Contemporaneity and Chronology of Mahavira and Buddha

Author(s): Nagrajmuni, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Today and Tomorrows Book Agency

Page 72

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Mahāvīra and Buddha
said, that you, Devadatta, went forward with a schism in the Order, a breaking of the concord?'
"It is true, Lord."
"Enough, Devadatta, do not let there be a schism in the Order, for a schism in the Order is a serious matter, Devadatta. Whoever, Devadatta, splits an Order that is united, he sets up demerit that endures for an aeon; he is boiled in hell for an aeon.
"Devadatta saw the venerable Ananda walking in Rājagṛha for alms-food; seeing him, he approached the venerable Ananda; having approached, he spoke thus to the venerable Ananda: 'Now from this day forth will I, reverend Ananda, carry out observance both in contradistinction to the Lord and in contradistinction to the Order of monks and will (so) carry out (formal) acts of the Order."
"As he was sitting down at a respectful distance, the venerable Ananda spoke thus to the Lord :
"Just now, Lord, I, having dressed in the morning, taking my bowl and robe, entered Rajagṛha for almsfood. Devadatta, Lord, saw me walking in Rajagṛha for almsfood; seeing me, he came up; having came up, he spoke thus to me: 'Nowfrom this day forth will I..... (so) carry out (formal) acts of the Order. To-day, Lord, Devadatta will split the Order. Then the Lord having understood this matter, at that time uttered this utterance:
"Easy is good for the good, good for the evil is hard, Evil for the evil is easy, evil for the noble ones is hard."
Now at that time as many as five hundred monks, Vajjis of Vesali, were newly ordained and were not properly versed; and these thinking: This is the rule, this is discipline, this is the Teacher's instruction, took voting tickets.