Nirvana: a story of Buddhist psychology
When Buddha, the Blessed One, the Tathagata, the great sage of the Sakya tribe, was yet walking on earth, the news thereof spread over all the valley of the holy Ganga, and every man greeted his friend joyfully and said: "Hast thou heard the good tidings?
The Enlightened One, the Perfect One, the holy teacher of gods and men, has appeared in the flesh and is bodily walking among us! I have seen him and have taken refuge in his doctrine; go thou also and see him in his glory.
His countenance is beautiful like the rising sun; he is tall and strong like the young lion that has left his den; and when the Blessed One opens his mouth to preach, his words are like music, and all those who listen to his sermons believe in him.
The kings of Magadha, of Kosala, and of many other countries have heard his voice, have received him, and confess themselves to his disciples.
The kings of Magadha, of Kosala, and of many other countries have heard his voice, have received him, and confess themselves to his disciples.
The Blessed Buddha has solved the riddle of the world and understands the problem of existence. He teaches that life is suffering, but he knows both the origin of suffering and the escape from it and assures his disciples that Nirvana can be obtained by walking in the noble path of righteousness.
in the fields of Kuduraghara,^ a small township of Avanti, there was a tall Brahman youth, by name Sudatta, ploughing the grounds of Snbhfiti, who was called by the people Maha-Subhuti because he was wealthy, and whom the king had appointed chief of the village, to be a judge in all cases of law, both for the decision of litigations and the punishment of crimes. Sudatta, Mdiile driving the draught-oxen, was merrily singing.
He had good reason to be full of joy, for Maha-Subhuti, the chief, had chosen him for his son-in-law, and when, according to an old custom, the youth offered four clods to the maiden, one containing seeds, one ingredient from a cow-stable, one dust from an altar, and one earth taken from a cemetery, she had not touched the clod taken from tlie cemete wliich would have been an evil omen, but chose the clod containing dust from the altar, indicating thereby that her descendants would be distinguished priests and sacrifices.
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This was in Sudatta's opinion the noblest and most desirable fate. Rich harvests and prosperity in the raising of cattle were great blessings, but what are all worldl}^ ]dos- sessions in comparison to the bliss of religion! It was this idea that made Sudatta sing, and he was happy, even as Indra, the strong god, when intoxicated with the sweet juices of soma. Suddenly the plough struck the lair of a hare, and the hare jumped up to flee, but turned anxiousl}' back to look after her brood. Su- data raised the stick with which he goaded his oxen, chased the hare and sought to kill her, and would have accomplished his purpose had he not been interrupted b}^ the voice of a man passing on the high road, who called out: "Stay, friend! What wrong has that poor creature do? " Sudatta stopped in his pursuit and said: " The hare has done no wrong, except that she lives in the fields of ni}^ master."
copyright: 1902
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