Book Title: Harmony of All Religions
Author(s): Parmahans Maharaj, Veena Rani Howard
Publisher: USA Santmat Society of North America

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Page 174
________________ Buddhist texts. In fact, Buddhist literature contains multiple references to the soul (atta or atman), the Lord (Natha), and the maker of the body. Examples can be found even in the Dhammapada, where the Buddha elaborates on Soul or self (atta): The atman is the lord of atman. What else could be the Lord? When the individual self (jivatman) is well subdued, a man finds the Lord (Natha) who is difficult to fathom. (Dhammapada 12/4) Some scholars have interpreted the word 'lord' in this verse as if it literally means “lordship.” However, even a cursory examination of the words in Pali, the original language of these texts, yields the intended meaning. In Pali the word 'lord' is in the second case accusative, and therefore it would best be translated as 'to the lord'. The noted Buddhist scholar Bhikshu Rahul Sankrityayan has explained this in his rendering of this verse of the Dhammapada: A man is the lord of himself. Who else then could be the lord? If the self is wholly disciplined then he is able to attain a lord who is difficult to be attained. There are other places as well in the Dhammapada where Buddha addresses the creator of the body: Oh maker of the house I have seen you. . . (Jaravaggo) 165

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