of the authors of the Vedas seen Brahma face to face?" 11

Again the two Brahmans answered in the negative and exclaimed: "How can any one see Brahma or understand him, for the mortal cannot understand the immortal." And the Blessed One proposed an ill.u.s.tration, saying: 12

"It is as if a man should make a staircase in the place where four roads cross, to mount up into a mansion. And people should ask him, 'Where, good friend, is this mansion, to mount up into which you are making this staircase? Knowest thou whether it is in the east, or in the south, or in the west, or in the north?

Whether it is high, or low, or of medium size?' And when so asked he should answer, 'I know it not.' And people should say to him, 'But, then, good friend, thou art making a staircase to mount up into something--taking it for a mansion--which all the while thou knowest not, neither hast thou seen it.' And when so asked he should answer, 'That is exactly what I do; yea I know that I cannot know it.' What would you think of him? Would you not say that the talk of that man was foolish talk?" 13

"In sooth, Gotama," said the two Brahmans, "it would be foolish talk!" 14

The Blessed One continued: "Then the Brahmans should say, 'We show you the way unto a union of what we know not and what we have not seen.' This being the substance of Brahman lore, does it not follow that their task is vain?" 15

"It does follow," replied Bharadvaja. 16

Said the Blessed One: "Thus it is impossible that Brahmans versed in the three Vedas should be able to show the way to a state of union with that which they neither know nor have seen. Just as when a string of blind men are clinging one to the other. Neither can the foremost see, nor can those in the middle see, nor can the hindmost see. Even so, methinks, the talk of the Brahmans versed in the three Vedas is but blind talk; it is ridiculous, consists of mere words, and is a vain and empty thing." 17

"Now suppose," added the Blessed One, "that a man should come hither to the bank of the river, and, having some business on the other side, should want to cross. Do you suppose that if he were to invoke the other bank of the river to come over to him on this side, the bank would come on account of his praying?" 18

"Certainly not, Gotama." 19

"Yet this is the way of the Brahmans. They omit the practice of those qualities which really make a man a Brahman, and say, 'Indra, we call upon thee; Soma, we call upon thee; Varuna, we call upon thee; Brahma, we call upon thee.' Verily, it is not possible that these Brahmahns, on account of their invocations, prayers, and praises, should after death be united with Brahma." 20