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272
FO-SHO-HING-TSAN-KING.
V, 24.
I have already told you, (and tell you) to the end. 1864
Why then should I preserve this body? The body of the excellent lawl shall long endure! I am resolved; I look for rest! This is the one thing needful?. 1865
So do I now instruct all creatures, and as a guide, not seen before, I lead them; prepare yourselves to cast off consciousness, fix yourselves well in your own island. 1866
Those who are thus fixed (mid-stream), with single aim and earnestness striving in the use of means, preparing quietly a quiet place, not moved by others' way of thinking, 1867
*Know well, such men are safe on the law's island, Fixed in contemplation, lighted by the lamp of wisdom, they have thus finally destroyed ignorance and gloom. Consider well the world's four bounds, 1868
'And dare to seek for true religion only; forget "yourself,” and every "ground of self,” the bones, the nerves, the skin, the flesh, the mucus, the blood that flows through every little vein; 1869
The body of the law' represents the teaching of the word of Buddha, which teaching is supposed to be accompanied with or attended by a living power, ever dwelling with the congregation of the faithful.
* That which is wanting only resides in this.'
* The Chinese siang' is equivalent to Sanskrit sangña, the third skandha (constituents of personal being). It is the receptive (subjective) power, in distinction to the perceptive power (vedanâ). Buddha denied the necessity of personal consciousness (i. e. of self-consciousness, or consciousness of self) as an element of life, i.e. life in the abstract.
This idea of an island' (dvipa), fixed amid the running stream of life, is found in Dhammapada, verse 25.
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