Chinese literature : $b Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of HanFaxian
Philosophy
Chinese literature : $b Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of Han
Faxian
China -- Literary collections; Chinese literature; Chinese literature -- Translations into English
Further, at the place where the discussion took place, they reared a
vihâra rather more than sixty cubits high, having in it an image of
Buddha in a sitting posture. On the east of the road there was a
devâlaya [6] of one of the contrary systems, called "The Shadow
Covered," right opposite the vihâra on the place of discussion, with
only the road between them, and also rather more than sixty cubits high.
The reason why it was called "The Shadow Covered" was this: When the sun
was in the west, the shadow of the vihâra of the World-honored one fell
on the devâlaya of a contrary system; but when the sun was in the east,
the shadow of that devâlaya was diverted to the north, and never fell on
the vihâra of Buddha. The malbelievers regularly employed men to watch
their devâlaya, to sweep and water all about it, to burn incense, light
the lamps, and present offerings; but in the morning the lamps were
found to have been suddenly removed, and in the vihâra of Buddha. The
Brahmans were indignant, and said, "Those Sramanas take our lamps and
use them for their own service of Buddha, but we will not stop our
service for you!" [7] On that night the Brahmans themselves kept watch,
when they saw the deva spirits which they served take the lamps and go
three times round the vihâra of Buddha and present offerings. After this
administration to Buddha they suddenly disappeared. The Brahmans
thereupon knowing how great was the spiritual power of Buddha, forthwith
left their families, and became monks. It has been handed down, that,
near the time when these things occurred, around the Jetavana vihâra
there were ninety-eight monasteries, in all of which there were monks
residing, excepting only in one place which was vacant. In this Middle
Kingdom there are ninety-six sorts of views, erroneous and different
from our system, all of which recognize this world and the future world
and the connection between them. Each has its multitude of followers,
and they all beg their food: only they do not carry the alms-bowl. They
also, moreover, seek to acquire the blessing of good deeds on
unfrequented ways, setting up on the roadside houses of charity, where
rooms, couches, beds, and food and drink are supplied to travellers, and
also to monks, coming and going as guests, the only difference being in
the time for which those parties remain.
There are also companies of the followers of Devadatta still existing.
They regularly make offerings to the three previous Buddhas, but not to
Sâkyamuni Buddha.
Four li southeast from the city of Srâvastî, a tope has been erected at
the place where the World-honored one encountered king Virûdhaha, when
he wished to attack the kingdom of Shay-e, and took his stand before him
at the side of the road.
[Footnote 1: Explained by "Path of Love," and "Lord of Life." Prajâpati
was aunt and nurse of Sâkyamuni, the first woman admitted to the
monkhood, and the first superior of the first Buddhistic convent. She is
yet to become a Buddha.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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