Sacred Books of the East eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 632 pages of information about Sacred Books of the East.

Sacred Books of the East eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 632 pages of information about Sacred Books of the East.
one called Kimbila, the other called Kalaka.  Again coming to the Vaggi country, he converted the Yaksha demon, whose name was Pisha, the father and mother of Nagara, and the great noble also, he caused to believe gladly in the true law.  Coming to the Kausarubi country, he converted Goshira, and the two Upasikas, Vaguttara and her companion Uvari; and besides these, many others, one after the other.  Coming to the country of Gandhara he converted the Naga Apalala; thus in due order all these air-going, water-loving natures he completely converted and saved, as the sun when he shines upon some dark and sombre cave.  At this time Devadatta, seeing the remarkable excellences of Buddha, conceived in his heart a jealous hatred; losing all power of thoughtful abstraction he ever plotted wicked schemes, to put a stop to the spread of the true law; ascending the Gridhrakuta mount he rolled down a stone to hit Buddha; the stone divided into two parts, each part passing on either side of him.  Again, on the royal highway he loosed a drunken, vicious elephant.  With his raised trunk trumpeting as thunder he ran, his maddened breath raising a cloud around him, his wild pace like the rushing wind, to be avoided more than the fierce tempest; his trunk and tusks and tail and feet, when touched only, brought instant death.  Thus he ran through the streets and ways of Ragagriha, madly wounding and killing men; their corpses lay across the road, their brains and blood scattered afar.  Then all the men and women filled with fear, remained indoors; throughout the city there was universal terror, only piteous shrieks and cries were heard; beyond the city men were running fast, hiding themselves in holes and dens.  Tathagata, with five hundred followers, at this time came towards the city; from tops of gates and every window, men, fearing for Buddha, begged him not to advance; Tathagata, his heart composed and quiet, with perfect self-possession, thinking only on the sorrow caused by hate, his loving heart desiring to appease it, followed by guardian angel-nagas, slowly approached the maddened elephant.  The Bhikshus all deserted him, Ananda only remained by his side; joined by every tie of duty, his steadfast nature did not shake or quail.  The drunken elephant, savage and spiteful, beholding Buddha, came to himself at once, and bending, worshipped at his feet just as a mighty mountain falls to earth.  With lotus hand the master pats his head, even as the moon lights up a flying cloud.  And now, as he lay crouched before the master’s feet, on his account he speaks some sacred words:  “The elephant cannot hurt the mighty dragon, hard it is to fight with such a one; the elephant desiring so to do will in the end obtain no happy state of birth; deceived by lust, anger, and delusion, which are hard to conquer, but which Buddha has conquered.  Now, then, this very day, give up this lust, this anger and delusion!  You! swallowed up in sorrow’s mud! if not now given up, they will increase yet more and grow.”

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Sacred Books of the East from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.