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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

    Ambapali

    Then the Blessed One proceeded with a great number of brethren to Vesali,
    and he stayed at the grove of the courtesan Ambapali.
    And he said to the brethren:
    "Let a brother, O bhikkhus, be mindful and thoughtful.
    Let a brother, whilst in the world,
    overcome the grief which arises from bodily craving,
    from the lust of sensations,
    and from the errors of wrong reasoning.
    Whatever you do, act always in full presence of mind.
    Be thoughtful in eating and drinking, in walking or standing,
    in sleeping or walking, while talking or being silent."
    [1]

    When the courtesan Ambapali,
    heard that the Blessed One was staying in her mango grove,
    she was exceedingly glad and went in a carriage
    as far as the ground was passible for carriages.
    There she alighted and thence proceeding
    to the place where the Blessed One was,
    she took her seat respectfully at his feet on one side.
    As a prudent woman goes forth to perform her religious duties,
    so she appeared in a simple dress without any ornaments,
    yet beautiful to look upon. [2]

    And the Blessed One thought to himself:
    "This woman moves in worldly circles
    and is a favourite of kings and princes;
    yet is her heart calm and composed.
    Young in years, rich, surrounded by pleasures,
    she is thoughtful and steadfast.
    This, indeed, is rare in the world.
    Women, as a rule, are scant in wisdom
    and deeply immersed in vanity;
    but she, although living in luxury,
    has acquired the wisdom of a master,
    taking delight in piety,
    and able to receive the truth in its completeness."
    [3]

    When she was seated, the Blessed One instructed,
    aroused, and gladdened her with religious discourse. [4]

    As she listened to the law, her face brightened with delight.
    Then she rose and said to the Blessed One:
    "Will the Blessed One do me the honour of taking his meal,
    together with the brethren, at my house to-morrow?"

    And the Blessed One gave, by silence, his consent. [5]

    Now, the Licchavi, a wealthy family of princely rank,
    hearing that the Blessed One had arrived at Vesali
    and was staying at Ambapali's grove,
    mounted their magnificent carriages, and proceeded with their retinue
    to the place where the Blessed One was.
    And the Licchavi were gorgeously dressed in bright colours
    and decorated with costly jewels. [6]

    And Ambapali drove up against the young Licchavi,
    axle to axle, wheel to whell, and yoke to yoke,
    and the Licchavi said to Ambapali, the courtesan:
    "How is it, Ambapali, that you drive up against us thus?" [7]

    "My lords," said she,
    "I have just invited the Blessed One
    and his brethren for their to-morrow's meal."
    [8]

    And the princes replied: "Ambapali!
    give up this meal to us for a hundred thousand."
    [9]

    "My lords, were you to offer all Vesali with its subject territory,
    I would not give up so great an honour!"
    [10]

    Then the Licchavi went on to Ambapali's grove. [11]

    When the Blessed One saw the Licchavi approaching in the distance, he addressed the brethren, and said:
    "O brethren, let those of the brethren
    who have never seen the gods gaze upon this company of the Licchavi,
    for they are dressed gorgeously, like immortals."
    [12]

    And when they had driven as far as the ground was passable for carriages,
    the Licchavi alighted and went on foot to the place where the Blesse One was,
    taking their seats respectfully by his side.
    And when they were thus seated, the Blessed One instructed,
    aroused, and gladdened, them with religious discourse. [13]

    Then they addressed the Blessed One and said:
    "Will the Blessed One do us the honour of taking his meal,
    together with the brethren, at our place to-morrow?"
    [14]

    "O Licchavi," said the Blessed One,
    "I have promised to dine tomorrow with Ambapali, the courtesan." [15]

    Then the Licchavi, expressing their approval of the words of the Blessed One,
    arose from their seats and bowed down before the Blessed One,
    and, keeping him on their right hand as they passed him, they departed thence;
    but when they came home, they cast up their hands, saying:
    "A worldly woman has outdone us;
    we have been left behind by a frivolous girl!"
    [16]

    And at the end of the night Ambapali, the courtesan,
    made ready in her mansion sweet rice and cakes,
    and on the next day announced through a messenger
    the time to the Blessed One, saying,
    "The hour, Lord, has come, and the meal is ready!" [17]

    And the Blessed One robed himself early in the morning,
    took his bowl, and went with the brethren
    to the place where Ambapali's dwelling-house was;
    and when they had come there they seated themselves
    on the seats prepared for them.
    And Ambapali, the courtesan, set the sweet rice and cakes
    before the order, with the Buddha at their head,
    and waited upon them till they refused to take more. [18]

    And the Blessed One had finished his meal,
    the courtesan had a low stool brought, and sat down at his side,
    and addressed the Blessed One, and said:
    "Lord, I present this mansion
    to the order of bhikkhus,
    of which the Buddha is the chief."
    [19]

    And the Blessed One accepted the gift;
    and after instructing, arousing, and gladdening her with religious edification,
    he rose from his seat and departed thence. [20]

    End Chapter 92


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

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