The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 59: Words of Instruction
The Bhikkhus came to the Blessed One,
and having saluted him with clasped hands they said: [1]
"O Master, thou all-seeing one, we all wish to learn;
our ears are ready to hear, thou art our teacher, thou art imcomparable.
Cut off our doubt, inform us of the blessed Dharma, O thou of great understanding;
speak in the midst of us, O thou who art all-seeing, as is the thousand-eyed Lord of the gods. [2]
"We will ask the muni of great understanding, who has crossed the stream,
gone to the other shore, is blessed and of a firm mind:
How does a bhikkhu wander rightly in the world,
after having gone out from his house
and driven away desire?" [3]
The Buddha said: [4]
"Let the bhikkhus subdue his passion
for human and celectial pleasures,
then, having conquered existence,
he will command the Dharma.
Such a one will wander rightly in the world. [5]
"He whose lusts have been destroyed,
who is free from pride,
who has overcome all the ways of passion,
is subdued, perfectly happy, and of a firm mind.
Such a one will wander rightly in the world. [6]
"Faithful is he who is possessed of knowledge,
seeing the way that leads to Nirvana;
he who is not partisan;
he who is pure and virtuous,
and has removed the veil from his eyes.
Such a one will wander rightly in the world." [7]
Said the Bhikkhus:
"Certainly, O Bhagavat, it is so:
whichever bhikkhu lives in this way,
subdued and having overcome all bonds,
such a one will wander rightly in the world." [8]
The Blessed One said: [9]
"Whatever is to be done by him
who aspires to attain the tranquillity of Nirvana
let him be able and upright, conscientious and gentle, and not proud. [10]
"Let a man's pleasure be the Dharma,
let him delight in the Dharma,
let him stand fast in the Dharma,
let him know how to inquire into the Dharma,
let him not raise any dispute that pollutes the Dharma,
and let him spend his time in pondering
on the well-spoken truths of the Dharma. [11]
"A treasure that is laid up in a deep pit
profits nothing and may easily be lost.
The real treasure that is laid up through charity
and piety, temperance, self-control, or deeds of merit,
is hid secure and cannot pass away.
It is never gained by despoiling or wronging others,
and no thief can steal it.
A man, when he dies,
must leave the fleeting wealth of the world,
but this treasure of virtuous acts he takes with him.
Let the wise do good deeds;
they are a treasure that can never be lost." [12]
And the bhikkhus praised the wisdom of the Tathagata: [13]
"Thou hast passed beyond pain;
thou art holy, O Enlightened One,
we consider thee one who has destroyed his passions.
Thou art glorious, thoughtful, and of great understanding.
O thou who puttest an end to pain,
thou hast carried us across our doubt. [14]
"Because thou sawst our longing
and carriedst us across our doubt, adoration be to thee, O muni,
who has attained the highest good
in the ways of wisdom. [15]
"The doubt we had before,
thou hast cleared away,
O thou clearly-seeing one;
surely thou art a great thinker,
perfectly enlightened,
there is no obstacle for thee. [16]
"And all thy troubles are scattered and cut off;
thou art calm, subdued, firm, truthful. [17]
"Adoration be to thee, O noble sage,
adoration be to thee, O thou best of beings;
there is none equal to thee. [18]
"Thou art the Buddha, thou art the Master,
thou art the muni that conquers Mara;
after having cut off desire
thou hast crossed over
and carriest this generation
to the other shore." [19]
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