Text of Confucianism Part 02

SR No.: 007676
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

Page 1910

EXAMPLE OF THE STYLE OF EXPANDED SÓTRAS.
353
Just as in this lower world The lotus springs from the midst of the mire, Thus is Prabhâpåla' now born in the world, About to nourish and govern all that lives. For like as a pliant delicate robe Is redolent with heavenly perfume, So if there be a man diseased or sick He will for his sake become the chief physician. And as by his presence he has caused an absence of all lustful desire, And peace and goodwill dwell in the world of form, (And as) with hands clasped (all these) render him worship, He is surely worthy to be called the protector of all,' And as the Devas, and their followers, All with compliant hearts Mix freely with men in their common worship, He will be in truth the great master of all.' And as the pure unsullied water (rain) Is universally diffused and causes luxuriant vegetation, So by the right apprehension (samyakdrishti) of the truth of this one's
doctrine, There shall ever be both rest and quiet."
Buddha, moreover, addressed the Bhikshus and said: "Seven days after the birth of Bodhisattva his mother died.' On this the thought occurred to the Bhikshus, it must have been on account of some fault on the part of Bodhisattva that such an event occurred; on which Buddha resumed : Let not such a thought present itself; and why? Because her destiny was even so, that the birth of Bodhisattva should be the term of her life; and hence at her birth, when she came down for the purpose of bearing Bodhisattva in her womb, all the Devas attended her and provided her with heavenly clothing and food. And it has ever been thus.
The mothers of all the Buddhas have always died seven days after their birth: and so because at the time of Bodhisattva's birth the bodily functions of his mother were all in perfect condition, she was born as the result of her previous merit in the Trayastrimsas heaven. And before this, Bodhisattva not yet born, she had gone up thither, on which occasion all the Devas attending her offered her a palace to dwell in, and awaiting her in the great preaching hall they offered the queen 5000 pitchers containing the rarest scented waters; 5000 Apsarases presented her with thrones
1 In Chinese .hu-ming :' this was the name of Bodhisattva whilst resident in the Tusita heaven. [19]
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