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THE QUESTIONS AND PUZZLES
VII, 3, 26.
be lifted up nor bent down; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, be neither lifted up nor depressed. This, O king, is the fifth quality of the rock he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by the devout woman, Kulla Subhaddâ, when she was exalting the recluses of her
own sect:
The world is lifted up by gain, depressed by loss.
My Samanas remain alike in gain or loss."'
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26. SPACE.
26. 'Venerable Nâgasena, those five qualities of space which you say he ought to have, which are they?'
'Just, O king, as space is everywhere impossible to grasp; just so, O king, should it be impossible for the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, to be anywhere taken hold of by evil dispositions. This, O king, is the first quality of space he ought to have.
27. 'And again, O king, as space is the familiar resort of Rishis, and ascetics, and gods1, and flocks of birds; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, make his mind wander easily over all things with the knowledge that each individual (Samkhâra) is impermanent, born to sorrow, and without any abiding principle (any soul). This, O king, is the second quality of space he ought to have.
1 Bhûta, which the Simhalese, p. 572, renders yaksha. I think it means all kinds of gods (except the highest), demigods, fairies, superhuman beings, &c.
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