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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

    Vasavadatta

    There was a courtesan in Mathura named Vasavadatta.
    She happened to see Upagutta, one of Buddha's disciples,
    a tall and beautiful youth, and fell desperately in love with him.
    Vasavadatta sent an invitation to the young man, but he replied:
    "The time has not yet arrived when Upagutta will visit Vasavadatta." [1]

    The courtesan was astonished at the reply,
    and she sent again for him, saying:
    "Vasavadatta desires love, not gold, from Upagutta."
    But Upagutta made the same enigmatic reply and did not come. [2]

    A few months later Vasavadatta had a love-intrigue with the chief of the artisans,
    and at that time a wealthy merchant came to Mathura, who fell in love with Vasavadatta.
    Seeing his wealth, and fearing the jealousy of her other lover,
    she contrived the death of the chief of the artisans,
    and concealed his body under a dunghill. [3]

    When the chief of the artisans had disappeared,
    his relatives and friends searched for him and found his body.
    Vasavadatta, however, was tried by a judge,
    and condemned to have her ears and nose,
    her hands and feet cut off,
    and flung into a graveyard. [4]

    Vasavadatta had been a passionate girl,
    but kind to her servants,
    and one of her maids followed her,
    and out of love for her former mistress
    ministered unto her in her agonies,
    and chased away the crows. [5]

    Now the time had arrived when Upagutta decided to visit Vasavadatta. [6]

    When he came, the poor woman ordered her maid to collect
    and hide under a cloth her severed limbs;
    and he greeted her kindly, but she said with petulance:
    "Once this body was fragrant like the lotus and I offered thee my love.
    In those days I was covered with pearls and fine muslin.
    Now I am mangled by the executioner and covered with filth and blood."
    [7]

    "Sister," said the young man,
    "it is not for my pleasure that I approach thee.
    It is to restore to thee a nobler beauty
    than the charms which thou hast lost.
    [8]

    "I have seen with mine eyes the Tathagata walking upon earth
    and teaching men his wonderful doctrine.
    But thou wouldst not have listened to the words of righteousness
    while surrounded with temptations,
    while under the spell of passion and yearning for worldly pleasures.
    Thou wouldst not have listened to the teachings of the Tathagata,
    for thy heart was wayward, and thou didst see thy trust on the sham of thy transient charms.
    [9]

    "The charms of a lovely form are trecherous,
    and quickly lead into temptations,
    which have proved too strong for thee.
    But there is a beauty which will not fade,
    and if thou wilt but listen
    to the doctrine of our Lord, the Buddha,
    thou wilt find that peace which thou wouldst have found
    in the restless world of sinful pleasures."
    [10]

    Vasavadatta became calm and a spiritual happiness
    soothed the tortures of her bodily pain;
    for where there is much suffering there is also great bliss. [11]

    Having taken refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha,
    she died in pious submission to the punishment of her crime. [12]

    End Chapter 80


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

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