{"collection":"Buddhism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bud/sbe19/sbe1918.htm","path":"bud/sbe19/sbe1918.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bud/sbe19/sbe1918.htm","text":"And now those five men, Asvagit, V\u00e2shpa, and the others, having heard that he (Kaundinya) 'knew' the law, with humble mien and self-subdued, . 1277\nTheir hands joined, offered their homage, and looked with reverence in the teacher's face. Tath\u00e2gata, by wise expedient, caused them one by one to embrace the law. . 1278\nAnd so from first to last the five Bhikshus obtained reason and subdued their senses, like the five stars which shine in heaven, waiting upon the brightening moon. . 1279\nAt this time in the town of Ku-i 1 (Kusin\u00e2r\u00e2) there was a noble's son (called) Yasas; lost in night-sleep suddenly he woke, and when he saw his attendants all, . 1280\nMen and women, with ill-clad bodies, sleeping, his heart was filled with loathing; reflecting on the root of sorrow, (he thought) how madly foolish men were immersed in it; . 1281\nClothing himself, and putting on his jewels, he left his home and wandered forth; then on the way he stood and cried aloud, 'Alas! alas! what endless chain of sorrows.' . 1282\nTath\u00e2gata, by night, was walking forth, and hearing sounds like these, 'Alas! what sorrow,' forthwith replied, 'You are welcome! here, on the other hand, there is a place of rest, . 1283\n'The most excellent, refreshing, Nirv\u00e2na, quiet and unmoved, free from sorrow.' Yasas hearing Buddha's exhortation, there rose much joy within his heart, . 1284\nAnd in the place of the disgust he felt, the cooling streams of holy wisdom found their way, as when one enters first a cold pellucid lake. Advancing then, he came where Buddha was; . 1285\nHis person decked with common ornaments, his mind already freed from all defects; by power of the good root obtained in other births, he quickly reached the fruit of an Arhat; . 1286\nThe secret light of pure wisdom's virtue (li) enabled him to understand, on listening to the law; just as a pure silken fabric 1 with ease is dyed a different colour; . 1287\nThus having attained to self-illumination, and done that which was to be done, (he was converted); then looking at his person richly ornamented, his heart was filled with shame. . 1288\nTath\u00e2gata knowing his inward thoughts, in g\u00e2thas spoke the following words: 'Tho\u2019 ornamented with jewels, the heart may yet have conquered sense; . 1289\n'Looking with equal mind on all that lives, (in such a case) the outward form does not affect religion; the body, too, may wear the ascetic's garb, the heart, meanwhile, be immersed in worldly thoughts; . 1290\n'Dwelling in lonely woods, yet covetous of worldly show, such men are after all mere worldlings; the body may have a worldly guise, the heart mount high to things celestial; . 1291\n'The layman and the hermit are the same, when only both have banished thought of \"self,\" but if the heart be twined with carnal bonds, what use the marks of bodily attention? . 1292\n'He who wears martial decorations, does so because by valour he has triumphed o\u2019er an enemy,--so he who wears the hermit's colour\u2019d robe, does so for having vanquished sorrow as his foe.' . 1293\nThen he bade him come, and be a member of his church (a Bhikshu); and at the bidding to! his garments changed! and he stood wholly attired in hermit's dress, complete; in heart and outward look, a Sramana. . 1294\nNow (Yasas) had in former days some light companions, in number fifty and four; when these beheld their friend a hermit, they. too, one by one, attained true wisdom [entered the true law]; . 1295\nBy virtue of deeds done in former births, these deeds now bore their perfect fruit. Just as when burning ashes are sprinkled by water, the water being dried, the flame bursts forth. . 1296\nSo now, with those above, the Sr\u00e2vakas (disciples) were altogether sixty, all Arhats; entirely obedient and instructed in the law of perfect discipleship 1. So perfected he taught them further: . 1297\n'Now ye have passed the stream and reached \"the other shore,\" across the sea of birth and death;\nwhat should be done, ye now have done! and ye may now receive the charity of others. . 1298\n'Go then through every country, convert those not yet converted; throughout the world that lies burnt up with sorrow, teach everywhere; (instruct) those lacking right instruction; . 1299\n'Go, therefore! each one travelling by himself 1; filled with compassion, go! rescue and receive. I too will go alone, back to yonder Kia-ke 2 mountain; . 1300\n'Where there are great Rishis, royal Rishis, Brahman Rishis too, these all dwell there, influencing, men according to their schools; . 1301\n'The Rishi K\u00e2syapa, enduring pain, reverenced by all the country, making converts too of many, him will I visit and convert.' . 1302\nThen the sixty Bhikshus respectfully receiving orders to preach, each according to his fore-determined purpose, following his inclination, went thro\u2019 every land; . 1303\nThe honour'd of the world went on alone, till he arrived at the Kia-ke mountain, then entering a retired religious dell, he came. to where the Rishi K\u00e2syapa was. . 1304\nNow this one had a 'fire grot' where he offered sacrifice, where an evil N\u00e2ga dwelt 3, who wandered here and there in search of rest, through mountains and wild places of the earth. . 1305\nThe honoured of the world,.(wishing) to instruct this hermit and convert him, asked him, on coming, for a place to lodge that night. K\u00e2syapa, replying, spake to Buddha thus: 'I have no resting-place to offer for the night, . 1306\n'Only this fire grot where I sacrifice, this is a cool and fit place for the purpose, but an evil dragon dwells there, who is accustomed, as he can, to poison men.' . 1307\nBuddha replied, 'Permit me only, and for the night I'll take my dwelling there,' K\u00e2syapa made many difficulties, but the world-honoured one still asked the favour. . 1308\nThen K\u00e2syapa addressed Buddha, 'My mind desires no controversy, only I have my fears and apprehensions, but follow you your own good pleasure.' . 1309\nBuddha forthwith stepped within the fiery grot, and took his seat with dignity and deep reflection; and now the evil N\u00e2ga seeing Buddha, belched forth in rage his fiery poison, . 1310\nAnd filled the place with burning vapour. But this could not affect the form of Buddha. Through-out the abode the fire consumed itself, the honoured of the world still sat composed: . 1311\nEven as Brahma, in the midst of the kalpa-fire that burns and reaches to the Brahma heavens, still sits unmoved, without a thought of fear or apprehension, . 1312\n(So Buddha sat); the evil N\u00e2ga seeing him, his face glowing with peace, and still unchanged, ceased his poisonous blast, his heart appeased; he bent his head and worshipped. . 1313\nK\u00e2syapa in the night seeing the fire-glow, sighed;\n[paragraph continues] 'Ah! alas! what misery! this most distinguished man is also burnt up by the fiery N\u00e2ga,' . 1314\nThen K\u00e2syapa and his followers at morning light came one and all to look. Now Buddha having subdued the evil N\u00e2ga, had straightway placed him in his p\u00e2tra, . 1315\n(Beholding which) and seeing the power of Buddha, K\u00e2syapa conceived within him deep and secret thoughts: 'This Gotama,' he thought, 'is deeply versed (in religion), but still he said, \"I am a master of religion.\"' . 1316\nThen Buddha, as occasion offered, displayed all kinds of spiritual changes 1, influencing his (K\u00e2syapa's) heart-thoughts, changing and subduing them; . 1317\nMaking his mind pliant and yielding, until at length prepared to be a vessel of the true law, he confessed that his poor wisdom could not compare with the complete wisdom of the world-honoured one. . 1318\nAnd so, convinced at last, humbly submitting, he accepted right instruction. (Thus) U-pi-lo (Uravilva) K\u00e2syapa, and five hundred of his followers . 1319\nFollowing their master, virtuously submissive, in turn received the teaching of the law. K\u00e2syapa and all his followers were thus entirely converted. . 1320\nThe Rishi then, taking his goods and all his sacrificial vessels, threw them together in the river, which floated down upon the surface of the current. . 1321\nNadi and Gada, brothers, who dwelt adown the stream, seeing these articles of clothing (and the rest) floating along the stream disorderly, . 1322\nSaid, 'Some great change has happened,' and deeply pained, were restlessly (concerned). The two, each with five hundred followers, going up the stream to seek their brother, . 1323\nSeeing him now dressed as a hermit, and all his followers with him, having got knowledge of the miraculous law--strange thoughts engaged their minds-- 1324\n'Our brother having submitted thus, we too should also follow him (they said).' Thus the three brothers, with all their band of followers, . 1325\nWere brought to hear the lord's discourse on the comparison of a fire sacrifice 1: (and in the discourse he taught), 'How the dark smoke of ignorance arises 2, whilst confused thoughts, like wood drilled into wood, create the fire, . 1326\n'Lust, anger, delusion, these are as fire produced, and these enflame and burn all living things. Thus the fire of grief and sorrow, once enkindled, ceases not to burn, . 1327\n'Ever giving rise to birth and death; but whilst this fire of sorrow ceases not, yet are there two kinds of fire, one that burns but has no fuel left; . 1328\n'So when the heart of man has once conceived distaste for sin, this distaste removing covetous desire, covetous desire extinguished, there is rescue; . 1329\n'If once this rescue has been found, then with it is born sight and knowledge, by which distinguishing\nthe streams of birth and death, and practising pure conduct, . 1330\n'All is done that should be done, and hereafter shall be no more life (bhava).' Thus the thousand Bhikshus hearing the world-honoured preach, . 1331\nAll defects 1 for ever done away, their minds found perfect and complete deliverance. Then Buddha for the K\u00e2syapas' sakes, and for the benefit of the thousand Bhikshus, having preached, . 1332\nAnd done all that should be done, himself with purity and wisdom and all the concourse of high qualities excellently adorned, he gave them, as in charity, rules for cleansing sense. . 1333\nThe great Rishi, listening to reason, lost all regard for bodily austerities, and, as a man without a guide, was emptied of himself, and learned discipleship. . 1334\nAnd now the honoured one and all his followers go forward to the royal city 2 (R\u00e2gagriha), remembering, as he did, the Magadha king, and what he heretofore had promised. 1335.\nThe honoured one when he arrived, remained within the 'staff grove 3;' Bimbis\u00e2ra R\u00e2ga hearing thereof, with all his company of courtiers, . 1336\nLords and ladies all surrounding him, came to where the master was. Then at a distance seeing Buddha seated, with humbled heart and subdued presence, . 1337\nPutting off his common ornaments, descending from his chariot, forward he stepped; even as\n[paragraph continues] Sakra, king of gods, going to where Brahmadevar\u00e2ga dwells. . 1338\nBowing down at Buddha's feet, he asked him, with respect, about his health of body; Buddha in his turn, having made enquiries, begged him to be seated on one side. . 1339\nThen the king's mind reflected silently: 'This S\u00e2kya must have great controlling power, to subject to his will these K\u00e2syapas who now are round him as disciples.' . 1340\nBuddha, knowing all thoughts, spoke thus to K\u00e2syapa, questioning him: 'What profit have you found in giving up your fire-adoring law?' . 1341\nK\u00e2syapa hearing Buddha's words, rising with dignity before the great assembly, bowed lowly down, and then with clasped hands and a loud voice addressing Buddha, said: . 1342\n'The profit I received, adoring the fire spirit, was this,--continuance in the wheel of life, birth and death with all their sorrows growing,--this service I have therefore cast away; . 1343\n'Diligently I persevered in fire-worship, seeking to put an end to the five desires, in return I found desires endlessly increasing, therefore have I cast off this service. . 1344\n'Sacrificing thus to fire with many Mantras, I did but miss (i.e. I did not find) escape from birth; receiving birth, with it came all its sorrows, therefore I cast it off and sought for rest. . 1345\n'I was versed, indeed, in self-affliction, my mode of worship largely adopted, and counted of all most excellent, and yet I was opposed to highest wisdom. . 1346\n'Therefore have I discarded it, and gone in quest\nof the supreme Nirv\u00e2na. Removing from me birth, old age, disease, and death, I sought a place of undying rest and calm. . 1347\n'And as I gained the knowledge of this truth, then I cast off the law of worshipping the fire (or, by fire).' The honoured-of-the-world, hearing K\u00e2syapa declaring his experience of truth, . 1348\nWishing to move the world throughout to conceive a heart of purity and faith, addressing K\u00e2syapa further, said,' Welcome! great master, welcome! . 1349\n'Rightly have you distinguished law from law, and well obtained the highest wisdom; now before this great assembly, pray you! exhibit your excellent endowments; . 1350\n'As any rich and wealthy noble opens for view his costly treasures, causing the poor and sorrow-laden multitude to increase their forgetfulness awhile; . 1351\n'(So do you now) and honour well your lord's instruction.' Forthwith in presence of the assembly, gathering up his body and entering Sam\u00e2dhi, calmly he ascended into space, . 1352\nAnd there displayed himself, walking, standing, sitting, sleeping, emitting fiery vapour from his body, on his right and left side water and fire, not burning and not moistening him; . 1353\nThen clouds and rain proceeded from him, thunder with lightning shook the heaven and earth; thus he drew the world to look in adoration, with eyes undazzled as they gazed; . 1354\nWith different mouths, but all in language one, they magnified and praised this wondrous spectacle, then afterwards drawn by spiritual force, they came and worshipped at the master's feet, . 1355\n(Exclaiming), 'Buddha is our great teacher! we are the honoured one's disciples! Thus having magnified his work and finished all he purposed doing, . 1356\nDrawing the world as universal witness, the assembly was convinced that he, the world-honoured, was truly the 'Omniscient!' . 1357\nBuddha, perceiving that the whole assembly was ready as a vessel to receive the law, spoke thus to Bimbis\u00e2ra R\u00e2ga: 'Listen now and understand; . 1358\n'The mind, the thoughts, and all the senses are subject to the law of life and death. This fault 1 of birth and death, once understood, then there is clear and plain perception; . 1359\n'Obtaining this clear perception, then there is born knowledge of self, knowing oneself and with this knowledge laws of birth and death, then there is no grasping and no sense-perception. . 1360\n'Knowing oneself, and understanding how the senses act, then there is no room for \"I,\" or ground for framing it; then all the accumulated mass of sorrow, sorrows born from life and death, . 1361\n'Being recognised as attributes of body, and as this body is not \"I,\" nor offers ground for \"I,\" then comes the great superlative (discovery), the source of peace unending; . 1362\n'This thought (view) of \"self\" gives rise to all these sorrows, binding as with cords 2 the world, but having found there is no \"I\" that can be bound, then all these bonds are severed. . 1363\n'There are no bonds indeed--they disappear--\nand seeing this there is deliverance. The world holds to this thought of \"I,\" and so, from this, comes false apprehension. . 1364\n'Of those who maintain the truth of it, some say the \"I\" endures, some say it perishes; taking the two extremes of birth and death, their error is most grievous! . 1365\n'For if they say the \"I\" (soul) is perishable, the fruit they strive for, too, will perish; and at some time there will be no hereafter, this is indeed a meritless deliverance. . 1366\n'But if they say the \"I\" is not to perish, then in the midst of all this life and death there is but one identity (as space), which is not born and does not die. . 1367\n'If this is what they call the \"I,\" then are all things living, one--for all have this unchanging self--not perfected by any deeds, but self-perfect; . 1368\n'If so, if such a self it is that acts, let there be no self-mortifying conduct, the self is lord and master; what need to do that which is done? . 1369\n'For if this \"I\" is lasting and imperishable, then reason would teach it never can be changed. But now we see the marks of joy and sorrow, what room for constancy then is here? . 1370\n'Knowing that birth brings this deliverance then I put away all thought of sin's defilement; the whole world, everything, endures! what then becomes of this idea of rescue. . 1371\n'We cannot even talk of putting self away, truth is the same as falsehood, it is not \"I\" that do a thing, and who, forsooth, is he that talks of \"I?\" . 1372\n'But if it is not \"I\" that do the thing, then there is no \"I\" that does it, and in the absence of these both, there is no \"I\" at all, in very truth. . 1373\n'No doer and no knower, no lord, yet notwithstanding this, there ever lasts this birth and death, like morn and night ever recurring. But now attend to me and listen; . 1374\n'The senses six and their six objects united cause the six kinds of knowledge, these three (i.e. senses, objects, and resulting knowledge) united bring forth contact, then the intervolved effects of recollection (follow). . 1375\n'Then like the burning glass and tinder thro\u2019 the sun's power cause fire to appear, so thro\u2019 the knowledge born of sense and object, the lord (of knowledge) (self) (like the fire) is born. . 1376\n'The shoot springs from the seed, the seed is not the shoot, not one and yet not different, such is the birth of all that lives.' . 1377\nThe honoured of the world preaching the truth, the equal and impartial param\u00e2rtha, thus addressed the king with all his followers. Then king Bimbis\u00e2ra filled with joy, . 1378\nRemoving from himself defilement, gained religious sight, a hundred thousand spirits also, hearing the words of the immortal law, shook off and lost the stain of sin. . 1379\n180:1 The scene of this history of Yasas is generally laid in Benares; see Romantic Legend, 261; Sacred Books of the East, vol. xiii, p. 102.\n181:1 Sacred Books of the East, vol. xiii, p. 105.\n182:1 The law of Arhats.\n183:1 In after time the disciples were not allowed to travel alone, but two and two.\n183:2 Gay\u00e2s\u00eersha, or Gay\u00e2s\u00eesa in the P\u00e2li (Sacred Books of the East, vol. xiii, p. 134).\n183:3 The episode here translated is found amongst the Sanchi sculptures. See Tree and Serpent Worship, plate xxiv.\n185:1 The different wonders wrought by Buddha are detailed in Spence Hardy 's Manual, and in the Romantic Legend of Buddha.\n186:1 So I translate i sse fo pi; it may mean, however, 'in respect of the matter of the fire comparison.'\n186:2 This is the sermon on 'The Burning;' see Sacred Books of the East, vol. xiii, p. 135.\n187:1 The \u00c2sravas.\n187:2 So also in the P\u00e2li.\n187:3 The Wang lin,' called in Sanskrit Yashtivana.\n190:1 This fault; that is, this flaw.\n190:2 As with fetters.","title":"SBE 19: Kiouen IV: Varga 16. Bimbis\u00e2ra R\u00e2ga Becomes A Disciple","type":"page"}