Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 87: The Patient Elephant"

Latest revision as of 20:10, 31 December 2013

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While the Blessed One was residing in the Jetavana,
there was a householder living in Savatthi
known to all his neighbours as patient and kind,
but his relatives were wicked and contrived a plot to rob him.
One day they came to the householder
and often worrying him with all kinds of threats
took away a goodly portion of his property.
He did not go to court, nor did he complain,
but tolerated with great forbearance the wrongs he suffered. [1]

The neighbours wondered and began to talk about it,
and rumours of the affair reached the ears of the brethren in Jetavana.
While the brethren discussed the occurence in the assembly hall,
the Blessed One entered and asked
"What was the topic of your conversation?"
And they told him. [2]

Said the Blessed One:
"The time will come when the wicked relatives will find their punishment.
O brethren, this is not the first time that this occurrence took place;
it has happened before,"
and he told them a world-old tale. [3]

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares,
the Bodhisatta was born in the Himalaya region as an elephant.
He grew up strong and big, and ranged the hills and mountains,
the peaks and caves of the tortuous woods in the valleys.
Once as he went he saw a pleasant tree, and took his food, standing under it. [4]

Then some impertinent monkeys came down out of the tree,
and jumping on the elephant's back, insulted and tormented him greatly;
they took hold of his tusks, pulled his tail and disported themselves,
thereby causing him much annoyance.
The Bodhisatta, being full of patience, kindliness and mercy,
took no notice at all of their misconduct
which the monkeys repeated again and again. [5]

One day the spirit that lived in the tree,
standing upon the tree-trunk, addressed the elephant saying,
"My lord elephant, why dost thou put up with the impudence of these bad monkeys?"
And he asked the question in a couplet as follows: [6]

"Why dost thou patiently endure each freak

These mischievous and selfish monkeys wreak?" [7]

The Bodhisatta, on hearing this, replied,
"If, Tree-sprite, I cannot endure these monkeys' ill treatment
without abusing their birth, lineage, and persons,
how can I walk in the eightfold noble path?
But these monkeys will do the same to others thinking them to be like me.
If they do it to any rogue elephant, he will punish them indeed,
and I shall be delivered both from their annoyance
and the guilt of having done harm to others." [8]

Saying this he repeated another stanza: [9]

"If they will treat another one like me,

He will destroy them; and I shall be free." [10]

A few days later, the Bodhisatta went elsewhither,
and another elephant, a savage beast, came and stood in his place.
The wicked monkeys thinking him to be like the old one,
climbed upon his back and did as before.
The rogue elephant siezed the monkeys with his trunk,
threw them upon the ground, gored them with his trunk
and trampled them to mincemeat under his feet. [11]

When the Master had ended his teaching,
he declared the truths, and identified the births, saying:
"At that time the mischievous monkeys
were the wicked relatives of the good man,
the rogue elephant was the one who will punish them,
but the virtuous noble elephant
was the Tathagata himself in a former incarnation." [12]

After this discourse one of the brethren rose
and asked leave to propose a question
and when permission was granted he said:
"I have heard the doctrine that wrong should be met with wrong
and the evil doer should be checked by being made to suffer,
for if this were not done
evil would increase and good would disappear.
What shall we do?" [13]

Said the Blessed One: "Nay, I will tell you:
Ye who have left the world
and have adopted this glorious faith of putting aside selfishness,
ye shall not do evil nor return hate for hate.
Nor do ye think that ye can destroy wrong
by retaliating evil for evil and thus increasing wrong.
Leave the wicked to their fate
and their evil deeds will sooner or later
in one way or another bring on their own punishment."
And the Tathagata repeated these stanzas: [14]

"Who harmeth him that doth no harm

And stiketh him that striketh not,

Shall gravest punishment incur

The which his wickedness begot, - [15]

"Some of the greatest ills in life

Either a loathsome dread disease,

Or dread old age, or loss of mind,

Or wretched pain without surcease, [16]

"Or conflagration, loss of wealth;

Or his nearest kin he shall

See some one die that's dear to him,

And then he'll be reborn in hell." [17]

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Source

mountainman.com.au

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{DisplayImages|102|1146|1524|17|984|723|350|650|546|293|584|1631|1385|692|1281|403|1435|1475}}
+{{DisplayImages|102|1146|1524|17|984|723|350|650|546|293|584|1631|1385|692|1281|403}}
-While the Blessed One was residing in the Jetavana,<br/>
+While the [[Blessed One]] was residing in the [[Jetavana]],<br/>
-there was a householder living in Savatthi<br/>
+there was a [[householder]] living in [[Savatthi]]<br/>
 known to all his neighbours as patient and kind,<br/>
 but his relatives were wicked and contrived a plot to rob him.<br/>
-One day they came to the householder<br/>
+One day they came to the [[householder]]<br/>
 and often worrying him with all kinds of threats<br/>
 took away a goodly portion of his property.<br/>
 He did not go to court, nor did he complain,<br/>
-but tolerated with great forbearance the wrongs he suffered. [1]<br/>
+but tolerated with great [[forbearance]] the wrongs he [[suffered]]. [1]<br/>
 <br/>
 The neighbours wondered and began to talk about it,<br/>
-and rumours of the affair reached the ears of the brethren in Jetavana.<br/>
+and rumours of the affair reached the {{Wiki|ears}} of the brethren in [[Jetavana]].<br/>
 While the brethren discussed the occurence in the assembly hall,<br/>
-the Blessed One entered and asked<br/>
+the [[Blessed One]] entered and asked<br/>
-"What was the topic of your conversation?"<br/>
+"What was the topic of your [[conversation]]?"<br/>
 And they told him. [2]<br/>
 <br/>
-Said the Blessed One:<br/>
+Said the [[Blessed One]]:<br/>
-"The time will come when the wicked relatives will find their punishment.<br/>
+"The [[time]] will come when the wicked relatives will find their {{Wiki|punishment}}.<br/>
-O brethren, this is not the first time that this occurrence took place;<br/>
+O brethren, this is not the first [[time]] that this occurrence took place;<br/>
 it has happened before,"<br/>
 and he told them a world-old tale. [3]<br/>
 <br/>
-Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares,<br/>
+Once upon a [[time]], when [[Brahmadatta]] was [[king]] of [[Benares]],<br/>
-the Bodhisatta was born in the Himalaya region as an elephant.<br/>
+the [[Bodhisatta]] was born in the [[Himalaya]] region as an [[elephant]].<br/>
 He grew up strong and big, and ranged the hills and mountains,<br/>
-the peaks and caves of the tortuous woods in the valleys.<br/>
+the peaks and [[caves]] of the tortuous woods in the valleys.<br/>
-Once as he went he saw a pleasant tree, and took his food, standing under it. [4]<br/>
+Once as he went he saw a [[pleasant]] [[tree]], and took his [[food]], [[standing]] under it. [4]<br/>
 <br/>
-Then some impertinent monkeys came down out of the tree,<br/>
+Then some impertinent monkeys came down out of the [[tree]],<br/>
 and jumping on the elephant's back, insulted and tormented him greatly;<br/>
 they took hold of his tusks, pulled his tail and disported themselves,<br/>
-thereby causing him much annoyance.<br/>
+thereby causing him much [[annoyance]].<br/>
-The Bodhisatta, being full of patience, kindliness and mercy,<br/>
+The [[Bodhisatta]], being full of [[patience]], kindliness and [[mercy]],<br/>
 took no notice at all of their misconduct<br/>
 which the monkeys repeated again and again. [5]<br/>
 <br/>
-One day the spirit that lived in the tree,<br/>
+One day the [[spirit]] that lived in the [[tree]],<br/>
-standing upon the tree-trunk, addressed the elephant saying,<br/>
+[[standing]] upon the tree-trunk, addressed the [[elephant]] saying,<br/>
-"My lord elephant, why dost thou put up with the impudence of these bad monkeys?"<br/>
+"My [[lord]] [[elephant]], why dost thou put up with the impudence of these bad monkeys?"<br/>
 And he asked the question in a couplet as follows: [6]<br/>
 <br/>
 :"Why dost thou patiently endure each freak<br/>
-:These mischievous and selfish monkeys wreak?" [7]<br/>
+:These mischievous and [[selfish]] monkeys wreak?" [7]<br/>
 <br/>
-The Bodhisatta, on hearing this, replied,<br/>
+The [[Bodhisatta]], on hearing this, replied,<br/>
 "If, Tree-sprite, I cannot endure these monkeys' ill treatment<br/>
-without abusing their birth, lineage, and persons,<br/>
+without abusing their [[birth]], [[lineage]], and persons,<br/>
-how can I walk in the eightfold noble path?<br/>
+how can I walk in the [[eightfold noble path]]?<br/>
-But these monkeys will do the same to others thinking them to be like me.<br/>
+But these monkeys will do the same to others [[thinking]] them to be like me.<br/>
-If they do it to any rogue elephant, he will punish them indeed,<br/>
+If they do it to any rogue [[elephant]], he will punish them indeed,<br/>
-and I shall be delivered both from their annoyance<br/>
+and I shall be delivered both from their [[annoyance]]<br/>
-and the guilt of having done harm to others." [8]<br/>
+and the [[guilt]] of having done harm to others." [8]<br/>
 <br/>
-Saying this he repeated another stanza: [9]<br/>
+Saying this he repeated another [[stanza]]: [9]<br/>
 <br/>
 :"If they will treat another one like me,<br/>
 :He will destroy them; and I shall be free." [10]<br/>
 <br/>
-A few days later, the Bodhisatta went elsewhither,<br/>
+A few days later, the [[Bodhisatta]] went elsewhither,<br/>
-and another elephant, a savage beast, came and stood in his place.<br/>
+and another [[elephant]], a savage beast, came and stood in his place.<br/>
-The wicked monkeys thinking him to be like the old one,<br/>
+The wicked monkeys [[thinking]] him to be like the old one,<br/>
 climbed upon his back and did as before.<br/>
-The rogue elephant siezed the monkeys with his trunk,<br/>
+The rogue [[elephant]] siezed the monkeys with his trunk,<br/>
 threw them upon the ground, gored them with his trunk<br/>
 and trampled them to mincemeat under his feet. [11]<br/>
 <br/>
-When the Master had ended his teaching,<br/>
+When the [[Master]] had ended his [[teaching]],<br/>
-he declared the truths, and identified the births, saying:<br/>
+he declared the [[truths]], and identified the [[births]], saying:<br/>
-"At that time the mischievous monkeys<br/>
+"At that [[time]] the mischievous monkeys<br/>
 were the wicked relatives of the good man,<br/>
-the rogue elephant was the one who will punish them,<br/>
+the rogue [[elephant]] was the one who will punish them,<br/>
-but the virtuous noble elephant<br/>
+but the [[virtuous]] [[noble]] [[elephant]]<br/>
-was the Tathagata himself in a former incarnation." [12]<br/>
+was the [[Tathagata]] himself in a former [[incarnation]]." [12]<br/>
 <br/>
-After this discourse one of the brethren rose<br/>
+After this {{Wiki|discourse}} one of the brethren rose<br/>
 and asked leave to propose a question<br/>
 and when permission was granted he said:<br/>
-"I have heard the doctrine that wrong should be met with wrong<br/>
+"I have heard the [[doctrine]] that wrong should be met with wrong<br/>
-and the evil doer should be checked by being made to suffer,<br/>
+and the [[evil]] doer should be checked by being made to [[suffer]],<br/>
 for if this were not done<br/>
-evil would increase and good would disappear.<br/>
+[[evil]] would increase and good would disappear.<br/>
 What shall we do?" [13]<br/>
 <br/>
-Said the Blessed One: "Nay, I will tell you:<br/>
+Said the [[Blessed One]]: "Nay, I will tell you:<br/>
-Ye who have left the world<br/>
+Ye who have left the [[world]]<br/>
-and have adopted this glorious faith of putting aside selfishness,<br/>
+and have adopted this glorious [[faith]] of putting aside [[selfishness]],<br/>
-ye shall not do evil nor return hate for hate.<br/>
+ye shall not do [[evil]] nor return [[hate]] for [[hate]].<br/>
 Nor do ye think that ye can destroy wrong<br/>
-by retaliating evil for evil and thus increasing wrong.<br/>
+by retaliating [[evil]] for [[evil]] and thus increasing wrong.<br/>
-Leave the wicked to their fate<br/>
+Leave the wicked to their [[fate]]<br/>
-and their evil deeds will sooner or later<br/>
+and their [[evil]] [[deeds]] will sooner or later<br/>
-in one way or another bring on their own punishment."<br/>
+in one way or another bring on their own {{Wiki|punishment}}."<br/>
-And the Tathagata repeated these stanzas: [14]<br/>
+And the [[Tathagata]] repeated these [[stanzas]]: [14]<br/>
 <br/>
 :"Who harmeth him that doth no harm<br/>
 :And stiketh him that striketh not,<br/>
-:Shall gravest punishment incur<br/>
+:Shall gravest {{Wiki|punishment}} incur<br/>
 :The which his wickedness begot, - [15]<br/>
 <br/>
-:"Some of the greatest ills in life<br/>
+:"Some of the greatest ills in [[life]]<br/>
-:Either a loathsome dread disease,<br/>
+:Either a loathsome dread {{Wiki|disease}},<br/>
-:Or dread old age, or loss of mind,<br/>
+:Or dread [[old age]], or loss of [[mind]],<br/>
-:Or wretched pain without surcease, [16]<br/>
+:Or wretched [[pain]] without surcease, [16]<br/>
 <br/>
-:"Or conflagration, loss of wealth;<br/>
+:"Or conflagration, loss of [[wealth]];<br/>
 :Or his nearest kin he shall<br/>
-:See some one die that's dear to him,<br/>
+:See some one [[die]] that's dear to him,<br/>
-:And then he'll be reborn in hell." [17]<br/>
+:And then he'll be [[reborn]] in [[hell]]." [17]<br/>
 {{The Gospel of Buddha}}

Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 87: The Patient Elephant"

Latest revision as of 20:10, 31 December 2013

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