Return to Index

The Gospel of Buddha

Preface

  • Preface:
    by Paul Carus


    Introduction
  • Chapter 01:
    Rejoice
  • Chapter 02:
    Samsara and Nirvana
  • Chapter 03:
    Truth the Saviour


    Prince Siddhattha becomes Buddha
  • Chapter 04:
    The Bodhisatta's Birth
  • Chapter 05:
    The Ties of Life
  • Chapter 06:
    The Three Woes
  • Chapter 07:
    The Bodhisatta's Renunciation
  • Chapter 08:
    King Bimbisara
  • Chapter 09:
    The Bodhisatta's Search
  • Chapter 10:
    Uruvela, the Place of Mortification
  • Chapter 11:
    Mara, the Evil One
  • Chapter 12:
    Enlightenment
  • Chapter 13:
    The First Converts
  • Chapter 14:
    Brahma's Request


    The Foundation of the Kingdom of Righteousness
  • Chapter 15:
    Upaka
  • Chapter 16:
    The Sermon at Benares
  • Chapter 17:
    The Sangha
  • Chapter 18:
    Yasa, the Youth of Benares
  • Chapter 19:
    Kassapa
  • Chapter 20:
    The Sermon at Rajagaha
  • Chapter 21:
    The King's Gift
  • Chapter 22:
    Sariputta and Moggallana
  • Chapter 23:
    Anathapindika
  • Chapter 24:
    The Sermon on Charity
  • Chapter 25:
    Jetavana
  • Chapter 26:
    The Three Characteristics and the Uncreate
  • Chapter 27:
    The Buddha's Father
  • Chapter 28:
    Yasodhara
  • Chapter 29:
    Rahula


    Consolidation of the Buddha's religion
  • Chapter 30:
    Jivaka, the Physician
  • Chapter 31:
    The Buddha's Parents Attain Nirvana
  • Chapter 32:
    Women Admitted to the Sangha
  • Chapter 33:
    The Bhikkhus' Conduct Toward Women
  • Chapter 34:
    Visakha
  • Chapter 35:
    The Uposatha and Patimokkha
  • Chapter 36:
    The Schism
  • Chapter 37:
    The Re-establishment of Concord
  • Chapter 38:
    The Bhikkhus Rebuked
  • Chapter 39:
    Devadatta
  • Chapter 40:
    Name and Form
  • Chapter 41:
    The Goal
  • Chapter 42:
    Miracles Forbidden
  • Chapter 43:
    The Vanity of Worldliness
  • Chapter 44:
    Secrecy and Publicity
  • Chapter 45:
    The Annihilation of Suffering
  • Chapter 46:
    Avoiding the Ten Evils
  • Chapter 47:
    The Preacher's Mission


    The Teacher
  • Chapter 48:
    The Dhammapada
  • Chapter 49:
    The Two Brahmans
  • Chapter 50:
    Guard the Six Quarters
  • Chapter 51:
    Simha's Question Concerning Annihilation
  • Chapter 52:
    All Existence is Spiritual
  • Chapter 53:
    Identity and Non-Identity
  • Chapter 54:
    The Buddha Omnipresent
  • Chapter 55:
    One Essence, One Law, One Aim
  • Chapter 56:
    The Lesson Given to Rahula
  • Chapter 57:
    The Sermon on Abuse
  • Chapter 58:
    The Buddha Replies to the Deva
  • Chapter 59:
    Words of Instruction
  • Chapter 60:
    Amitabha
  • Chapter 61:
    The Teacher Unknown


    Parables and Stories
  • Chapter 62:
    Parables
  • Chapter 63:
    The Widow's Two Mites and the Parable of the Three Merchants
  • Chapter 64:
    The Man Born Blind
  • Chapter 65:
    The Lost Son
  • Chapter 66:
    The Giddy Fish
  • Chapter 67:
    The Cruel Crane Outwitted
  • Chapter 68:
    Four Kinds of Merit
  • Chapter 69:
    The Light of the World
  • Chapter 70:
    Luxurious Living
  • Chapter 71:
    The Communication of Bliss
  • Chapter 72:
    The Listless Fool
  • Chapter 73:
    Rescue in the Desert
  • Chapter 74:
    The Sower
  • Chapter 75:
    The Outcast
  • Chapter 76:
    The Woman at the Well
  • Chapter 77:
    The Peacemaker
  • Chapter 78:
    The Hungry Dog
  • Chapter 79:
    The Despot
  • Chapter 80:
    Vasavadatta
  • Chapter 81:
    The Marriage-Feast in Jambunada
  • Chapter 82:
    A Party in Search of a Thief
  • Chapter 83:
    In the Realm of Yamaraja
  • Chapter 84:
    The Mustard Seed
  • Chapter 85:
    Following the Master Over the Stream
  • Chapter 86:
    The Sick Bhikkhu
  • Chapter 87:
    The Patient Elephant


    The Last Days
  • Chapter 88:
    The Conditions of Welfare
  • Chapter 89:
    Sariputta's Faith
  • Chapter 90:
    Pataliputta
  • Chapter 91:
    The Mirror of Truth
  • Chapter 92:
    Ambapali
  • Chapter 93:
    The Buddha's Farewell Address
  • Chapter 94:
    The Buddha Announces His Death
  • Chapter 95:
    Chunda, the Smith
  • Chapter 96:
    Metteyya
  • Chapter 97:
    The Buddha's Final Entering into Nirvana


    Conclusion
  • Chapter 98:
    The Three Personalities of the Buddha
  • Chapter 99:
    The Purpose of Being
  • Chapter 100:
    The Praise of All the Buddhas


  • Click for The Reluctant Messenger (Host Site)
    Click here to go The Reluctant Messenger (Host Site)

    The Gospel of Buddha

    The Schism

    While the Blessed One dwelt at Kosambi,
    a certain bhikkhu was accused of having committed an offence,
    and, as he refused to acknowledge it,
    the brotherhood pronounced against him the sentence of expulsion. [1]

    Now, that bhikkhu was erudite.
    He knew the Dharma, had studied the rules of the order,
    and was wise, learned, intelligent, modest, conscientious,
    and ready to submit himself to discipline.
    And he went to his companions and friends among the bhikkhus, saying:
    "This is no offence, friends;
    this is no reason for a sentence of expulsion.
    I am not guilty. The verdict is unconstitutional and invalid.
    Therefore I consider myself still as a member of the order.
    May the venerable brethren assist me in maintaining my right."
    [2]

    Those who sided with the expelled brother
    went to the bhikkhus who had pronounced the sentence,
    saying: "This is no offence";
    while the bhikkhus who had pronounced the sentence replied:
    "This is an offence." [3]

    Thus altercations and quarrels arose,
    and the Sangha was divided into two parties,
    reviling and slandering each other. [4]

    And all these happenings were reported to the Blessed One. [5]

    Then the Blessed One went to the place where the bhikkhus were
    who had pronounced the sentence of expulsion, and said to them:
    "Do not think, O bhikkhus,
    that you are to pronounce expulsion against a bhikkhu,
    whatever be the facts of the case, simply by saying:
    'It occurs to us that it is so,
    and therefore we are pleased to proceed thus against our brother.'
    Let those bhikkhus who frivolously pronounce a sentence
    against a brother who knows the Dharma and the rules of the order,
    who is learned, wise, intelligent, modest, conscientious,
    and ready to submit himself to discipline, stand in awe of causing divisions.
    They must not pronounce a sentence of expulsion against a brother
    merely because he refuses to see his offence."
    [6]

    Then the Blessed One rose and went to the brethren
    who sided with the expelled brother and said to them:
    "Do not think, O bhikkhus,
    that if you have given offence you need not atone for it, thinking:
    'We are without offence.'
    When a bhikkhu has committed an offence, which he considers no offence
    while the brotherhood consider him guilty, he should think:
    'These brethren know the Dharma and the rules of the order;
    they are learned, wise, intelligent, modest, conscientious,
    and ready to submit themselves to discipline;
    it is impossible that they should on my account
    act with selfishness or in malice or in delusion or in fear.'
    Let him stand in awe of causing divisions,
    and rather acknowledge his offence
    on the authority of his brethren."
    [7]

    Both parties continued to keep Uposatha
    and perform official acts independently of one another;
    and when their doings were related to the blessed One,
    he ruled that the keeping of Uposatha
    and the performance of official acts
    were lawful, unobjectionable, and valid for both parties.
    For he said:
    "The bhikkhus who side with the expelled brother
    form a different communion from those who pronounced the sentence.
    There are venerable brethren in both parties.
    As they do not agree, let them keep Uposatha
    and perform official acts separately."
    [8]

    And the Blessed One reprimanded the quarrelsome bhikkhus
    saying to them: [9]

    "Loud is the voice which worldlings make;
    but how can they be blamed
    when divisions arise also in the Sangha?
    Hatred is not appeased in those who think:
    'He has reviled me, he has wronged me, he has injured me.'
    [10]

    "For not by hatred is hatred appeased.
    Hatred is appeased by not-hatred.
    This is an eternal law.
    [11]

    "There are some who do not know the need of self-restraint;
    if they are quarrelsome we may excuse their behaviour.
    But those who know better, should learn to live in concord.
    [12]

    "If a man finds a wise friend who lives righteously and is constant in his character,
    he may live with him, overcoming all dangers, happy and mindful.
    [13]

    "But if he finds not a friend who lives righteously and is constant in his character,
    let him rather walk alone, like a king who leaves his empire
    and the cares of government behind him to lead a life of retirement
    like a lonely elephant in the forest.
    [14]

    "With fools there is no companionship.
    Rather than to live with men who are selfish, vain, quarrelsome, and obstinate
    let a man walk alone."
    [15]

    And the Blessed One thought to himself:
    "It is no easy task to instruct these headstrong and infatuate fools."
    And he rose from his seat and went away. [16]

    End Chapter 36


    [Previous] [Next]


    01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 100 | Preface



    The Gospel of Buddha
    The Gospel of Buddha
    Compiled from ancient records by Paul Carus, 1894

    $3.99 Kindle eBook
    The Reluctant 
Messenger of Science and Religion Book Cover
    Buy from Amazon.com




    The Reluctant Messenger's Recommended Books and CDs

    Book of Chester (sacred scripture)