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BENEVOLENCE.
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he lays aside; and full of modesty and pity, he is compassionate and kind to all creatures that have life. What he hears here, he repeats not elsewhere to raise a quarrel. ... He lives as a binder-together of those who are divided, an encourager of those who are friends, a peacemaker, a lover of peace...Whatever word is humane, pleasant to the ear, lovely, reaching to the heart, urbane, pleasing to the people, such are the words he speaks. ... Putting away foolish talk, he abstains from vain conversation. In season he speaks; he speaks that which is; he speaks fact... that which redounds to profit, is well defined, and is full of wisdom. He refrains from injuring any herb or any creature. He takes but one meal a day. He abstains from dancing, singing, music and theatrical shows” (S. E. xi.).
It cannot be said that the Christian virtue of love is taught by Buddhism. There is sometimes some approach to it, but it is not clear. The virtue enjoined by Buddhism is rather the extinction of hating benevo
ino Benevolence. than positive love. Thus, “He who holds back rising anger like a rolling chariot, him I call a real driver. ... Let a man overcome anger by not becoming angry ; let a man overcome evil by good ; let him overcome the greedy by liberality, the liar by truth.” “Enmity never comes to an end through enmity here below; it comes to an end by non-enmity; this has been the rule from all eternity. A notable story is found in the Mahavagga, which illustrates this last doctrine. But the benevolence which an early Buddhist felt was far removed from Christian benevolence. His body, which might be hurt by others, was not really himself; so he felt no bitter resentment at anything done to it. “Those who cause me pain and those who cause me joy, to all I am alike, and affection and hatred I know not. In joy or sorrow I remain unmoved; in honour and dishonour throughout I am alike.” This benevolence was not a spontaneous sympathy rising in the good man's heart, but a result of meditation and intentional mental exercise; and this benevolence, radiating from him, is said to exert à kind of magical influence, bringing about harmonious
| SR No. | 007305 |
| Book Title | Great Indian Religion |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | G T Bettany |
| Publisher | Ward Lock Bowden and Co |
| Publication Year | 1892 |
| Total Pages | 312 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 42 MB |