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II, 9.
THE MISSION TO SEEK THE PRINCE.
99
Bodhisattva, hearing of his father the king, experienced the greatest distress of mind, and sitting still, gave himself to reflection; and then, in due course, replied respectfully: 704
'I know indeed that my royal father is possessed of a loving and deeply considerate mind, but my fear of birth, old age, disease, and death has led me to disobey, and disregard his extreme kindness. 705
Whoever neglects right consideration about his present life, and because he hopes to escape in the end, therefore disregards all precautions (in the present), on this man comes the inevitable doom of death. 706
'It is the knowledge of this, therefore, that weighs with me, and after long delay has constrained me to a hermit's life; hearing of my father, the king, and his grief, my heart is affected with increased love; 707
But yet, all is like the fancy of a dream, quickly reverting to nothingness. Know then, without fear of contradiction, that the nature of existing things is not uniform ; 708
'The cause of sorrow is not necessarily the relationship of child with parent, but that which produces the pain of separation, results from the influence of delusion 3 ; 709
As men going along a road suddenly meet midway with others, and then a moment more are separated, each one going his own way", 710
· Or, as we should say, 'of deep consideration.' ? Or, does not necessarily exist either in child or parent. * Delusion is here equivalent to 'moha.'
• This line may be more literally translated each one acting for himself according to his own purpose. The words run thus, 'opposite purpose, private, of himself.'
H 2
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| SR No. | 007676 |
| Book Title | Text of Confucianism Part 02 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | James Legge |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1882 |
| Total Pages | 2405 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 43 MB |