________________
12+
LIFE OF BUDDHA. gratification here and there; the thirst for pleasures, the thirst for being, the thirst for power."
"This, O monks, is the sacred truth of the extinction of suffering, the extinction of this thirst by complete annihilation of desire, letting it go, expelling it, separating oneself from it, giving it no room." He then expounded to them the eightfold path, by which he had attained the supreme Buddhahood in this world and the worlds of gods. Henceforth there was for him no new birth. The new doctrine is summed up thus :-“Walk in purity, to make an end of all suffering."
The five ascetics being the first converts, others soon began to flock round them, and Buddha sent them forth The freedom to preach in the surrounding country. A conof Buddhism. spicuous feature in their teaching, contrasting markedly with that of the Brahmans, was their freedom from constraint, from forms, from ceremonies, from Pharisaism. I am loosed from all bands, divine and human," says Buddha. "Ye also, O disciples, are loosed from all bands, divine and human. Go ye out, O disciples, and travel from place to place for the welfare of many people, for the joy of many people, in pity for the world, for the blessing, welfare, and joy of gods and men. Go not in twos to one place."
Returning then to Uruvela, where he had entered into the knowledge of deliverance, he preaches to a band of
Early ascetics, whose leader, Kassapa, he converts converts. after performing numerous miracles, according to the records. The whole body then proceeded to Rajagaha, the capital of Magadha (Behar), whose king, Bimbisara, he converted; this was followed by the conversion of many of the noble youths of Magadha, so much so as to lead to much murmuring, the people fearing that the ascetic was come to bring childlessness and widowhood and the subversion of families.
From this time forward we can frame no proper history General of Buddha's life; but from the early records features of about him it is easy to realise the general Buddha's life. nature of his career, although without those touches of individuality which Hebrews and Europeans
