Discover the origins of Buddhism and its tenets from the seminal texts Drawn from the sacred books of Buddhism, this collection reveals the insights and beliefs at the heart of the world's fourth-largest religion. Siddhartha Guatama, a sixth-century Hindu warrior prince, renounced the world in his search for the meaning of life and became the Buddha, or "Enlightened One, " while meditating at Bodh Gaya. From that moment forward the Buddha sought to share his own enlightenment with all of mankind. Through the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the Buddha taught followers to let go of desire and worldly attachments in order to alleviate suffering while embracing practices of meditation, mindfulness, and right conduct. Covering the birth and death of the Buddha, as well as the major tenets of Buddhism, including karma and the middle doctrine, The Wisdom of Buddha offers a profound view of the Buddhist religion and its founder.
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THEN The Blessed One addressed the venerable Ananda:—
“Let us go hence, Ananda. To the further bank of the Hiraññavatī river, and to the city of Kusin
r
and the sal-tree grove Upavattana of the Mallas will we draw near.”
“Yes, Reverend Sir,” said the venerable Ananda to The Blessed One in assent.
Then The Blessed One, accompanied by a large congregation of priests, drew near to the further bank of the Hiraññavatī river, and to the city of Kusin
r
and the sal-tree grove Upavattana of the Mallas; and having drawn near, he addressed the venerable Ananda:—
“Be so good, Ananda, as to spread me a couch with its head to the north between twin sal-trees. I am weary, Ananda, and wish to lie down.”
“Yes, Reverend Sir,” said the venerable Ananda to The Blessed One in assent, and spread the couch with its head to the north between twin sal-trees. Then The Blessed One lay down on his right side after the manner of a lion, and placing foot on foot, remained mindful and conscious.
Now at that time the twin sal-trees had completely burst forth into bloom, though it was not the flowering season; and the blossoms scattered themselves over the body of The Tath
gata,1 and strewed and sprinkled themselves in worship of The Tath
gata. Also heavenly Erythrina flowers fell from the sky; and these scattered themselves over the body of The Tath
gata, and strewed and sprinkled themselves in worship of The Tath
gata. Also heavenly sandal-wood powder fell from the sky; and this scattered itself over the body of The Tath
gata, and strewed and sprinkled itself in worship of The Tath
gata. And music sounded in the sky in worship of The Tath
gata, and heavenly choruses were heard to sing in worship of The Tath
gata.
Then The Blessed One addressed the venerable Ananda:—
“The twin sal-trees, Ananda, have completely burst forth into bloom, though it is not the flowering season; and the blossoms have scattered themselves over the body of The Tath
gata, and have strewn and sprinkled themselves in worship of The Tath
gata. Also heavenly Erythrina flowers have fallen from the sky; and these have scattered themselves over the body of The Tath
gata, and have strewn and sprinkled themselves in worship of The Tath
gata. Also heavenly sandal-wood powder has fallen from the sky; and this has scattered itself over the body of The Tath
gata, and has strewn and sprinkled itself in worship of The Tath
gata. Also music is sounding in the sky in worship of The Tath
gata, and heavenly choruses are heard to sing in worship of The Tath
gata. But it is not by all this, Ananda, that The Tath
gata is honored, esteemed, revered, worshiped, or venerated; but the priest, Ananda, or the priestess, or the lay disciple, or the female lay disciple, who shall fulfil all the greater and lesser duties, conducting himself with propriety and in accordance with the precepts, by him is The Tath
gata honored, esteemed, revered, and worshiped with the best of worship. Accordingly, Ananda, train yourselves, and fulfil all the greater and lesser duties, and conduct yourselves with propriety and in accordance with the precepts.”
Now at that time the venerable Upav
na was standing in front of The Blessed One, and fanning him. Then The Blessed One was harsh to the venerable Upav
na, saying,—
“Step aside, O priest; stand not in front of me.”
Then it occurred to the venerable Ananda as follows:—
“Here, this venerable Upav
na has for a long time been the body-servant of The Blessed One, and kept himself at his beck and call; yet, although his last moments are near, The Blessed One is harsh to the venerable Upav
na, saying, ‘Step aside, O priest; stand not in front of me.’ What, pray, was the reason, and what was the cause, that The Blessed One was harsh to the venerable Upav
na, saying, ‘Step aside, O priest; stand not in front of me’?”
Then the venerable Ananda spoke to The Blessed One as follows:—
“Reverend Sir, here this venerable Upav
na has for a long time been the body-servant of The Blessed One, and kept himself at his beck and call; yet, although his last moments are near, The Blessed One is harsh to the venerable Upav
na, saying, ‘Step aside, O priest; stand not in front of me.’ Reverend Sir, what, pray, was the reason, and what was the cause, that The Blessed One was harsh to the venerable Upav
na, saying, ‘Step aside, O priest; stand not in front of me’?”
“Ananda, almost all the deities throughout ten worlds have come together to behold The Tath
gata. For an extent, Ananda, of twelve leagues about the city Kusin
r
and the sal-tree grove Upavattana of the Mallas, there is not a spot of ground large enough to stick the point of a hair into, that is not pervaded by powerful deities. And these deities, Ananda, are angered, saying, ‘From afar have we come to behold The Tath
gata, for but seldom, and on rare occasions, does a Tath
gata, a saint, and Supreme Buddha arise in the world; and now, to-night, in the last watch, will The Tath
gata pass into Nirvana; but this powerful priest stands in front of The Blessed One, concealing him, and we have no chance to see The Tath
gata, although his last moments are near.’ Thus, Ananda, are these deities angered.”
“What are the deities doing, Reverend Sir, whom The Blessed One perceives?”
“Some of the deities, Ananda, are in the air with their minds engrossed by earthly things, and they let fly their hair and cry aloud, and stretch out their arms and cry aloud, and fall headlong to the ground and roll to and fro, saying, ‘All too soon will The Blessed One pass into Nirvana; all too soon will The Happy One pass into Nirvana; all too soon will The Light of the World vanish from sight!’ Some of the deities, Ananda, are on the earth with their minds engrossed by earthly things, and they let fly their hair and cry aloud, and stretch out their arms and cry aloud, and fall headlong on the ground and roll to and fro, saying, ‘All too soon will The Blessed One pass into Nirvana; all too soon will The Happy One pass into Nirvana; all too soon will The Light of the World vanish from sight.’ But those deities which are free from passion, mindful and conscious, bear it patiently, saying, ‘Transitory are all things. How is it possible [that whatever has been born, has come into being, and is organized and perishable, should not perish? That condition is not possible.]’ ”
Then the venerable Ananda entered the monastery, and, leaning against the bolt of the door, he wept, saying,—
“Behold, I am but a learner and not yet perfect, and my Teacher is on the point of passing into Nirvana, he who was so compassionate to me.”
