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IV, 1, 15.
TREES.
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its means, into such great trees with branches, Aowers, and fruit.'
Then, great king, the sectaries are destroyed, defeated, proved wrong by their own words when they say that" an act done to him who accepts it not is empty and vain.” As the broad earth, O king, is the Tathagata, the Arahat, the Buddha supreme. Like it he accepts nothing. Like the seeds which through it attain to such developments are the gods and men who, through the jewel treasures of the relics and the wisdom of the Tathâgata—though he have passed away and consent not to it-being firmly rooted by the roots of merit, become like unto trees casting a goodly shade by means of the trunk of contemplation, the sap of true doctrine, and the branches of righteousness, and bearing the flowers of emancipation, and the fruits of Samanaship. [100] Therefore is it, great king, that acts done to the Tathagata, notwithstanding his having passed away and not accepting them, are still of value and bear fruit.'
15. Now hear another and further reason for the same thing. Do camels, buffaloes, asses, goats, oxen, or men acquiesce in the birth of worms inside them?'
Certainly not, Sir.' •Then how is it then, that without their consent worms are so born, and spread by rapid reproduction of sons and grandsons ?' * By the power of evil Karma, Sir.'
Just so, great king, is it by the power of the relics and the wisdom of the Tathagata, who has passed away and acquiesces in nothing, that an act done to him is of value and bears fruit.'
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