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280
FO-SHO-HING-TSAN-KING.
V, 25.
law), indeed, is left, to frame the world anew, as a metal-caster frames anew his work! 1912
The world has lost its master-guide, and, men bereaved of him, the way is lost; old age, disease, and death, self-sufficient, now that the road is missed, pervade the world without a way. 1913
What is there now throughout the world equal to overcome the springs of these great sorrows ? The great cloud's rain alone can make the raging and excessive fire, that burns the world, go out. 1914
'So only he can make the raging fire of covetous desire go out; and now he, the skilful maker of comparisons, has firmly fixed his mind to leave the world! 1915
‘And why, again, is the sword of wisdom, ever ready to be used for an uninvited friend (i. e. on behalf of the friendless), only like the draught of wine given to him about to undergo the torture and to die? 1916
Deluded by false knowledge the mass of living things are only born to die again; as the sharp knife divides the wood, so constant change divides the world. 1917
*The gloom of ignorance like the deep water, lust like the rolling billow, sorrow like the float
1 This is the idea, as it seems, of the original, implying that the law of Buddha alone was left to take the place of the teacher,
· Tsz’-tsai, independent, without control.
3. Powerful in making comparisons, one of Buddha's characteristic names. The construction of these lines is unlike Chinese, and is evidently adapted from the Sanskrit original.
• The sense seems to be that the sword of Buddha's wisdom, instead of rescuing the friendless, has only been used, as the executioner's draught, to lull the pain of death.
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