this shore he passed at once to that, signifying thereby the passage in the boat of wisdom from this world to Nirvana:  a boat large enough to transport all that lives to save the world, even as without a boat he crossed without hindrance the river Ganges.  Then all the people on the bank of the river, with one voice, raised a rapturous shout, and all declared this ford should be called the Gautama ford.  As the city gate is called the Gautama gate, so this Gautama ford is so known through ages; and shall be so called through generations to come.  Then Tathagata, going forward still, came to that celebrated Kuli village, where he preached and converted many; again he went on to the Nadi village, where many deaths had occurred among the people.  The friends of the dead then came to the lord and asked, “Where have our friends and relatives deceased, now gone to be born, after this life ended?” Buddha, knowing well the sequence of deeds, answered each according to his several needs.  Then going forward to Vaisali, he located himself in the Amra grove.  The celebrated Lady Amra, well affected to Buddha, went to that garden followed by her waiting women, whilst the children from the schools paid her respect.  Thus with circumspection and self-restraint, her person lightly and plainly clothed, putting away all her ornamented robes and all adornments of scent and flowers, as a prudent and virtuous woman goes forth to perform her religious duties, so she went on, beautiful to look upon, like any Devi in appearance.  Buddha seeing the lady in the distance approaching, spake thus to all the Bhikshus:—­

“This woman is indeed exceedingly beautiful, able to fascinate the minds of the religious; now then, keep your recollection straight! let wisdom keep your mind in subjection!  Better fall into the fierce tiger’s mouth, or under the sharp knife of the executioner, than to dwell with a woman and excite in yourselves lustful thoughts.  A woman is anxious to exhibit her form and shape, whether walking, standing, sitting, or sleeping.  Even when represented as a picture, she desires most of all to set off the blandishments of her beauty, and thus to rob men of their steadfast heart!  How then ought you to guard yourselves?  By regarding her tears and her smiles as enemies, her stooping form, her hanging arms, and all her disentangled hair as toils designed to entrap man’s heart.  Then how much more should you suspect her studied, amorous beauty; when she displays her dainty outline, her richly ornamented form, and chatters gayly with the foolish man!  Ah, then! what perturbation and what evil thoughts, not seeing underneath the horrid, tainted shape, the sorrows of impermanence, the impurity, the unreality!  Considering these as the reality, all lustful thoughts die out; rightly considering these, within their several limits, not even an Apsaras would give you joy.  But yet the power of lust is great with men, and is to be feared withal; take then the