Dhammapada

SR No.: 007674
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Max Muller
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2540
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 45 MB

Page 173

xiv
SUTTA-NIPÂTA.
Bråhmanas, who slay innocent cows and have acquired wealth through the favour of the kings, w. 307, 308, 311, 3021.
All these disputants hold fast to their own prejudiced views, v. 910. They say that purity comes from philosophical views, from tradition, and from virtuous works, and in many other ways, v. 1078, and that there is no bliss excepting by following their opinions, w. 889, 891, 892.
Buddha himself has, it is true, sprung from the Samanas: he is called Samana Gotama, p. 96; he shines like a sun in the midst of the Samanas, v. 550 ; and intercourse with Samanas is said to be the highest blessing, v. 265. But Buddha has overcome all their systems, v. 538; there is nothing which has not been seen, heard, or thought by him, and nothing which has not been understood by him, v. 1121. All the disputatious Brahmanas do not overcome him in understanding, v. 380; and he asserts that no one is purified and saved by philosophy or by virtuous works, w. 1079, 839. Sanctification, in fact, does not come from another, W. 773, 790, 813; it can be attained only by going into the yoke with Buddha, v. 834; by believing in him and in the Dhamma of the Saints, w. 183, 185, 370, 1142 ; on the whole, by being what Buddha is.
What then is Buddha ?
First he is a Visionary, in the good sense of the word; his knowledge is intuitive, 'Seeing misery,' he says, 'in the philosophical views, without adopting any of them, searching for truth, I saw inward peace,' w. 837, 207. And again, He, a conqueror unconquered, saw the Dhamma visibly, without any traditional instruction,' w. 934, 1052, 1065. He teaches an instantaneous, an immediate religious life, vv. 567, 1136. He is called kakkhumat, endowed with an eye, clearly-seeing, w. 160, 405, 540, 562, 596, 956, 992, 1028, 1115, 1127 ; samantakakkhu, the all-seeing, vv. 1062, 1068; and as such he has become an eye to the world, v. 599. He sees the subtle meaning of things, vv. 376, 175; he is, in one word, Sambuddha, the perfectly-enlightened, w. 177, 555, 596, 992; and by knowledge he is delivered, v. 1106,
i Besides the religious Brâhmanas some secular Brâhmanas are mentioned, p. II.
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