Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 08: King Bimbisara"

Latest revision as of 18:25, 31 December 2013

Siddhattha had cut his waving hair
and had exchanged his royal robe for a mean dress of the colour of the ground.
Having sent home Channa, the charioteer,
together with the noble steed Kanthaka,
to king Suddhodana to bear him the message that the prince had left the world,
the Bodhisatta walked along on the highroad with a begger's bowl in his hand. [1]

Yet the majesty of his mind was ill-concealed under the poverty of his appearance.
His erect gait betrayed his royal birth and his eyes beamed with a fervid zeal for truth.
The beauty of his youth was transfigured by holiness and surrounded his head like a halo. [2]

All the people who saw this unusual sight gazed at him in wonder.
Those who were in haste arrested their steps and looked back;
and there was no one who did not pay him homage. [3]

Having entered the city of Rajagaha,
the prince went from house to house silently waiting till the people offered him food.
Wherever the Blessed One came, the people gave him what they had;
they bowed before him in humility and were filled with gratitude
because he condescended to approach their homes. [4]

Old and young people were moved and said:
"This is a noble muni!
His approach is bliss.
What a great joy for us!" [5]

And king Bimbisara, noticing the commotion in the city,
inquired the cause of it,
and when he learned the news sent one of his attendants to observe the stranger. [6]

Having heard that the muni must be a Sakya and of noble family,
and that he had retired to the bank of a flowing river
in the woods to eat the food in his bowl,
the king was moved in his heart;
he donned his royal robe,
placed his golden crown upon his head
and went out in the company of aged and wise counsellors
to meet his mysterious guest. [7]

The king found the muni of the Sakya race seated under a tree.
Contemplating the composure of his face
and the gentleness of his deportment,
Bimbisara greeted him reverently and said: [8]

"O samana, thy hands are fit to grasp the reins of an empire
and should not hold a beggar's bowl.
I am sorry to see thee wasting thy youth.
Believing that thou art of royal descent,
I invite thee to join me in the government of my country
and share my royal power.
Desire for power is becoming to the noble-minded,
and wealth should not be despised.
To grow rich and lose religion is not true gain.
But he who possesses all three,
power, wealth and religion,
enjoying them in discretion and with wisdom,
him I call a great master." [9]

The great Sakyamuni lifted his eyes and replied: [10]

"Thou art known, O king, to be liberal and religious,
and thy words are prudent.
A kind man who makes good use of wealth
is rightly said to possess a great treasure,
but the miser who hoards up his riches will have no profit. [11]

"Charity is rich in returns;
charity is the greatest wealth,
for though it scatters,
it brings no repentance. [12]

"I have severed all ties because I seek deliverance.
How is it possible for me to return to the world?
He who seeks religious truth, which is the highest treasure of all,
must leave behind all that can concern him or draw away his attention,
and must be bent upon that one goal alone.
He must free his soul from covetousness and lust,
and also from the desire for power. [13]

"Indulge in lust but a little,
and lust like a child will grow.
Wield worldly power
and you will be burdened with cares. [14]

"Better than sovereignty over the earth,
better than living in heaven,
better than lordship over all the worlds,
is the fruit of holiness. [15]

"The Bodhisatta has recognized the illusory nature of wealth
and will not take poison as food. [16]

"Will a fish that has been baited still covet the hook,
or an escaped bird love the net? [17]

"Would a rabbit rescued from the serpent's mouth go back to be devoured?
Would a man who has burnt his hand with a torch take up the torch
after he had dropped it to the earth?
Would a blind man who has recovered his sight desire to spoil his eyes again? [18]

"The sick man suffering from fever seeks for a cooling medicine.
Shall we advise him to drink that which will increase the fever?
Shall we quench a fire by heaping fuel upon it? [19]

"I pray thee, pity me not.
Rather pity those who are burdened with the cares of royalty
and the worry of great riches.
They enjoy them in fear and trembling,
for they are constantly threatened with a loss of those boons
on whose possession their hearts are set,
and when they die they cannot take along
either their gold or the kingly diadem. [20]

"My heart hankers no vulgar profit,
so I have put away my royal inheritance
and prefer to be free from the burdens of life. [21]

"Therefore, try not to entangle me in new relationships and duties,
nor hinder me from completing the work I have begun. [22]

"I regret to leave thee.
But I will go to the sages who can teach me religion
and so find the path on which we can escape evil. [23]

"May thy country enjoy peace and prosperity,
and may wisdom be shed upon thy rule
like the brightness of the noon day sun.
May thy royal power be strong
and may righteousness be the sceptre in thine hand." [24]

The king, clasping his hands with reverence,
bowed down before Sakyamuni and said:
"Mayest thou obtain that which thou seekest,
and when thou hast obtained it, come back, I pray thee,
and receive me as thy disciple." [25]

The Bodhisatta parted from the king in friendship and goodwill,
and purposed in his heart to grant his request. [26]

Continue Reading

Source

mountainman.com.au

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{DisplayImages|1347|1190|683|1875|1896|1636|605|676|1271|622|1678|739|675|1764|1561|260|464|1337|336}}
+{{DisplayImages|1347|1190|683|1875|1896|1636|605|676|1271|622|1678|739|675|1764|1561|260}}
-Siddhattha had cut his waving hair<br/>
+[[Siddhattha]] had cut his waving [[hair]]<br/>
-and had exchanged his royal robe for a mean dress of the colour of the ground.<br/>
+and had exchanged his {{Wiki|royal}} robe for a mean dress of the {{Wiki|colour}} of the ground.<br/>
-Having sent home Channa, the charioteer,<br/>
+Having sent home [[Channa]], the charioteer,<br/>
-together with the noble steed Kanthaka,<br/>
+together with the [[noble]] steed [[Kanthaka]],<br/>
-to king Suddhodana to bear him the message that the prince had left the world,<br/>
+to [[king]] [[Suddhodana]] to bear him the message that the {{Wiki|prince}} had left the [[world]],<br/>
-the Bodhisatta walked along on the highroad with a begger's bowl in his hand. [1]<br/>
+the [[Bodhisatta]] walked along on the highroad with a begger's [[bowl]] in his hand. [1]<br/>
 <br/>
-Yet the majesty of his mind was ill-concealed under the poverty of his appearance.<br/>
+Yet the majesty of his [[mind]] was ill-concealed under the {{Wiki|poverty}} of his [[appearance]].<br/>
-His erect gait betrayed his royal birth and his eyes beamed with a fervid zeal for truth.<br/>
+His erect gait betrayed his {{Wiki|royal}} [[birth]] and his [[eyes]] beamed with a fervid [[zeal]] for [[truth]].<br/>
-The beauty of his youth was transfigured by holiness and surrounded his head like a halo. [2]<br/>
+The [[beauty]] of his youth was transfigured by holiness and surrounded his head like a [[halo]]. [2]<br/>
 <br/>
-All the people who saw this unusual sight gazed at him in wonder.<br/>
+All the [[people]] who saw this unusual [[sight]] gazed at him in wonder.<br/>
 Those who were in haste arrested their steps and looked back;<br/>
 and there was no one who did not pay him homage. [3]<br/>
 <br/>
-Having entered the city of Rajagaha,<br/>
+Having entered the city of [[Rajagaha]],<br/>
-the prince went from house to house silently waiting till the people offered him food.<br/>
+the {{Wiki|prince}} went from house to house silently waiting till the [[people]] [[offered]] him [[food]].<br/>
-Wherever the Blessed One came, the people gave him what they had;<br/>
+Wherever the [[Blessed One]] came, the [[people]] gave him what they had;<br/>
-they bowed before him in humility and were filled with gratitude<br/>
+they [[bowed]] before him in humility and were filled with [[gratitude]]<br/>
 because he condescended to approach their homes. [4]<br/>
 <br/>
-Old and young people were moved and said:<br/>
+Old and young [[people]] were moved and said:<br/>
-"This is a noble muni!<br/>
+"This is a [[noble]] muni!<br/>
-His approach is bliss.<br/>
+His approach is [[bliss]].<br/>
-What a great joy for us!" [5]<br/>
+What a great [[joy]] for us!" [5]<br/>
 <br/>
-And king Bimbisara, noticing the commotion in the city,<br/>
+And [[king]] [[Bimbisara]], noticing the commotion in the city,<br/>
-inquired the cause of it,<br/>
+inquired the [[cause]] of it,<br/>
 and when he learned the news sent one of his attendants to observe the stranger. [6]<br/>
 <br/>
-Having heard that the muni must be a Sakya and of noble family,<br/>
+Having heard that the muni must be a [[Sakya]] and of [[noble]] family,<br/>
-and that he had retired to the bank of a flowing river<br/>
+and that he had retired to the bank of a flowing [[river]]<br/>
-in the woods to eat the food in his bowl,<br/>
+in the woods to eat the [[food]] in his [[bowl]],<br/>
-the king was moved in his heart;<br/>
+the [[king]] was moved in his [[heart]];<br/>
-he donned his royal robe,<br/>
+he donned his {{Wiki|royal}} robe,<br/>
-placed his golden crown upon his head<br/>
+placed his golden {{Wiki|crown}} upon his head<br/>
-and went out in the company of aged and wise counsellors<br/>
+and went out in the company of aged and [[wise]] counsellors<br/>
 to meet his mysterious guest. [7]<br/>
 <br/>
-The king found the muni of the Sakya race seated under a tree.<br/>
+The [[king]] found the muni of the [[Sakya]] race seated under a [[tree]].<br/>
 Contemplating the composure of his face<br/>
-and the gentleness of his deportment,<br/>
+and the [[gentleness]] of his deportment,<br/>
-Bimbisara greeted him reverently and said: [8]<br/>
+[[Bimbisara]] greeted him reverently and said: [8]<br/>
 <br/>
-"O samana, thy hands are fit to grasp the reins of an empire<br/>
+"O [[samana]], thy hands are fit to [[grasp]] the reins of an [[empire]]<br/>
-and should not hold a beggar's bowl.<br/>
+and should not hold a beggar's [[bowl]].<br/>
 I am sorry to see thee wasting thy youth.<br/>
-Believing that thou art of royal descent,<br/>
+Believing that thou [[art]] of {{Wiki|royal}} descent,<br/>
 I invite thee to join me in the government of my country<br/>
-and share my royal power.<br/>
+and share my {{Wiki|royal}} power.<br/>
-Desire for power is becoming to the noble-minded,<br/>
+[[Desire]] for power is becoming to the noble-minded,<br/>
-and wealth should not be despised.<br/>
+and [[wealth]] should not be despised.<br/>
-To grow rich and lose religion is not true gain.<br/>
+To grow rich and lose [[religion]] is not true gain.<br/>
 But he who possesses all three,<br/>
-power, wealth and religion,<br/>
+power, [[wealth]] and [[religion]],<br/>
-enjoying them in discretion and with wisdom,<br/>
+enjoying them in discretion and with [[wisdom]],<br/>
-him I call a great master." [9]<br/>
+him I call a [[great master]]." [9]<br/>
 <br/>
-The great Sakyamuni lifted his eyes and replied: [10]<br/>
+The great [[Sakyamuni]] lifted his [[eyes]] and replied: [10]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Thou art known, O king, to be liberal and religious,<br/>
+"Thou [[art]] known, O [[king]], to be liberal and [[religious]],<br/>
 and thy words are prudent.<br/>
-A kind man who makes good use of wealth<br/>
+A kind man who makes good use of [[wealth]]<br/>
-is rightly said to possess a great treasure,<br/>
+is rightly said to possess a great [[treasure]],<br/>
 but the miser who hoards up his riches will have no profit. [11]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Charity is rich in returns;<br/>
+"[[Charity]] is rich in returns;<br/>
-charity is the greatest wealth,<br/>
+[[charity]] is the greatest [[wealth]],<br/>
 for though it scatters,<br/>
 it brings no repentance. [12]<br/>
 <br/>
-"I have severed all ties because I seek deliverance.<br/>
+"I have severed all ties because I seek [[deliverance]].<br/>
-How is it possible for me to return to the world?<br/>
+How is it possible for me to return to the [[world]]?<br/>
-He who seeks religious truth, which is the highest treasure of all,<br/>
+He who seeks [[religious]] [[truth]], which is the [[highest]] [[treasure]] of all,<br/>
-must leave behind all that can concern him or draw away his attention,<br/>
+must leave behind all that can [[concern]] him or draw away his [[attention]],<br/>
 and must be bent upon that one goal alone.<br/>
-He must free his soul from covetousness and lust,<br/>
+He must free his [[soul]] from covetousness and [[lust]],<br/>
-and also from the desire for power. [13]<br/>
+and also from the [[desire]] for power. [13]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Indulge in lust but a little,<br/>
+"Indulge in [[lust]] but a little,<br/>
-and lust like a child will grow.<br/>
+and [[lust]] like a child will grow.<br/>
-Wield worldly power<br/>
+Wield [[worldly]] power<br/>
 and you will be burdened with cares. [14]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Better than sovereignty over the earth,<br/>
+"Better than {{Wiki|sovereignty}} over the [[earth]],<br/>
-better than living in heaven,<br/>
+better than living in [[heaven]],<br/>
-better than lordship over all the worlds,<br/>
+better than lordship over all the [[worlds]],<br/>
 is the fruit of holiness. [15]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The Bodhisatta has recognized the illusory nature of wealth<br/>
+"The [[Bodhisatta]] has [[recognized]] the [[illusory]] [[nature]] of [[wealth]]<br/>
-and will not take poison as food. [16]<br/>
+and will not take [[poison]] as [[food]]. [16]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Will a fish that has been baited still covet the hook,<br/>
+"Will a {{Wiki|fish}} that has been baited still covet the hook,<br/>
-or an escaped bird love the net? [17]<br/>
+or an escaped {{Wiki|bird}} [[love]] the net? [17]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Would a rabbit rescued from the serpent's mouth go back to be devoured?<br/>
+"Would a {{Wiki|rabbit}} rescued from the serpent's {{Wiki|mouth}} go back to be devoured?<br/>
 Would a man who has burnt his hand with a torch take up the torch<br/>
-after he had dropped it to the earth?<br/>
+after he had dropped it to the [[earth]]?<br/>
-Would a blind man who has recovered his sight desire to spoil his eyes again? [18]<br/>
+Would a blind man who has recovered his [[sight]] [[desire]] to spoil his [[eyes]] again? [18]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The sick man suffering from fever seeks for a cooling medicine.<br/>
+"The sick man [[suffering]] from {{Wiki|fever}} seeks for a cooling [[medicine]].<br/>
-Shall we advise him to drink that which will increase the fever?<br/>
+Shall we advise him to drink that which will increase the {{Wiki|fever}}?<br/>
-Shall we quench a fire by heaping fuel upon it? [19]<br/>
+Shall we quench a [[fire]] by heaping fuel upon it? [19]<br/>
 <br/>
 "I pray thee, pity me not.<br/>
 Rather pity those who are burdened with the cares of royalty<br/>
-and the worry of great riches.<br/>
+and the {{Wiki|worry}} of great riches.<br/>
-They enjoy them in fear and trembling,<br/>
+They enjoy them in {{Wiki|fear}} and trembling,<br/>
 for they are constantly threatened with a loss of those boons<br/>
 on whose possession their hearts are set,<br/>
-and when they die they cannot take along<br/>
+and when they [[die]] they cannot take along<br/>
-either their gold or the kingly diadem. [20]<br/>
+either their {{Wiki|gold}} or the kingly diadem. [20]<br/>
 <br/>
-"My heart hankers no vulgar profit,<br/>
+"My [[heart]] hankers no vulgar profit,<br/>
-so I have put away my royal inheritance<br/>
+so I have put away my {{Wiki|royal}} inheritance<br/>
-and prefer to be free from the burdens of life. [21]<br/>
+and prefer to be free from the burdens of [[life]]. [21]<br/>
 <br/>
 "Therefore, try not to entangle me in new relationships and duties,<br/>
 nor hinder me from completing the work I have begun. [22]<br/>
 <br/>
-"I regret to leave thee.<br/>
+"I [[regret]] to leave thee.<br/>
-But I will go to the sages who can teach me religion<br/>
+But I will go to the [[sages]] who can teach me [[religion]]<br/>
-and so find the path on which we can escape evil. [23]<br/>
+and so find the [[path]] on which we can escape [[evil]]. [23]<br/>
 <br/>
-"May thy country enjoy peace and prosperity,<br/>
+"May thy country enjoy [[peace]] and {{Wiki|prosperity}},<br/>
-and may wisdom be shed upon thy rule<br/>
+and may [[wisdom]] be shed upon thy rule<br/>
-like the brightness of the noon day sun.<br/>
+like the [[brightness]] of the noon day {{Wiki|sun}}.<br/>
-May thy royal power be strong<br/>
+May thy {{Wiki|royal}} power be strong<br/>
-and may righteousness be the sceptre in thine hand." [24]<br/>
+and may [[righteousness]] be the {{Wiki|sceptre}} in thine hand." [24]<br/>
 <br/>
-The king, clasping his hands with reverence,<br/>
+The [[king]], clasping his hands with reverence,<br/>
-bowed down before Sakyamuni and said:<br/>
+[[bowed]] down before [[Sakyamuni]] and said:<br/>
 "Mayest thou obtain that which thou seekest,<br/>
 and when thou hast obtained it, come back, I pray thee,<br/>
-and receive me as thy disciple." [25]<br/>
+and receive me as thy [[disciple]]." [25]<br/>
 <br/>
-The Bodhisatta parted from the king in friendship and goodwill,<br/>
+The [[Bodhisatta]] parted from the [[king]] in [[friendship]] and goodwill,<br/>
-and purposed in his heart to grant his request. [26]<br/>
+and purposed in his [[heart]] to grant his request. [26]<br/>
 {{The Gospel of Buddha}}

Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 08: King Bimbisara"

Latest revision as of 18:25, 31 December 2013

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