Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

2 Pamuficantu saddha?«. The expression is ambiguous. Oldenberg, ' Vinaya Texts/ I, 88, renders it ' Let them send forth faith to meet it.' We think it means let them give up their faith in rites, and gods, and ceremonies, with especial references to the offerings to the dead. Comp. R. 0. Franke in Z.D.M.G., 1909, p. 7.

3 Tradition apparently identified this with Isipatana, the deer-park, in Gotama Buddha's time, at Benares, and attributed the name Khema to the park as having been given as a deer-preserve, or refuge. Cy.

III. Dp. 34 dhumati and tell Kha^a the raja's son, and Tissa the chaplain's son, that : — Vipassi, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, has arrived at Bandhumati and abides in the Khema deer-park. He wishes to see you." " Ay, my lord," replied the park-keeper, and went to Bandhumati and gave this message to Khanda. and Tissa.

10. [41] ' Then they, ordering out their state carriages, mounted, and drove out from Bandhumati to the deerpark. As far as there was a road they drove, and then alighting went on foot into the presence of Vipassi. And being come they saluted Vipassi, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, and seated themselves beside him.

11. 'To them Vipassi discoursed in due order1; that is to say, he gave them illustrative talk on generosity, on right conduct, on heaven, on the danger, the vanity and the defilement of lusts, on the advantages of renunciation. When the Exalted One saw that they had become prepared, softened, unprejudiced, upraised and believing in heart, then he proclaimed that Truth which the Buddhas alone have won ; that is to say, the doctrine of Sorrow, of its origin, of its cessation, and the Path. And just as a clean cloth, from which all stain has been washed away, will readily take the dye, just even so did Khaw^a and Tissa obtain, even while sitting there, the pure and stainless Eye for the Truth, and they knew : — " Whatsoever has a beginning, in that is also inherent the necessity of passing away."

12. 'Then they having seen the Truth, won the Truth, understood the Truth, sounded the depths of Truth, having crossed the waters of doubt and put away perplexity, having gained full confidence and become dependent on none other for the teaching of the Master, addressed Vipassi, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme, and said : —

1 " Most excellent, lord, most excellent, lord ! Just

1 Cf. 'Dialogues,' I, p. 135.

p. 35

as if a man were to set up that which has been thrown down, or were to reveal that which has been hidden away, or were to point out the right road to him who has gone astray, or were to bring a light into the darkness so that those who had eyes could see external forms, — even so has the truth been made known in many a figure by the Exalted One. We here, lord, betake ourselves to the Exalted One [42] as our guide, and to the Truth. May we be suffered to go forth from the world under the Exalted One, may we be suffered to obtain ordination."

13. 'And so, brethren, Kha/^a the raja's son and Tissa the chaplain's son obtained retreat and ordination under Vipassi, the Exalted One, Arahant, Buddha Supreme. Them did Vipassi instruct, arouse, incite and gladden with religious discourse, making clear the danger, the vanity and the corruption of component things, and the advantage in Nirvana. And they thus instructed, aroused, incited and gladdened by his discourse, their hearts ere long, being void of grasping, were set free from the Intoxicants.