The splendour of Asia: The story and teaching of the BuddhaBeck, L. Adams (Lily Adams)
Religion
The splendour of Asia: The story and teaching of the Buddha
Beck, L. Adams (Lily Adams)
Buddha (The concept)
But after awhile remembrance returned to her and his silence and the
distance wide as heaven and earth between them, and she rose with
majesty and withdrew herself to one side and stood with bowed head while
the Maharaja declared to the Perfected One her griefs and patience and
mortifications so that she might resemble him, abjuring her bed for a
mat laid upon the ground, and the feasts of the palace for one poor meal
a day, and much more. And the Prince heard and speaking slowly, still
with his eyes upon her, said:
“This is true. Great also was the virtue of this high lady, the mother
of Rahula, virtue in a former life which I remember and she too will
remember one day with gladness. Lady, mother of my son, the way that I
have opened is open for you also. Come and hear.”
And with his eyes upon her to the last he turned and went away.
So that evening, seated by the bank of Rohini, the Perfect One taught
the Way before his own people, and they crowded to hear; and this high
lady seated, veiled so that none might see her hidden eyes, heard also,
and as she listened, illusion fell from her; she perceived the
Unchanging, the Formless, the Beautiful, and the illusory forms of this
world and the delusion of time fell from her also, and she beheld her
love no longer past and done with, but eternal as the eternity of the
Self that alone endures, and the imprisoning self which alone can suffer
died within her and left her enfranchised, and inward light shone upon
her and she knew the truth.
So also was it with the Maharaja and the Maharani Prajapati and many
more.
But on the next day the Princess Yashodara called to her son Rahula and
dressed him in his best until he shone bright and beautiful as a star,
and she laid her cheek against his, saying:
“Go now, beloved, and seek your father and ask for your inheritance.”
And he answered:
“Mother, I know of no father but the Maharaja. What father? And why
should he withhold my inheritance?”
And she said: “Go and ask. But first see, that you may know him.”
She led the boy to the window and pointed.
“That monk, clothed in the yellow robe, he whose face shines like the
sun in its strength, is your father. And he has great wealth—riches,
not to be told in words. Go, son, and demand your inheritance.”
And the boy went, wondering and desiring, and in the garden he ran
quickly and catching the robe of the Blessed One, he said:
“My father, how happy I am to be near you. O day of gladness,” and tears
of joy overflowed his eyes, seeing his father so great and beautiful.
But to test him, the Blessed One was silent, pacing toward the Nyagrodha
grove, and still the child followed, entreating for his inheritance.
Then when they reached the grove, the Perfected One turned smiling to
Sariputta the great disciple, and he said:
“Monk, what think you? For worldly wealth perishes, but this remains.
Shall I make my son heir to the Greatest? Let us admit him to the
Order.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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