Questions of King Milinda Part 02

SR No.: 007682
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1894
Total Pages: 2240
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 38 MB

Page 54

24
THE QUESTIONS AND PUZZLES
IV, 5, 24.
with a well-grounded and great joy the like of which cannot be found, an immeasurable bliss sprang up in his heart at the thought: "May the Blessed One, the chief of the world, have full confidence in me.” And thereby did he obtain merit which brought forth its good result even in this present life.
24. And the Tathâgata, o king, was not disturbed by that temporary inconvenience (of the falling rain). Just, О king, as Sineru, the king of the mountains, moves not, neither is shaken, by the onslaught of innumerable gales? —just as the mighty ocean, the home of the great waters, is not filled up, neither is disturbed at all, by the inflow of innumerable great rivers-just so, O king, is a Tathagata unmoved at temporary inconvenience.
And that the rain fell upon the Tathậgata's hut happened out of consideration for the great masses of the people. For there are two circumstances, O king, which prevent the Tathagatas from themselves supplying (by creative power) any requisite of which they may be in need? And what are the two ? Men and gods, by supplying the requisites of a Buddha on the ground that he is a teacher worthy of gifts, will thereby be set free from rebirth in states of woe. And lest others should find fault, saying: “They seek their livelihood by the working of miracles.” If, O king, Sakka had kept that hut dry, or even Brahmå himself, even then that action would have been faulty, wrong, and worthy of censure. For people might then say: "These Buddhas by
1 Aneka-sata-sahassa-vâta-sampahârena. Perhaps by the battle (raging round it) of innumerable gales,' the onslaught of the winds being not against it, but against one another.
* Literally from receiving any self-created requisite.'
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