from the mouth of the Suddhavâsa Devas, his entire frame trem bled with awe, and the hairs on his body stood on end; the he reflected thus: "Seldom ! seldom indeed beyond expression and difficult, is it to see or encounter one who is called Buddha etc.; difficult to meet with such an one who appears but once through countless ages!" At this time the venerable Mâha Mogalan, for the sake of those Devas, and in their abode, delivered innumerable profound and mysterious expositions of the Law-made clear countless religious truths -set forth to their very bottom endless difficulties of the deepest meaning, so that all these Devas were filled with joy, and derived the greatest benefit from the instruction thus delivered. Having thus explained the law in its various relations, the venerable Mogalan forthwith descended again to Jambudwîpa, just as a champion lets his arm drop down after exercise. So he returned to Rajagriha, and forthwith proceeded in an orderly manner to beg his food from door to door, and then returned to his own place of rest. Having finished his necessary meal, he bound up his begging dish in his garment, and having washed his feet, straightway proceeded to the place where Buddha was, and having arrived there, after religiously venerating the foot of Buddha, he took a seat on one side. After being thus seated, he turned towards Buddha and spoke as follows, with respect to the places he had visited: 66 World-honoured! this morning I have been to Râjagriha to perform my duty of begging alms; and having by the way gone to the Suddhavâsa Heavens, the Devas there spoke to me thus: 'It is difficult to see, difficult to meet with Tathagata,1 honoured by the world, amongst men.' Having said so much he ledge and history of Buddhism was perpetuated before the discovery of the art of writing. Vide Max Müller's "Chips," vol. i, p. 300. [The explanation given by Babu Rajendralal is fully borne out by the character of the Gâthas in the present work.] 1 The expression Tathagata is so well known, that it needs no this Gatha ire frame trem I on end; then ond expression! called Buddha, pears but once le sake of those the venerable a, he took a med towards laces he had en to Râjaving by the ere spoke to Tathagata,1 so much he At this time Buddha addressed Moga the Devas of the Suddhavâsa Heavens imperfect perception- they may by t something of the affairs of a myriad ka I can remember the virtuous principl. countless, infinite Buddhas as the g supremacy. Mogalan! I remember wh Chakravarti Râja, that I met with Buddhas, all of them named by the sar Tathagata, all of whom were attended and honourable, who provided for the sary requirements, that is to say, clo furniture, and medicinal preparations did I receive an intimation that I sho Mogalan! I remember in bygone ag varti Râja, that I met with eighty my: Dipankara, whose disciples, etc. "Mogalan! I remember in bygone a varti Râja meeting with thirty myria Pushya,3 etc. names of his predecessors. This corresponds to the lis found in the "Buddhawanso," 'Buddhawanso," as the succeeding section does to the "Râjawanso" (vide J. R. A. S. B., 1838. 926 ss.) § 2. At this time the world-honoured one was residing at Srâvastî, in the Jetavana Vihâra, possessed of the same supereminent qualities as we have before briefly mentioned. Then Buddha, having finished his meal, during seven days lost himself in contemplation,1 and recalled to his memory the history of all the Buddhas of bygone ages. At this time, Ananda,2 after the seven days had elapsed, went to the place where Buddha was, and after adoring his feet, stood on one side, and addressed Buddha thus, "World-honoured! seldom indeed (do we meet with) Tathagata! his body so pure, and his presence so full of dignity and beauty as now I behold, and still more beautiful and ever more so! World-honoured one! with such boundless faculties for perfect abstraction as you possess, tell me, what are the memories that engage you in Samâdhi, and what the rules and marks of it ?" At this time the world-honoured addressed Ananda, and said: "It is even as you say, Ananda! Tathagata, if he enters Samâdhi, remembers through bygone ages all the Buddhas who have appeared, and obtained perfect wisdom and spiritual capaci ties, and in this condition he can remain either a kalpa or any portion of one, reflecting on the character of hundreds of thousands 1 Samâdhi, a condition of ecstacy, in which the mind or soul is freed from all restraint, and enjoys perfect communion with the "other world." 2 Ananda, the chief of Buddha's disciples, now becomes the interlocutor. 1 the different ads to the list cceeding sec. S. B., 1838. ing at Srâvastî, reminent qualiBuddha, having contemplation,1 Buddhas of by apsed, went to feet, stood on ured! seldom ɔure, and his old, and still d one! with ▪ possess, tell hi, and what a, and said: e enters Sauddhas who tual capacialpa or any f thousands d or soul is on with the mes the in tates upon the affairs that have occurre or hindrance. What then! Tathagat Samâdhi, called of all the Buddhas, shore; and this of all the Samâdhis is Buddha addressed Ananda, Ananda ages, endless kalpas ago, there was a B Indraketu Tathagata, etc., who saved was strong to exercise love for their sa his compassion for all flesh, gave then of great personal dignity, and was sur of disciples. Ananda! he had five tho all fully arrived at the condition of ar were five thousand years. This Indra that a certain Bôdhisatwa should after and be called Uttaraketu Tathâgata; the arrival of a Buddha called Gunaket he predicted Dasaketu." [This first kiouen of the Fu-pen-hir words, and the cost of carving these wo =6s. 8d.) Ch. Ed.] CHAPTER 1 THE second part of the first se ready to nourish and cherish the "ANANDA! Samantabhadra predicted named Chandra Tathâgata; he predict Vimala; and so on for twenty-six gene "That shore," an expression for Ni fect release. 2 And so on through sixty-four gener Samantabhadra. wing gâthas: "All these various Tathagatas, Sâkya the great Teacher Using the pure and holy eyes of Buddha1 Beholds, without any exception. Thus the wisdom of Tathagata Is inconceivable; the way of Buddha Are able to understand. If there be a wise man Who desires to seek after true wisdom, Let him read over the names of these Buddhas, At this time, Ananda addressed Buddha, and said, "World- At this time, Ananda addressed Buddha, "World-honoured! ke as the Honourable Aniruddha,2 with his pure and heavenly 66 Buddha acknowledges no teacher, or inspiration of a God; he samanta chakkhu," i. e., his eye surveys all the boundaries f knowledge, and he clearly perceives at a glance all truth. Gogerley). 2 Aniruddha, one of the Sâkya princes and a disciple of Buddha. uper-eminent for his power of "Divine Sight." |