Varga 15. Turning The Law-Wheel

VARGA 15. TURNING THE LAW-WHEEL ³.

Tathâgata piously composed and silent, radiant with glory, shedding light around, with unmatched dignity advanced alone, as if surrounded by a crowd of followers. . 1200

Beside the way he encountered a young Brahman ⁴, whose name was Upaka ⁵; struck ⁶ with the

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deportment of the Bhikshu, he stood with reverent mien on the road side; . 1201

Joyously he gazed at such an unprecedented sight, and then, with closed hands, he spake ¹ as follows: 'The crowds who live around are stained with sin, without a pleasing feature, void of grace, . 1202

'And the great world's heart is everywhere disturbed; but you alone, your senses all composed, with visage shining as the moon when full, seem to have quaffed the water of the immortals' stream; . 1203

'The marks of beauty yours, as the great man's (Mahâpurusha); the strength of wisdom, as an all-sufficient (independent) king's (samrâg); what you have done must have been wisely done, what then your noble tribe and who your master?' . 1204

Answering he said, 'I have no master; no honourable tribe; no point of excellence ²; self-taught in this profoundest doctrine, I have arrived at superhuman wisdom ³. . 1205

'That which behoves the world to learn, but through the world no learner found, I now myself

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and by myself ¹ have learned throughout; ’tis rightly called Sambodhi (king kioh); . 1206

'That hateful family of griefs the sword of wisdom has destroyed; this then is what the world has named, and rightly named, the "chiefest victory." . 1207

'Through all Benares soon will sound the drum of life, no stay is possible--I have no name ²--nor do I seek profit or pleasure, . 1208

'But simply to declare the truth; to save men (living things) from pain, and to fulfil my ancient oath, to rescue all not yet delivered. . 1209

'The fruit of this my oath is ripened now, and I will follow out my ancient vow. Wealth, riches, self all given up, unnamed, I still am named "Righteous Master ³." . 1210

'And bringing profit to the world (empire), I also have the name "Great Teacher ⁴;" facing sorrows, not swallowed up by them, am I not rightly called Courageous Warrior? . 1211

'If not a healer of diseases, what means the name of Good Physician? seeing the wanderer, not showing him the way, why then should I be called "Good Master-guide?" . 1212

'Like as the lamp shines in the dark, without a

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purpose of its own, self-radiant, so burns the lamp of the Tathâgata, without the shadow of a personal feeling. . 1213

'Bore wood in wood, there must be fire; the wind blows of its own free self in space; dig deep and you will come to water; this is the rule of self-causation. . 1214

'All the Munis who perfect wisdom, must do so at Gayâ; and in the Kâsi country they must first turn the Wheel of Righteousness.' . 1215

The young Brahman Upâka, astonished, breathed the praise of such strange doctrine ¹, and called to mind like thoughts he had before experienced ²; lost in thought at the wonderful occurrence, . 1216

At every turning of the road he stopped to think; embarrassed in every step he took. Tathâgata proceeding slowly onwards, came to the city of Kâsi, . 1217

The land so excellently adorned as the palace of Sakradevendra; the Ganges and Baranâ ³, two twin rivers flowed amidst; . 1218

The woods and flowers and fruits so verdant, the peaceful cattle wandering together, the calm retreats

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free from vulgar noise, such was the place where the old Rishis dwelt. . 1219

Tathâgata glorious and radiant, redoubled the brightness of the place; the son of the Kaundinya tribe (Kaundinya-kulaputra), and next Dasabalakâsyapa, . 1220

And the third Vâshpa, the fourth Asvagit, the fifth called Bhadra, practising austerities as hermits, . 1221

Seeing from far Tathâgata approaching, sitting together all engaged in conversation, (said), 'This Gautama, defiled by worldly indulgence, leaving the practice of austerities, . 1222

'Now comes again to find us here, let us be careful not to rise in salutation, nor let us greet him when he comes, nor offer him the customary refreshments; . 1223

'Because he has broken his first vow, he has no claim to hospitality;' [for men on seeing an approaching guest by rights prepare things for his present and his after wants, . 1224

They arrange a proper resting-couch, and take on themselves care for his comfort.] ¹ Having spoken thus and so agreed, each kept his seat, resolved and fixed. . 1225

And now Tathâgata slowly approached, when, to! these men unconsciously, against their vow, rose and invited him to take a seat; offering to take his, robe and Pâtra, . 1226

They begged to wash and rub his feet, and asked him what he required more; thus in everything attentive, they honour’d him and offered all to him as teacher. . 1227

They did not not cease however to address him

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still as Gautama, after his family ¹. Then spake the Lord to them and said: 'Call me not after my private name, . 1228

'For it is a rude and careless way of speaking to one who has obtained Arhatship ²; but whether men respect or disrespect me, my mind is undisturbed and wholly quiet; . 1229

'But you ³--your way is not so courteous, let go, I pray, and cast away your fault. Buddha can save the world; they call him, therefore, Buddha; . 1230

'Towards all living things, with equal heart he looks as children, to call him then by his familiar name is to despise a father; this is sin ⁴.' . 1231

Thus Buddha, by exercise of mighty love, in deep compassion spoke to them; but they, from ignorance and pride, despised the only wise ⁵ and true one's words. . 1232

They said that first he practised self-denial, but having reached thereby no profit, now giving rein to body, word, and thought ⁶, how by these means (they asked) has he become a Buddha? . 1233

Thus equally entangled by doubts, they would not credit that he had attained the way. Thoroughly versed in highest truth, full of all-embracing wisdom, . 1234

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Tathâgata on their account briefly declared to them the one true way; the foolish masters practising austerities, and those who love to gratify their senses, . 1235

He pointed out to them these two distinctive classes ¹, and how both greatly erred. 'Neither of these (he said) has found the way of highest wisdom, nor are their ways of life productive of true rescue. 1236.

'The emaciated devotee by suffering produces in himself confused and sickly thoughts, not conducive even to worldly knowledge, how much less to triumph over sense! . 1237

'For he who tries to light a lamp with water, will not succeed in scattering the darkness, (and so the man who tries) with worn-out body to trim the lamp of wisdom shall not succeed, nor yet destroy his ignorance or folly. . 1238

'Who seeks with rotten wood to evoke the fire will waste his labour and get nothing for it; but boring hard wood into hard, the man of skill forthwith gets fire for his use; . 1239

'In seeking wisdom then it is not by these austerities a man may reach the law of life. But (likewise) to indulge in pleasure is opposed to right, this is the fool's barrier against wisdom's light; . 1240

'The sensualist cannot comprehend the Sûtras or the Sâstras, how much less the way of overcoming all desire! As some man grievously afflicted eats food not fit to eat, . 1241

'And so in ignorance aggravates his sickness, so

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how can he get rid of lust who pampers lust? Scatter the fire amid the desert grass, dried by the sun, fanned by the wind, . 1242

'The raging flames who shall extinguish? Such is the fire of covetousness and lust (or, hankering lust), I, then, reject both these extremes, my heart keeps in the middle way. . 1243

'All sorrow at an end and finished, I rest at peace, all error put away; my true sight ¹ greater than the glory of the sun, my equal and unvarying wisdom ², vehicle of insight, . 1244

'Right words ³ as it were a dwelling-place, wandering through the pleasant groves of right conduct ⁴, making a right life ⁵ my recreation, walking along the right road of proper means ⁶, . 1245

'My city of refuge in right recollection ⁷, and my sleeping couch right meditation ⁸; these are the eight even and level roads ⁹ by which to avoid the sorrows of birth and death; .1246

'Those who come forth by these means from the slough, doing thus, have attained the end; such shall fall neither on this side or the other, amidst the sorrow-crowd of the two periods ¹⁰. . 1247

'The tangled sorrow-web of the three worlds by this road alone can be destroyed; this is my own way, unheard of before; by the pure eyes of the true law, . 1248

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'Impartially seeing the way of escape, I, only I, now first make known this way; thus I destroy the hateful company of Trishnâ's ¹ host, the sorrows of birth and death, old age, disease, . 1249

'And all the unfruitful aims of men, and other springs of suffering. There are those who warring against desire are still influenced by desire; who whilst possessed of body, act as tho’ they had none; . 1250

'Who put away from themselves all sources of true merit, briefly will I recount their sorrowful lot. Like smothering a raging fire, though carefully put out, yet a spark left, . 1251

'So in their abstraction, still the germ of "I ²," the source ³ of great sorrow still surviving, perpetuates the suffering caused by lust (trishnâ), and the evil consequences of every kind of deed survive; . 1252

'These are the sources of further pain, but let these go and sorrow dies, even as the seed of corn taken from the earth and deprived of water dies; . 1253

'The concurrent causes not uniting, then the bud and leaf cannot be born; the intricate bonds of every kind of existence, from the Deva down to the evil ways of birth, . 1254

'Ever revolve and never cease; all this is produced from covetous desire; falling from a high estate to lower ones, all is the fault of previous deeds; . 1255

'But destroy the seed of covetousness and the rest, then there will be no intricate binding, but all

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effect of deeds destroyed, the various degrees of sorrow then will end for good; . 1256

'Having this, then, we must inherit that; destroying this, then that is ended too; no birth, old age, disease, or death; no earth, or water, fire, or wind; . 1257

'No beginning, end, or middle; and no deceptive systems of philosophy; this is the standpoint of wise men and sages; the certain and exhausted termination, (complete Nirvâna). . 1258

'Such do the eight right ways declare; this one expedient has no remains; that which the world sees not, engrossed by error (I declare), . 1259

'I know the way to sever all these sorrow-sources; the way to end them is by right reason, meditating on these four highest truths, following and perfecting this highest wisdom. . 1260

'This is what means the "knowing" sorrow; this is to cut off the cause of all remains of being; these destroyed, then all striving, too, has ended, the eight right ways have been assayed. . 1261

'(Thus, too), the four great truths have been acquired, the eyes of the pure law completed. In these four truths, the equal (i.e. true or right) eyes not yet born, . 1262

'There is not mention made of gaining true deliverance, it is not said what must be done is done, nor that all (is finished), nor that the perfect truth has been acquired. . 1263

'But now because the truth is known, then by myself is known "deliverance gained," by myself is known that "all is done," by myself is known "the highest wisdom."' . 1264

And having spoken thus respecting truth, the

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member of the Kaundinya family, and eighty thou-sand of the Deva host, were thoroughly imbued with saving knowledge; . 1265

They put away defilement from themselves, they got the eyes of the pure law; Devas and earthly masters thus were sure, that what was to be done was done. . 1266

And now with lion-voice he joyfully enquired, and asked Kaundinya, 'Knowest thou yet?' Kaundinya forthwith answered Buddha, 'I know the mighty master's law;' . 1267

And for this reason, knowing it, his name was Âgñâta Kaundinya (âgñâta, known). Amongst all the disciples of Buddha, he was the very first in understanding. . 1268

Then as he understood the sounds of the true law, hearing (the words of) the disciple--all the earth spirits together raised a shout triumphant, 'Well done! deeply seeing (the principles of) the law, . 1269

'Tathâgata, on this auspicious day, has set revolving that which never yet revolved, and far and wide, for gods and men, has opened the gates of immortality ¹. . 1270

'(Of this wheel) the spokes are the rules of pure conduct; equal contemplation, their uniformity of length; firm wisdom is the tire; modesty and thoughtfulness, the rubbers (sockets in the nave in which the axle is fixed); . 1271

'Right reflection is the nave; the wheel itself the law of perfect truth; the right truth now

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has gone forth in the world, not to retire before another teacher.' . 1272

Thus the earth spirits shouted, the spirits of the air took up the strain, the Devas all joined in the hymn of praise, up to the highest Brahma heaven. . 1273

The Devas of the triple world, now hearing what the great Rishi taught, in intercourse together spoke, 'The widely-honoured Buddha moves the world! . 1274

'Wide-spread, for the sake of all that lives, he turns the wheel of the law of complete purity'' The stormy winds, the clouds, the mists, all disappeared; down from space the heavenly flowers descended; . 1275

The Devas revelled in their joys celestial, filled with unutterable gladness. . 1276

Footnotes

168:3 Concerning this expression, which means 'establishing the dominion of truth,' see Childers, Pâli Dict., sub voce pavatteti.

168:4 A Brahmakârin, a religious student, one who was practising a life of purity.

168:5 Called 'Upagana' by Burnouf (Introd. p. 389), and in the Lalita Vistara an Âgîvaka (hermit), (Foucaux, 378). For some useful remarks on this person's character, see Études Buddhiques (Leon Féer), pp. 15, 16, 17.

168:6 So I construe 'kih ki;' it means 'taken by,' or 'attracted by' the demeanour of the mendicant (Bhikshu). This incident is introduced as the first instance of Buddha's mendicant life and its influence on others.

169:1 Or, 'he questioned thus.'

169:2 'Nothing that has been conquered.'

169:3 I have attained to that which man has not attained. That is, I have arrived at superhuman wisdom. It appears to me that this point in Buddha's history is a key to the whole system of his religion. He professes to have grasped absolute truth (the word 'absolute' corresponds with 'unfettered'); and by letting go the finite, with its limitations and defilements, to have passed into the free, boundless, unattached infinite.

170:1 This assertion is a fundamental one (see Mr. Rhys Davids' Dhamma-kakka-ppavattana-sutta, Sacred Books of the East, vol. xi, throughout); so that Buddha disclaims any revelation in the sense of the result of a higher wisdom than his own. The cloud, in fact, of sin moved away, the indwelling of light, by itself, revealed itself.

170:2 'I am a voice.'

170:3 (Called by the) not-called name, 'Master of righteousness.'

170:4 Here follow a list of names applied to Tathâgata in virtue of his office. He gives up his name Gautama, and claims to be known only by his religious titles.

171:1 Sighed 'oh!' and praised in under tone the strange behaviour of Tathâgata.

171:2 Or perhaps the following translation is better: 'following in mind the circumstances which led to the strange encounter.'

171:3 The account in the text makes the city of Benares to be between the Ganges and the Baranâ or Varanâ; General Cunning-ham (Archæolog. Report, vol. i, p. 104) says, 'The city of Benares is situated on the left bank, of the Ganges, between the Barnâ Nadi on the north-east and the Asi Nâla on the south-west. The Barnâ is a considerable rivulet which rises to the north of Allahabad, and has a course of about 100 miles. The Asi is a mere brook of no length.'

172:1 This [ ] seems to be parenthetical.

173:1 The address 'Bho Gotama' or 'Gotama,' according to Childers (Pâli Dict. p. 150), was an appellation of disrespect used by unconverted Brahmins in addressing Buddha. The title Gautama Buddha is rarely met with in Northern translations.

173:2 The Arhat is the highest grade among the Buddhist saints. See Burnouf, Introd. p. 295.

173:3 Here the appeal is to them as religious persons.

173:4 Or, is the sin of dishonouring a father.

173:5 The true words of the Only Enlightened; that is, of the Buddha.

173:6 for .

174:1 The two extremes.

175:1 Samyag drishti.

175:2 Samyak samkalpa.

175:3 Samyag vâk.

175:4 Samyak karma.

175:5 Samyag âgîva.

175:6 Samyag vyâyâma.

175:7 Samyak smriti.

175:8 Samyak samâdhi.

175:9 The right roads (orthodox ways).

175:10 Or rather, of the 'two ages;' this age and the next.

176:1 For some account of Trishnâ, Pâli Tanha, see Rhys Davids (op. cit.), p. 149 note.

176:2 The germ of self; that is, of individual existence.

176:3 Having the nature of great sorrow.

178:1 The way or gate of sweet dew.