按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
succeeded to one another； we have never seen men of Han； followers of
our system； arrive here。〃
Four le to the north…west of the vihara there is a grove called 〃The
Getting of Eyes。〃 Formerly there were five hundred blind men； who lived
86
… Page 87…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
here in order that they might be near the vihara。＇12＇ Buddha preached his
Law to them； and they all got back their eyesight。 Full of joy； they stuck
their staves in the earth； and with their heads and faces on the ground； did
reverence。 The staves immediately began to grow； and they grew to be
great。 People made much of them； and no one dared to cut them down； so
that they came to form a grove。 It was in this way that it got its name； and
most of the Jetavana monks； after they had taken their midday meal； went
to the grove； and sat there in meditation。
Six or seven le north…east from the Jetavana； mother Vaisakha＇13＇ built
another vihara； to which she invited Buddha and his monks； and which is
still existing。
To each of the great residences for monks at the Jetavana vihara there
were two gates； one facing the east and the other facing the north。 The
park （containing the whole） was the space of ground which the （Vaisya）
head Sudatta purchased by covering it with gold coins。 The vihara was
exactly in the centre。 Here Buddha lived for a longer time than at any
other place； preaching his Law and converting men。 At the places where
he walked and sat they also （subsequently） reared topes； each having its
particular name； and here was the place where Sundari＇14＇ murdered a
person and then falsely charged Buddha （with the crime）。 Outside the east
gate of the Jetavana； at a distance of seventy paces to the north； on the
west of the road； Buddha held a discussion with the （advocates of the）
ninety…six schemes of erroneous doctrine； when the king and his great
officers； the householders； and people were all assembled in crowds to
hear it。 Then a woman belonging to one of the erroneous systems； by
name Chanchamana；＇15＇ prompted by the envious hatred in her heart； and
having put on （extra） clothes in front of her person； so as to give her the
appearance of being with child； falsely accused Buddha before all the
assembly of having acted unlawfully （towards her）。 On this； Sakra； Ruler
of Devas； changed himself and some devas into white mice； which bit
through the strings about her waist； and when this was done； the （extra）
clothes which she wore dropt down on the ground。 The earth at the same
time was rent； and she went （down） alive into hell。＇16＇ （This） also is the
place where Devadatta；＇17＇ trying with empoisoned claws to injure
87
… Page 88…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
Buddha； went down alive into hell。 Men subsequently set up marks to
distinguish where both these events took place。
Further； at the place where the discussion took place； they reared a
vihara rather more than sixty cubits high； having in it an image of Buddha
in a sitting posture。 On the east of the road there was a devalaya＇18＇ of
（one of） the contrary systems； called 〃The Shadow Covered；〃 right
opposite the vihara on the place of discussion； with （only） the road
between them； and also rather more than sixty cubits high。 The reason why
it was called 〃The Shadow Covered〃 was this： When the sun was in the
west； the shadow of the vihara of the World… honoured one fell on the
devalaya of a contrary system； but when the sun was in the east； the
shadow of that devalaya was diverted to the north； and never fell on the
vihara of Buddha。 The mal…believers regularly employed men to watch
their devalaya； to sweep and water （all about it）； to burn incense； light the
lamps； and present offerings； but in the morning the lamps were found to
have been suddenly removed； and in the vihara of Buddha。 The Brahmans
were indignant； and said； 〃Those Sramanas take out lamps and use them
for their own service of Buddha； but we will not stop our service for
you！〃＇19＇ On that night the Brahmans themselves kept watch； when they
saw the deva spirits which they served take the lamps and go three times
round the vihara of Buddha and present offerings。 After this ministration
to Buddha they suddenly disappeared。 The Brahmans thereupon knowing
how great was the spiritual power of Buddha； forthwith left their families；
and became monks。＇20＇ It has been handed down； that； near the time when
these things occurred； around the Jetavana vihara there were ninety…eight
monasteries； in all of which there were monks residing； excepting only in
one place which was vacant。 In this Middle Kingdom＇21＇ there are ninety…
six＇21＇ sorts of views； erroneous and different from our system； all of
which recognise this world and the future world＇22＇ （and the connexion
between them）。 Each had its multitude of followers； and they all beg their
food： only they do not carry the alms…bowl。 They also； moreover； seek （to
acquire） the blessing （of good deeds） on unfrequented ways； setting up on
the road…side houses of charity； where rooms； couches； beds； and food and
drink are supplied to travellers； and also to monks； coming and going as
88
… Page 89…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
guests； the only difference being in the time （for which those parties
remain）。
There are also companies of the followers of Devadatta still existing。
They regularly make offerings to the three previous Buddhas； but not to
Sakyamuni Buddha。
Four le south…east from the city of Sravasti； a tope has been erected at
the place where the World…honoured one encountered king Virudhaha；＇23＇
when he wished to attack the kingdom of Shay…e；＇23＇ and took his stand
before him at the side of the road。＇24＇
89
… Page 90…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
NOTES
＇1＇ In Singhalese； Sewet； here evidently the capital of Kosala。 It is
placed by Cunningham （Archaeological Survey） on the south bank of the
Rapti； about fifty…eight miles north of Ayodya or Oude。 There are still the
ruins of a great town； the name being Sahet Mahat。 It was in this town； or
in its neighbourhood； that Sakyamuni spent many years of his life after he
became Buddha。
＇2＇ There were two Indian kingdoms of this name； a southern and a
northern。 This was the northern； a part of the present Oudh。
＇3＇ In Singhalese； Pase…nadi； meaning 〃leader of the victorious army。〃
He was one of the earliest converts and chief patrons of Sakyamuni。 Eitel
calls him （p。 95） one of the originators of Buddhist idolatory； because of
the statue which is mentioned in this chapter。 See Hardy's M。 B。； pp。 283；
284； et al。
＇4＇ Explained by 〃Path of Love；〃 and 〃Lord of Life。〃 Prajapati was
aunt and nurse of Sakyamuni； the first woman admitted to the monkhood；
and the first superior of the first Buddhistic convent。 She is yet to become
a Buddha。
＇5＇ Sudatta； meaning 〃almsgiver；〃 wa