The Gospel of Buddha, Compiled from Ancient RecordsCarus, Paul
ReligionEastern
The Gospel of Buddha, Compiled from Ancient Records
Carus, Paul
Buddhism; Christianity and other religions -- Buddhism; Gautama Buddha; Gautama Buddha -- Teachings
"The preacher must keep in his proper sphere and be steady in his
course. He must not flatter his vanity by seeking the company of
the great, nor must he keep company with persons who are
frivolous and immoral. When in temptation, he should constantly
think of the Buddha and he will conquer. 5
"All who come to hear the doctrine, the preacher must receive
with benevolence, and his sermon must be without invidiousness. 6
"The preacher must not be prone to carp at others, or to blame
other preachers; nor speak scandal, nor propagate bitter words.
He must not mention by name other disciples to vituperate them
and reproach their demeanor. 7
"Clad in a clean robe, dyed with good color, with appropriate
undergarments, he must ascend the pulpit with a mind free from
blame and at peace with the whole world. 8
"He must not take delight in quarrelous disputations or engage in
controversies so as to show the superiority of his talents, but
be calm and composed. 9
"No hostile feelings shall reside in his heart, and he must never
abandon the disposition of charity toward all beings. His sole
aim must be that all beings become Buddhas. 10
"Let the preacher apply himself with zeal to his work, and the
Tathāgata will show to him the body of the holy law in its
transcendent glory. He shall be honored as one whom the Tathāgata
has blessed. The Tathāgata blesses the preacher and also those
who reverently listen to him and joyfully accept the doctrine. 11
"All those who receive the truth will find perfect enlightenment.
And, verily, such is the power of the doctrine that even by the
reading of a single stanza, or by reciting, copying, and keeping
in mind a single sentence of the good law, persons may be
converted to the truth and enter the path of righteousness which
leads to deliverance from evil. 12
"Creatures that are swayed by impure passions, when they listen
to the voice, will be purified. The ignorant who are infatuated
with the follies of the world will, when pondering on the
profundity of the doctrine, acquire wisdom. Those who act under
the impulse of hatred will, when taking refuge in the Buddha, be
filled with good-will and love. 13
"A preacher must be full of energy and cheerful hope, never
tiring and never despairing of final success. 14
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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