The house of Brahma is that wherein children obey their parents.1

The elephant's cub, if he find not leafless and thorny creepers in the greenwood, becomes thin.2

Beauty and riches are like a knife smeared with honey. The child sucks and is wounded.3

THE ONE THING NEEDFUL.

Certain subtle questions were proposed to Buddha, such as: What will best conquer the evil passions of man? What is the most savoury gift for the alms-bowl of the mendicant? Where is true happiness to be found? Buddha replied to them all with one word, Dharma (love of the neighbour 5).

1 Burnouf, Introduction.

3 Sutra of Forty-two Sections, sect. xxi.

4 Bigandet, p. 225.

4

Hodgson, p. 74.

5 Colebrooke more than once affirms that Dharma means pure ethics (vide Essays, vol. i. pp. 286, 295). To translate it as if it meant Buddhist rites is to give it exactly the meaning that Buddha wished not to give it.

CHAPTER X.

PRECEPT AND PARABLE.

THE ancient book that is supposed by all Buddhists to contain the really authentic sayings of Buddha is the Dhammapada. Let us submit it to an analysis similar to that which we have used towards Asoka's inscriptions, and collect its teachings on the subjects of God, the Future, Prayer, and Saint-Worship.

GOD.

The man who takes refuge in Buddha, this is the man who obtains real advantage. Night and day, therefore, he ought ever to reflect on Buddha, Dharma Sangha!1

Although a man for a hundred years worship and sacrifice to the spirit of fire, his merit is not equal to the man who for a moment pays reverence to the Three Holy Ones.2

The purpose of Tathagata in coming to the world is to befriend the poor, the helpless, the unprotected, to nourish those in bodily affliction, whether they be Shamans or men of any other religion, to help the impoverished, the orphan, the aged.3

The teaching of Chin Jin (the supernatural being) is this, that by wisdom we preserve ourselves.*

Oh, the happiness of seeing the Holy One! Oh, the happiness of being able to rely on him as present!

1 Chinese version.

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid.

4 Ibid.

I am fully able to deliver the three worlds.1

A man of true wisdom,

must praise such a one.

even Brahma and Sakra

Absence of (daily) prayer is the disease of words.2

When a man who is not credulous, but who knows the Uncreated, has burst his chains, and, free from sin, has said farewell to Appetite, he is the chief of mortals.3

Abstain from evil! Do good!

Purify thy heart! This is the commandment of the Buddhas. Who seeks a refuge in Buddha, Dharma, Sangha sees with the eye of perfect knowledge the four great truths.

He whose life is pure, who has acquired the inner quickening and the practice of virtue, shines like the gold of the river Jambu. Brahma himself praises such a man.4

It is not the outside that makes the eremite. Illusion charms the vulgar; without illusion is Tathâgata. Hope for the way of peace. Hope for the Nirvâņa revealed by Tathagata.

Eternally awakened are the disciples of Gautama. Day and night their minds are fixed on Buddha.

Eternally awakened are the disciples of Gautama. Day and night their minds are fixed on Dharma.

Eternally awakened are the disciples of Gautama. Day and night their minds are fixed on Sangha.

Aspire after the peaceful way, after the Nirvâņa revealed by Sugata.

BUDDHA ON PRAYER.

Omission is the blot in prayer. . . . Immodesty is the blot in woman.

Absence of daily prayer is the disease of words.

The disciple who follows the precepts without fail, in either world exalted, he shall obtain his desire and prayer.

1 Chinese version.

3 Pali version (Fernand Hû).

2 Ibid.

4 Ibid.

BUDDHA ON HEAVEN.

Kinsfolk, friends, and lovers salute a man who has been long away. In like manner his good works greet him who has done good, and gone from this world to the other.1

If a man lives for a hundred years not seeing the immortal place, a life one day is better if a man sees the immortal place.

Few are there amongst men who arrive at the other shore. Many run up and down the shore.2

On earth, as after death, the just man rejoices. He is happy with the recollection of the purity of his actions.3

By the aid of meditation, and perseverance, and untiring energy, men of wisdom attain Nirvâņa (supreme beatitude).

The eremite who rejoices in spiritual vigilance and sees the danger of spiritual neglect can never lack holiness. Almost has he reached Nirvana.

He who performs his duty to his neighbour (Dharma) lives happily in this world and in the next.

Plunged in darkness is this world, and few see clearly. Few are they who soar upwards to heaven, as the bird escaping from the net.4

Misers do not go to the world of the gods.

Let us live happily, we who possess no worldly goods. We will be like the spirits of light (Abhâsvaras) enjoying beatitude.

Health is the best of acquisitions, contentment the best of riches, faith the best of parents, Nirvâņa the supreme beatitude.

The eremites who do injury to none and keep their bodies chaste arrive at that immovable domain where pain can never come.

Retire within thyself as in an island. Promptly exert

1 Pâli version (Max Müller).

3 Ibid.

2 Ibid. 4 Ibid.

thyself to acquire the inner quickening. Once freed from sin thou wilt reach the divine world of the saints (Arhats).

The eremite (Bhikshu) whose deeds are love, and who has reached the peace of mind revealed by the Buddha, is in a fit state to enter the abode of quiet and joy where re-births cease.

The obedient disciple who follows the precepts without fail in either world (heaven and earth), exalted he shall obtain his desire and prayer.

The disciple able to cast away the causes of sorrow, in perfect rest enjoys happiness, and by virtuously preaching the law of eternal life himself obtains Nirvâṇa.

By hearing he is able to resist all that is contrary to the law, and so advancing, he arrives at the place where there is no more death.

He who hears (the law) is able to be of advantage to the present world, his wife, children, and friends, and in the next world to arrive at perfect happiness.

The man who causes joy now shall rejoice hereafter.

He enjoys divine protection here, and he receives his reward and is at rest (hereafter).

SAINT-WORSHIP.

Once freed from sin thou wilt reach the divine world of the saints (Arhats). In the middle of the village or in the forest, on ocean or land, wherever the saints (Arhats) collect, full of joy is that place.

He who neglects the precepts of the Arhats, the Aryas, the saints, is a madman following a false teaching.

To abstain from all evil, to do good, to purify the heart, these are the commandments of the Buddhas.

Joy is austerity, Patience is heaven (Nirvâņa), say the Buddhas.

To abstain from wounding words and deeds, to emancipate the soul, to eat sparingly and meditate profoundly, these are the commandments of the Buddhas.