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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


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    The Gospel of Buddha

    The Buddha Replies to the Deva

    On a certain day when the Blessed One dwelt
    at Jetavana, the garden of Anathapindika,
    a celestial deva came to him in the shape of a Brahman
    whose countenance was bright and whose garments were white like snow.
    The deva asked questions which the Blessed One answered. [1]

    The deva said:
    "What is the sharpest sword?
    What is the deadliest poison?
    What is the fiercest fire?
    What is the darkest night?"
    [2]

    The Blessed One replied:
    "A word spoken in wrath is the sharpest sword;
    covetousness is the deadliest poison;
    passion is the fiercest fire;
    ignorance is the darkest night."
    [3]

    The deva said:
    "Who gains the greatest benefit?
    Who loses most?
    Which armour is invulnerable?
    What is the best weapon?"
    [4]

    The Blessed One replied:
    "He is the greatest gainer who gives to others,
    and he loses most who greedily receives without gratitude.
    Patience is an invulnerable armour;
    wisdom is the best weapon."
    [5]

    The deva said:
    "Who is the most dangerous thief?
    What is the most precious treasure?
    Who is most successful in taking away by violence not only on earth, but also in heaven?
    What is the securest treasure-trove?"
    [6]

    The Blessed One replied:
    "Evil thought is the most dangerous thief;
    virtue is the most precious treasure.
    The mind takes possession of everything not only on earth, but also in heaven,
    and immortality is its securest treasure-trove."
    [7]

    The deva said:
    "What is attractive?
    What is disgusting?
    What is the most horrible pain?
    What is the greatest enjoyment?"
    [8]

    The Blessed One replied:
    "Good is attractive;
    evil is disgusting.
    A bad conscience is the most tormenting pain;
    deliverance is the height of bliss."
    [9]

    The deva asked:
    "What causes ruin in the world?
    What breaks off friendships?
    What is the most violent fever?
    Who is the best physician?"
    [10]

    The Blessed One replied:
    "Ignorance causes the ruin of the world.
    Envy and selfishness break off friendships.
    Hatred is the most violent fever,
    and the Buddha is the best physician."
    [11]

    The deva then asked and said:
    "Now I only have one doubt to be solved;
    pray, clear it away:
    What is it fire can neither burn,
    nor moisture corrode,
    nor wind crush down,
    but is able to reform the whole world?"
    [12]

    The Blessed One replied: "Blessing!
    Neither fire, nor moisture, nor wind can destroy
    the blessing of a good deed,
    and blessings reform the whole world."
    [13]

    The deva, having heard the words of the Blessed One, was full of exeeding joy.
    Clasping his hands, he bowed down before him in reverence,
    and disappeared suddenly from the presence of the Buddha. [14]

    End Chapter 58


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

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