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LECTURE VIII
mother, but hesiniled and said, 'I am your fathei, who was your mother I do not know, I found you exposed in the forest, and rescued you.' Then Jiwaka reflected, when he heard this circumstance related, that he would receive no inheritance from relationship, so he resolved that he would learn some science, and then by his attainment he might be able to acquire both relatives and wealth.
Again he considered the character of the eighteen sciences and the sixty-four arts, and deterınıned that he should study the art of medicinc, that he might be called doctor, and be respected, and attain to eininence , with this intention he went to Taksala, and applied to a learneri professor to ieceive him into his school "13 This is what might be expected of a man of 1eal genius
Imagination of the acutest and finest type was exercised by the parents of ancient India in the selection of the occupation of their children This impoi tant affan was never left to chance but was guided by a rich imagination This point is clear from the theory and practice of the Jaina and the Buddhist authorities who look into full account the factors of occupational environment, and the ability of the student In a word financial profit, material comfort, future prospect, social status-all these entered into the minds of the Buddhist parents in the selection and rejection of the occupation of their wards As a typical evidence we may insert a quotation from the Vinaya Text describing the scrupulous and judicious caie exercised by the parents ol Upālı in selecting the occupation of their son “At that time there was in Rājagrha a company of seventeen boys, friends of each other, young Upālı was the first among them Now Upāli's father and inother thought ‘How will Upālı after our death live a life of ease and without pain? Then Upāli's father and mother said to themselves , if Upālı coulil learn writing, he would after our death live a life of ease and without pain' But Upāli's father and mother thought again if Upālı learns writing, his fingers will become sore But if Upālı could learn arithmetic, he would after our death live a life of ease and without
pain'
But then Upāli's father and mother thought again 'If Upāli learns arithmetic, his bieast will become diseased' But if Upālı could learn
43 Manual of Buddhism, tr. by Hardy Spence, pp 238-239.
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