________________
216
FO-SHO-HING-TSAN-KING.
IV, 18.
reap the perfect fruit of the best charity. There is a way of giving, seeking pleasure by it; there is a way of giving, coveting to get more; 1517
'Some also give away to get a name for charity, others to get the happiness of heaven, others to avoid the pain of being poor (hereafter), but yours, O friend! is a charity without such thoughts, 1518
The highest and the best degree of charity without self-interest or thought of getting more. What your heart inclines you now to do, let it be quickly done and well completed! 1519
The uncertain and the lustful heart goes wandering here and there, but the pure eyes (of virtue) opening, the heart comes back and rests ?!' The nobleman accepting Buddha's teaching, his kindly heart receiving yet more light, 1520
He invited Upatishya?, his excellent friend, to accompany him on his return to Kosala; and then going round to select a pleasant site, 1521
He saw the garden of the heir-apparent, Geta, the groves and limpid streams most pure. Proceeding where the prince was dwelling, he asked for leave to buy the ground; 1522
The prince, because he valued it so much, at first was not inclined to sell, but said at last : 'If you can cover it with gold then, but not else, you may possess it.' 1523
1 These two lines are probably proverbial, something of this kind, 'the uncertain, amorous mind is profligate (wandering), the enlightened man comes to himself.'
• Upatissa is the same as Sâriputra. Hiouen Thsang (Jul. II, 296) says that Buddha sent Sâriputra with Sudatta, to advise and counsel bim.
The famous contract between Sudatta and Geta, the heir-apparent, is well known, and may be read in all the translations of the
Digitized by Google