The Gospel of Buddha Part 2

Truth desires to appear; truth longs to become conscious; truth strives to know itself. 3

There is truth in the stone, for the stone is here; and no power in the world, no G.o.d, no man, no demon, can destroy its existence. But the stone has no consciousness. 4

There is truth in the plant and its life can expand; the plant grows and blossoms and bears fruit. Its beauty is marvellous, but it has no consciousness. 5

There is truth in the animal; it moves about and perceives its surroundings; it distinguishes and learns to choose. There is consciousness, but it is not yet the consciousness of Truth. It is a consciousness of self only. 6

The consciousness of self dims the eyes of the mind and hides the truth. It is the origin of error, it is the source of illusion, it is the germ of evil. 7

Self begets selfishness. There is no evil but what flows from self. There is no wrong but what is done by the a.s.sertion of self. 8

Self is the beginning of all hatred, of iniquity and slander, of impudence and indecency, of theft and robbery, of oppression and bloodshed. Self is Mara, the tempter, the evil-doer, the creator of mischief. 9

Self entices with pleasures. Self promises a fairy's paradise.

Self is the veil of Maya, the enchanter. But the pleasures of self are unreal, its paradisian labyrinth is the road to misery, and its fading beauty kindles the flames of desires that never can be satisfied. 10

Who shall deliver us from the power of self? Who shall save us from misery? Who shall restore us to a life of blessedness? 11

There is misery in the world of Samsara; there is much misery and pain. But greater than all the misery is the bliss of truth.

Truth gives peace to the yearning mind; it conquers error; it quenches the flames of desires; it leads to Nirvana. 12

Blessed is he who has found the peace of Nirvana. He is at rest in the struggles and tribulations of life; he is above all changes; he is above birth and death; he remains unaffected by the evils of life. 13

Blessed is he who has found enlightenment. He conquers, although he may be wounded; he is glorious and happy, although he may suffer; he is strong, although he may break down under the burden of his work; he is immortal, although he may die. The essence of his being is purity and goodness. 14

Blessed is he who has attained the sacred state of Buddhahood, for he is fit to work out the salvation of his fellow-beings. The truth has taken its abode in him. Perfect wisdom illumines his understanding, and righteousness ensouls the purpose of all his actions. 15

The truth is a living power for good, indestructible and invincible! Work the truth out in your mind, and spread it among mankind, for truth alone is the saviour from evil and misery. The Buddha has found the truth and the truth has been proclaimed by the Buddha! Blessed be the Buddha! 16

PRINCE SIDDHATTHA BECOMES BUDDHA

IV. THE BODHISATTA'S BIRTH

There was in Kapliavatthu a Sakya king, strong of purpose and reverenced by all men, a descendant of the Okkakas, who call themselves Gotama, and his name was Suddhodana or Pure-Rice. 1

His wife Maya-devi was beautiful as the water-lily and pure in mind as the lotus. As the Queen of Heaven, she lived on earth, untainted by desire, and immaculate. 2

The king, her husband, honored her in her holiness, and the spirit of truth, glorious and strong in his wisdom like unto a white elephant, descended upon her. 3

When she knew that the hour of motherhood was near, she asked the king to send her home to her parents; and Suddhodana, anxious about his wife and the child she would bear him, willingly granted her request. 4

At Lumbini there is a beautiful grove, and when Maya-devi pa.s.sed through it the trees were one ma.s.s of fragrant flowers and many birds were warbling in their branches. The Queen, wishing to stroll through the shady walks, left her golden palanquin, and, when she reached the giant Sala tree in the midst of the grove, felt that her hour had come. She took hold of a branch. Her attendants hung a curtain about her and retired. When the pain of travail came upon her, four pure-minded angels of the great Brahma held out a golden net to receive the babe, who came forth from her right side like the rising sun, bright and perfect. 5

The Brahma-angels took the child and placing him before the mother said: "Rejoice, O queen, a mighty son has been born unto thee." 6

At her couch stood an aged woman imploring the heavens to bless the child. 7

All the worlds were flooded with light. The blind received their sight by longing to see the coming glory of the Lord; the deaf and dumb spoke with one another of the good omens indicating the birth of the Buddha to be. The crooked became straight; the lame walked. All prisoners were freed from their chains and the fires of all the h.e.l.ls were extinguished. 8

No clouds gathered in the skies and the polluted streams became clear, whilst celestial music rang through the air and the angels rejoiced with gladness. With no selfish or partial joy but for the sake of the law they rejoiced, for creation engulfed in the ocean of pain was now to obtain release. 9

The cries of beasts were hushed; all malevolent beings received a loving heart, and peace reigned on earth. Mara, the evil one, alone was grieved and rejoiced not. 10

The Naga kings, earnestly desiring to show their reverence for the most excellent law, as they had paid honor to former Buddhas, now went to greet the Bodhisatta. They scattered before him mandara flowers, rejoicing with heartfelt joy to pay their religious homage. 11

The royal father, pondering the meaning of these signs, was now full of joy and now sore distressed. 12

The queen mother, beholding her child and the commotion which his birth created, felt in her timorous heart the pangs of doubt. 13

Now the re was at that time in a grove near Lumbini Asita, a rishi, leading the life of a hermit. He was a Brahman of dignified mien, famed not only for wisdom and scholarship, but also for his skill in the interpretation of signs. And the king invited him to see the royal babe. 14

The seer, beholding the prince, wept and sighed deeply. And when the king saw the tears of Asita he became alarmed and asked: "Why has the sight of my son caused thee grief and pain?" 15

But Asita's heart rejoiced, and, knowing the king's mind to be perplexed, he addressed him, saying: 16

"The king, like the moon when full, should feel great joy, for he has begotten a wondrously n.o.ble son. 17

"I do not worship Brahma, but I worship this child; and the G.o.ds in the temples will descend from their places of honor to adore him. 18

"Banish all anxiety and doubt. The spiritual omens manifested indicate that the child now born will bring deliverance to the whole world. 19

"Recollecting that I myself am old, on that account I could not hold my tears; for now my end is coming on and I shall not see the glory of this babe. For this son of thine will rule the world. 20

"The wheel of empire will come to him. He will either be a king of kings to govern all the lands of the earth, or verily will become a Buddha. He is born for the sake of everything that lives. 21

"His pure teaching will be like the sh.o.r.e that receives the shipwrecked. His power of meditation will be like a cool lake; and all creatures parched with the drought of l.u.s.t may freely drink thereof. 22

"On the fire of covetousness he will cause the cloud of his mercy to rise, so that the rain of the law may extinguish it. The heavy gates of despondency will he open, and give deliverance to all creatures ensnared in the selfentwined meshes of folly and ignorance. 23

"The king of the law has come forth to rescue from bondage all the poor, the miserable, the helpless." 24

When the royal parents heard Asita's words they rejoiced in their hearts and named their new-born infant Siddhattha, that is, "he who has accomplished his purpose." 25

And the queen said to her sister, Paj.a.pati: "A mother who has borne a future Buddha will never give birth to another child. I shall soon leave this world, my husband, the king, and Siddhattha, my child. When I am gone, be thou a mother to him." 26

And Paj.a.pati wept and promised. 27

When the queen had departed from the living, Paj.a.pati took the boy Siddhattha and reared him. And as the light of the moon increases little by little, so the royal child grew from day to day in mind and in body; and truthfulness and love resided in his heart. 28

When a year had pa.s.sed Suddhodana the king made Paj.a.pati his queen and there was never a better stepmother than she. 29