The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 92: Ambapali
Then the Blessed One proceeded with a great number of brethren to Vesali,
and he stayed at the grove of the courtesan Ambapali.
And he said to the brethren:
"Let a brother, O bhikkhus, be mindful and thoughtful.
Let a brother, whilst in the world,
overcome the grief which arises from bodily craving,
from the lust of sensations,
and from the errors of wrong reasoning.
Whatever you do, act always in full presence of mind.
Be thoughtful in eating and drinking, in walking or standing,
in sleeping or walking, while talking or being silent." [1]
When the courtesan Ambapali,
heard that the Blessed One was staying in her mango grove,
she was exceedingly glad and went in a carriage
as far as the ground was passible for carriages.
There she alighted and thence proceeding
to the place where the Blessed One was,
she took her seat respectfully at his feet on one side.
As a prudent woman goes forth to perform her religious duties,
so she appeared in a simple dress without any ornaments,
yet beautiful to look upon. [2]
And the Blessed One thought to himself:
"This woman moves in worldly circles
and is a favourite of kings and princes;
yet is her heart calm and composed.
Young in years, rich, surrounded by pleasures,
she is thoughtful and steadfast.
This, indeed, is rare in the world.
Women, as a rule, are scant in wisdom
and deeply immersed in vanity;
but she, although living in luxury,
has acquired the wisdom of a master,
taking delight in piety,
and able to receive the truth in its completeness." [3]
When she was seated, the Blessed One instructed,
aroused, and gladdened her with religious discourse. [4]
As she listened to the law, her face brightened with delight.
Then she rose and said to the Blessed One:
"Will the Blessed One do me the honour of taking his meal,
together with the brethren, at my house to-morrow?"
And the Blessed One gave, by silence, his consent. [5]
Now, the Licchavi, a wealthy family of princely rank,
hearing that the Blessed One had arrived at Vesali
and was staying at Ambapali's grove,
mounted their magnificent carriages, and proceeded with their retinue
to the place where the Blessed One was.
And the Licchavi were gorgeously dressed in bright colours
and decorated with costly jewels. [6]
And Ambapali drove up against the young Licchavi,
axle to axle, wheel to whell, and yoke to yoke,
and the Licchavi said to Ambapali, the courtesan:
"How is it, Ambapali, that you drive up against us thus?" [7]
"My lords," said she,
"I have just invited the Blessed One
and his brethren for their to-morrow's meal." [8]
And the princes replied: "Ambapali!
give up this meal to us for a hundred thousand." [9]
"My lords, were you to offer all Vesali with its subject territory,
I would not give up so great an honour!" [10]
Then the Licchavi went on to Ambapali's grove. [11]
When the Blessed One saw the Licchavi approaching in the distance, he addressed the brethren, and said:
"O brethren, let those of the brethren
who have never seen the gods gaze upon this company of the Licchavi,
for they are dressed gorgeously, like immortals." [12]
And when they had driven as far as the ground was passable for carriages,
the Licchavi alighted and went on foot to the place where the Blesse One was,
taking their seats respectfully by his side.
And when they were thus seated, the Blessed One instructed,
aroused, and gladdened, them with religious discourse. [13]
Then they addressed the Blessed One and said:
"Will the Blessed One do us the honour of taking his meal,
together with the brethren, at our place to-morrow?" [14]
"O Licchavi," said the Blessed One,
"I have promised to dine tomorrow with Ambapali, the courtesan." [15]
Then the Licchavi, expressing their approval of the words of the Blessed One,
arose from their seats and bowed down before the Blessed One,
and, keeping him on their right hand as they passed him, they departed thence;
but when they came home, they cast up their hands, saying:
"A worldly woman has outdone us;
we have been left behind by a frivolous girl!" [16]
And at the end of the night Ambapali, the courtesan,
made ready in her mansion sweet rice and cakes,
and on the next day announced through a messenger
the time to the Blessed One, saying,
"The hour, Lord, has come, and the meal is ready!" [17]
And the Blessed One robed himself early in the morning,
took his bowl, and went with the brethren
to the place where Ambapali's dwelling-house was;
and when they had come there they seated themselves
on the seats prepared for them.
And Ambapali, the courtesan, set the sweet rice and cakes
before the order, with the Buddha at their head,
and waited upon them till they refused to take more. [18]
And the Blessed One had finished his meal,
the courtesan had a low stool brought, and sat down at his side,
and addressed the Blessed One, and said:
"Lord, I present this mansion
to the order of bhikkhus,
of which the Buddha is the chief." [19]
And the Blessed One accepted the gift;
and after instructing, arousing, and gladdening her with religious edification,
he rose from his seat and departed thence. [20]
Continue Reading
- The Gospel of Buddha: Preface
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 01: Rejoice
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 02: Samsara and Nirvana
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 03: Truth the Saviour
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 04: The Bodhisatta's Birth
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 05: The Ties of Life
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 06: The Three Woes
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 07: The Bodhisatta's Renunciation
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 08: King Bimbisara
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 09: The Bodhisatta's Search
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 10: Uruvela, the Place of Mortification
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 11: Mara, the Evil One
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 12: Enlightenment
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 13: The First Converts
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 14: Brahma's Request
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 15: Upaka
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 16: The Sermon at Benares
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 17: The Sangha
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 18: Yasa, the Youth of Benares
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 19: Kassapa
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 20: The Sermon at Rajagaha
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 21: The King's Gift
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 22: Sariputta and Moggallana
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 23: Anathapindika
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 24: The Sermon on Charity
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 25: Jetavana
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 26: The Three Characteristics and the Uncreate
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 27: The Buddha's Father
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 28: Yasodhara
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 29: Rahula
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 30: Jivaka, the Physician
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 31: The Buddha's Parents Attain Nirvana
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 32: Women Admitted to the Sangha
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 33: The Bhikkhus' Conduct Toward Women
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 34: Visakha
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 35: The Uposatha and Patimokkha
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 36: The Schism
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 37: The Re-establishment of Concord
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 38: The Bhikkhus Rebuked
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 39: Devadatta
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 40: Name and Form
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 41: The Goal
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 42: Miracles Forbidden
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 43: The Vanity of Worldliness
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 44: Secrecy and Publicity
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 45: The Annihilation of Suffering
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 46: Avoiding the Ten Evils
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 47: The Preacher's Mission
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 48: The Dhammapada
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 49: The Two Brahmans
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 50: Guard the Six Quarters
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 51: Simha's Question Concerning Annihilation
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 52: All Existence is Spiritual
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 53: Identity and Non-Identity
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 54: The Buddha Omnipresent
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 55: One Essence, One Law, One Aim
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 56: The Lesson Given to Rahula
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 57: The Sermon on Abuse
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 58: The Buddha Replies to the Deva
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 59: Words of Instruction
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 60: Amitabha
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 61: The Teacher Unknown
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 62: Parables
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 63: The Widow's Two Mites and the Parable of the Three Merchants
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 64: The Man Born Blind
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 65: The Lost Son
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 66: The Giddy Fish
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 67: The Cruel Crane Outwitted
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 68: Four Kinds of Merit
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 69: The Light of the World
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 70: Luxurious Living
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 71: The Communication of Bliss
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 72: The Listless Fool
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 73: Rescue in the Desert
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 74: The Sower
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 75: The Outcast
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 76: The Woman at the Well
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 77: The Peacemaker
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 78: The Hungry Dog
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 79: The Despot
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 80: Vasavadatta
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 81: The Marriage-Feast in Jambunada
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 82: A Party in Search of a Thief
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 83: In the Realm of Yamaraja
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 84: The Mustard Seed
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 85: Following the Master Over the Stream
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 86: The Sick Bhikkhu
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 87: The Patient Elephant
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 88: The Conditions of Welfare
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 89: Sariputta's Faith
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 90: Pataliputta
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 91: The Mirror of Truth
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 92: Ambapali
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 93: The Buddha's Farewell Address
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 94: The Buddha Announces His Death
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 95: Chunda, the Smith
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 96: Metteyya
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 97: The Buddha's Final Entering into Nirvana
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 98: The Three Personalities of the Buddha
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 99: The Purpose of Being
- The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 100: The Praise of All the Buddhas