The Gospel of Buddha Part 28

And when the water had been poured away, the Blessed One asked again: "Is this vessel now fit for holding water to drink?" 7

"No, my Lord," replied Rahula, "the vessel, too, has become unclean." 8

And the Blessed One said: "Now consider thine own case. Although thou wearest the yellow robe, art thou fit for any high purpose when thou hast become unclean like this vessel?" 9

Then the Blessed One, lifting up the empty basin and whirling it round, asked: "Art thou not afraid lest it should fall and break?" 10

"No, my Lord," replied Rahula, "the vessel is but cheap, and its loss will not amount to much." 11

"Now consider thine own case," said the Blessed One. "Thou art whirled about in endless eddies of transmigration, and as thy body is made of the same substance as other material things that will crumble to dust, there is no loss if it be broken. He who is given to speaking untruths is an object of contempt to the wise." 12

Rahula was filled with shame, and the Blessed One addressed him once more: "Listen, and I will tell thee a parable: 13

"There was a king who had a very powerful elephant, able to cope with five hundred ordinary elephants. When going to war, the elephant was armed with sharp swords on his tusks, with scythes on his shoulders, spears on his feet, and an iron ball at his tail. The elephant-master rejoiced to see the n.o.ble creature so well equipped, and, knowing that a slight wound by an arrow in the trunk would be fatal, he had taught the elephant to keep his trunk well coiled up. But during the battle the elephant stretched forth his trunk to seize a sword. His master was frightened and consulted with the king, and they decided that the elephant was no longer fit to be used in battle. 14

"O Rahula! if men would only guard their tongues all would be well! Be like the fighting elephant who guards his trunk against the arrow that strikes in the center. 15

"By love of truth the sincere escape iniquity. Like the elephant well subdued and quiet, who permits the king to mount on his trunk, thus the man that reveres righteousness will endure faithfully throughout his life." 16

Rahula hearing these words was filled with deep sorrow; he never again gave any occasion for complaint, and forthwith he sanctified his life by earnest exertions. 17

LVII.

THE SERMON ON ABUSE.

And the Blessed One observed the ways of society and noticed how much misery came from malignity and foolish offences done only to gratify vanity and self-seeking pride. 1

And the Buddha said: "If a man foolishly does me wrong, I will return to him the protection of my ungrudging love; the more evil comes from him, the more good shall go from me; the fragrance of goodness always comes to me, and the harmful air of evil goes to him." 2

A foolish man learning that the Buddha observed the principle of great love which commends the return of good for evil, came and abused him. The Buddha was silent, pitying his folly. 3

When the man had finished his abuse, the Buddha asked him, saying: "Son, if a man declined to accept a present made to him, to whom would it belong?" And he answered: "In that case it would belong to the man who offered it." 4

"My son," said the Buddha, "thou hast railed at me, but I decline to accept thy abuse, and request thee to keep it thyself. Will it not be a source of misery to thee? As the echo belongs to the sound, and the shadow to the substance, so misery will overtake the evil-doer without fail." 5

The abuser made no reply, and Buddha continued: 6

"A wicked man who reproaches a virtuous one is like one who looks up and spits at heaven; the spittle soils not the heaven, but comes back and defiles his own person. 7

"The slanderer is like one who flings dust at another when the wind is contrary; the dust does but return on him who threw it.

The virtuous man cannot be hurt and the misery that the other would inflict comes back on himself." 8

The abuser went away ashamed, but he came again and took refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. 9

LVIII.

THE BUDDHA REPLIES TO THE DEVA.

On a certain day when the Blessed One dwelt at Jetavana, the garden of Anathapindika, a celestial deva came to him in the shape of a Brahman whose countenance was bright and whose garments were white like snow. The deva asked questions which the Blessed One answered, 1

The deva said: "What is the sharpest sword? What is is the deadliest poison? What is the fiercest fire? What is the darkest night?" 2

The Blessed One replied: "A word spoken in wrath is the sharpest sword; covetousness is the deadliest poison; pa.s.sion is the fiercest fire; ignorance is the darkest night." 3

The deva said: "Who gains the greatest benefit? Who loses most?

Which armor is invulnerable? What is the best weapon?" 4

The Blessed One replied: "He is the greatest gainer who gives to others, and he loses most who greedily receives without grat.i.tude. Patience is an invulnerable armor; wisdom is the best weapon." 5

The deva said: "Who is the most dangerous thief? What is the most precious treasure? Who is most successful in taking away by violence not only on earth, but also in heaven? What is the securest treasure-trove?" 6

The Blessed One replied: "Evil thought is the most dangerous thief; virtue is the most precious treasure. The mind takes possession of everything not only on earth, but also in heaven, and immortality is its securest treasure-trove." 7

The deva said: "What is attractive? What is disgusting? What is the most horrible pain? What is the greatest enjoyment?" 8

The Blessed One replied: "Good is attractive; evil is disgusting.

A bad conscience is the most tormenting pain; deliverance is the height of bliss." 9

The deva asked: "What causes ruin in the world? What breaks off friends.h.i.+ps? What is the most violent fever? Who is the best physician?" 10

The Blessed One replied: "Ignorance causes the ruin of the world.

Envy and selfishness break off friends.h.i.+ps. Hatred is the most violent fever, and the Buddha is the best physician." 11

The deva then asked and said: "Now I have only one doubt to be solved; pray, clear it away: What is it fire can neither burn, nor moisture corrode, nor wind crush down, but is able to reform the whole world?" 12

The Blessed One replied: "Blessing! Neither fire, nor moisture, nor wind can destroy the blessing of a good deed, and blessings reform the whole world." 13

The deva, having heard the words of the Blessed One, was full of exceeding joy. Clasping his hands, he bowed down before him in reverence, and disappeared suddenly from the presence of the Buddha. 14

LIX.

WORDS OF INSTRUCTION.

The bhikkhus came to the Blessed One, and having saluted him with clasped hands they said: 1

"O Master, thou all-seeing one, we all wish to learn; our ears are ready to hear, thou art our teacher, thou art incomparable.

Cut off our doubt, inform us of the blessed Dharma, O thou of great understanding; speak in the midst of us, O thou who art all-seeing, as is the thousand-eyed Lord of the G.o.ds. 2