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But as the Buddha approached near, they could not remain firm in their decision. Some went forward to receive his begging bowl, garment, etc.; some spread cushion for him; and some came with water, wooded seat and towel and held these before him for his use. Gautama Buddha sat and washed his feet. When the bhiksus addressed him as 'abus', he protested,
"Bhiksus! The Tathagata should not be addressed as 'abus' or by some lowly expression. The tathagata is an Arhat who is duly enlightened. Pay attention to him, and then he will share with thee the immortality of which he is the possessor. If thou follow his advice, then, in this very life, and that too very soon, thou will be in possession of great merits
11
But the bhiksus retored,
"Abus! Gautama! When you practised severe penances and underwent great exertions and seriously cultivated knowledge-and-vision, you could neither attain speciality, nor divine power. How do you claim to be duly enlightened when you have slipped from austerities, eat as you please and accumulate riches"?
The Tathāgata protested and repeated what he had said before; but the monks persisted. They did this for a second time and for a third time. In the end, the Tathagata said,
"Bhiksus! Did I ever speak like this in the past"?
The bhikṣus were silenced to think, and after a while they said,
"No, never in the past, did you speak like this".
"Then why don't you pay heed to my words. I have found the way to immortality. If you accept this, you too will soon be liberated".
