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98
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
snake, a wild beast, a cruel robber, a great fire, and worse even than these. It may be compared to a man who is holding in his hand a vessel full of honey, and as he goes on his way his eyes are so bent in gazing on the sweet treasure in his dish, that he sees not the dreadful chasm in his way, down which he falls. It is like a mad elephant unchecked by the pointed crook or like the ape which is allowed to escape into the tree, quickly it leaps from bough to bough, difficult to re-capture and chain up once more. Restrain, therefore, and keep in complete subjection your heart; let it not get the mastery; persevere in this, O Bhikshus, and all shall be well.
"With respect to food and drink, whether you have received common or dainty food, let it not excite in you either undue gratification or regret; and the same with clothing and. medicinal preparations-take sufficient and be satisfied; even as the butterfly sips the honey of the flower and departs, so do ye, O Bhikshus, seek not more than is necessary: be satisfied with what is given to you, just as the wise mau calculates the strength of the ox he uses, and gives it as much food as is necessary for it.
"Be careful, O Bhikshus, to waste no time, but earnestly to persevere in acquiring a knowledge of the true law. On the first and last nights of the month continue in the repetition of the sacred books without cessation. It is sloth and love of sleep that causes a whole life to be thrown away and lost. Think of the fire that shall consume the world, and early seek deliverance from it, and give not way to sleep. A man who indulges in immoderate sleep can have no inward satisfaction or selfrespect; there is always a snake of dissatisfaction coiled up in his breast: whereas he who denies himself this indulgence is like the man who rises early, and, sweeping out his house, expels all that is hurtful, and so has continual safety and peace. Above all things, let modesty govern every thought and every word of your daily life-a man without modesty is in no way different from the brute beast.
"Bhikshus, if a man should do you such injury as to chop your body in pieces limb by limb, yet you ought to keep your heart in perfect control; no anger or resentment should affect you, nor a word of reproach escape your lips; for if you once give way to a bitter thought,
[APRIL, 1875.
you have erred from the right way, and all religions merit is lost. Patience is a virtue (this is the literal translation of the passage 'Jin che wei tih'); to keep the rules of moral restraint without wavering, to exercise patience without tiring, this is the characteristic of the great man. If a man, because he does not enjoy everything as he would wish, loses patience, he is like a man who will not enter on the path of salvation because he cannot immediately quaff the sweet dew (i.e. attain immortality)."
The text then proceeds to speak of the advantage of moderation in all indulgences (pleasures), the happiness of a solitary life; "for they who live in mixed society are like the birds that congregate together in a tree, always afraid of the traps of the fowler; or like the old elephant in the mud unable to extricate himself. Continual perseverance is like a little fire that keeps on burning, but he who tires in the practice of religion is like a fire that goes out. Such is perseverance (virya).
"You ought, also, never to forget self-examination and reflection; if you neglect this, then all progress is at an end-in the practice of this you put on, as it were, a helmet of defence, so that no sword can hurt you, and no enemy get the advantage over you (nim, i.e. śráddha). You ought to keep your mind fixed in contemplation (dhyana)-by perseverance this power of fixed contemplation is always ready, even as water kept in the house is always ready for laying the dust out of doors. And so he who continues in the practice of dhyana shall undoubtedly attain wisdom (prajna); and this is the Deliverance spoken of in my law. And true wisdom is this: to cross the sea of old age, disease, and death in a strong and trustworthy boat. It is a lamp shining in darkness, a medicine for all diseases, a hatchet to cut down the tree of sorrow, and for this reason you ought to aim above all things to attain this wisdom, and so bring to yourself lasting benefit. A man who has this wisdom is perfectly illuminated, and needs no other
eyes.
Again, Bhikshus, if you would obtain final release, you must put away from you all the foolish books (trifling discourses) met with in the world. Think only on the words I have given you, whether in the mountain pass or the depth of the valley, whether beneath the tree or in the solitary cell; think of the scriptures
