The Life or Legend of Gaudama, the Buddha of the Burmese (Volume I)Bigandet, Paul Ambroise
Religion
The Life or Legend of Gaudama, the Buddha of the Burmese (Volume I)
Bigandet, Paul Ambroise
Buddhism -- Burma; Burma -- Religion; Gautama Buddha
Urged by the merciful and compassionate dispositions of his soul,
Phralaong often revolved within himself the following: "All is misery
and affliction in this world; all beings are miserably detained in the
vortex of existences; they float over the whirlpool of desire and
concupiscence; they are carried to and fro by the fallacious cravings of
a never-obtained satisfaction. They must be taught to put an end to
concupiscence by freeing themselves from its influence. Their minds must
be imbued with the knowledge of the four great truths. The four ways
that I have discovered shall inevitably lead men and Nats to that most
desirable end. These ways ought to be pointed out to them, that, by
following them, men and Nats may obtain the deliverance."
Whilst these thoughts thronged through his mind, a little before break
of day, in the 103rd year of the Eatzana era, on the day of the full
moon of Katson, the perfect science broke at once over him: he became
the Buddha.
When this great wonder took place, ten thousand worlds were shaken
twelve times with such a violence as to make hairs stand on one end.
These words, "Most excellent being," were heard throughout the same
series of worlds. Magnificent ornaments decorated all places. Flagstaffs
appeared in every direction, adorned with splendid streamers. Of such
dimensions were they that the extremities of those in the east reached
the opposite side of the west; and those in the north, the southern
boundary. Some flags, hanging from the seats of Brahmas, reached the
surface of the earth. All the trees of ten thousand worlds shot out
branches, loaded with fruits and flowers. The five sorts of lilies
bloomed spontaneously. From the clefts of rocks beautiful flowers sprang
out. The whole universe appeared like an immense garden, covered with
flowers; a vivid light illuminated those places, the darkness of which
could not be dispersed by the united rays of seven suns. The water,
which fills the immensity of the deep, at a depth of eighty-four
thousand youdzanas, became fresh and offered a most agreeable drink.
Rivers suspended their course; the blind recovered their sight, the deaf
could hear, and the lame were able to walk freely. The captives were
freed from their chains and restored to their liberty. Innumerable other
wonders took place at the moment Phralaong received the supreme
intelligence. He said then to himself, "Previous to my obtaining the
supreme knowledge, I have, during countless generations, moved in the
circle of ever-renewed existences, and borne-up misery. Now I see this
distinctly. Again, I perceive how I can emancipate myself from the
trammels of existence, and extricate myself from all miseries and
wretchedness attending generation; my will is fixed on the most amiable
state of Neibban. I have now arrived to that state of perfection that
excludes all passions."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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