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NOTE III.
Even as when in the midst of space A rising cloud is suddenly dispersed. Tathagata is able to destroy for ever The entire concourse of sorrows, Even as the sun, when he bursts forth, Disperses with his brightness the blackness of the cloud. So it is that now the entire world Laments and weeps with affliction On account of the torrents of suffering Which fall heavily upon all in their passage thro' birth and death. On this account, therefore, the world-honoured Ought to strengthen and increase the faith of men, That they may escape these sorrows, And to remain a longer while in the world."
"Then Buddha replied to Kunda: “Even so! even so ! it is as you say—the birth of a Buddha in the world is rare as the appearance of the Udumbara flower, and to be able to believe in him is also a matter of extreme difficulty; but infinitely more difficult is it to be selected as the one to present a last offering to him before he enters Nirvana. What room, then, O Kunda, is there for sorrowful thoughts? your heart should rather dance for joy! for you are the one thus selected to offer the last offering, and so complete your work of charity. Make not, then, such a request that Buddha should remain longer in the world, for you should now be able to realise (kwan“) even the highest truth (the province or domain (keng kiai) of all the Buddhas), the impermanency of all things, that all systems of religion (or, elements of being)-(hing) both as to their nature and attributes-are also impermanent. And then for the sake of Kunda he repeated these Gâthâs :
"All things in the present world
Being produced, must return to destruction; Although the term of life were immeasurably long, Yet it must in the end come to a close. Prosperity gives place to adversity, Plenty is succeeded by want, Youth before long yields to decay, The ruddy colour of health is paled by disease, Life, also, is followed by death, There is no such thing as permanency, The most absolute monarchs, Whose might none can dispute, These also come to naught and change, The years of their life are just the same,
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