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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

    Metteyya

    The Blessed One proceeded with a great company of the brethren
    to the sala grove of the Mallas, the Upavattana of Kusinara
    on the further side of the river Hirannyavati,
    and when he had arrived he addressed the venerale Ananda, and said:
    "Make ready for me, I pray you, Ananda,
    the couch with its head to the north,
    between the twin sala trees.
    I am weary, Ananda, and wish to lie down."
    [1]

    "Be it so, Lord!" said the venerable Ananda,
    and he spread a couch with its head to the north, between the twin sala trees.
    And the Blessed One laid himself down,
    and he was mindful and self-possessed. [2]

    Now, at that time the twin sala trees
    were full of bloom with flowers out of season;
    and heavenly songs came wafted from the skies,
    out of reverence for the successor of the Buddhas of old.
    And Ananda was filled with wander that the Blessed One was thus honoured.
    But the Blessed One said:
    "Not by such events, Ananda,
    is the Tathagata rightly honoured, held sacred, or revered.
    But the brother or the sister,
    the devout man or the devout woman,
    who continually fulfils all the greater and lesser duties,
    walking according to the precepts,
    it is they who rightly honour, hold sacred,
    and revere the Tathagata with the worthiest homage.
    Therefore, O Ananda, be ye constant
    in the fulfilment of the greater and of the lesser duties,
    and walk according to the precepts;
    thus, Ananda, will ye honour the Master."
    [3]

    Then the venerable Ananda went into the vihara,
    and stood leaning against the doorpost, weeping at the thought:
    "Alas! I remain still but a learner,
    one who has yet to work out his own perfection.
    And the Master is about to pass away from me -
    he who is so kind!"
    [4]

    Now, the Blessed One called the brethren, and said:
    "Where, O brethren, is Ananda?" [5]

    And one of the brethren went and called Ananda.
    And Ananda came and said to the Blessed One:
    "Deep darkness reigned for want of wisdom;
    the world of sentient creatures was groping for want of light,
    then the Tathagata lit up the lamp of wisdom,
    and now it will be extinguished again,
    ere he has brought it out."
    [6]

    And the Blessed One said to the venerable Ananda,
    as he sat there by his side: [7]

    "Enough, Ananda!
    Let not thy self be troubled; do not weep!
    Have I not already, on former occasions,
    told you that it is in the very nature of all things
    most near and dear unto us
    that we must separate from them and leave them?
    [8]

    "The foolish man conceives the idea of 'self,'
    the wise man sees there is no ground
    on which to build the idea of 'self,'
    thus he has a right conception of the world
    and well concludes that all compounds amassed by sorrow
    will be dissolved again,
    but the truth will remain.
    [9]

    "Why should I preserve this body of flesh,
    when the body of the excellent law will endure?
    I am resolved;
    having accomplished my purpose
    and attended to the work set me,
    I look for rest!
    [10]

    "For a long time, Ananda,
    thou hast been very near to me by thoughts
    and acts of such love as never varies
    and is beyond all measure.
    Thou hast done well, Ananda!
    Be earnest in effort
    and thou too shalt soon be free from the great evils,
    from sensuality, from selfishness, from delusion and from ignorance!"
    [11]

    And Ananda, suppressing his tears, said to the Blessed One:
    "Who shall teach us when thou art gone?" [12]

    And the Blessed One replied:
    "I am not the first Buddha who came upon earth,
    nor shall I be the last.
    In due time another Buddha will arise in the world,
    a Holy One, a supremely enlightened One,
    endowed with wisdom in conduct,
    auspicious, knowing the universe,
    an incomparable leader of men,
    a master of angels and mortals.
    He will reveal to you the same eternal truths
    which I have taught you.
    He will preach his religion,
    glorious in its origin,
    glorious at the climax,
    and glorious at the goal,
    in the spirit and in the letter.
    He will proclaim a religous life,
    wholly perfect and pure;
    such as I now proclaim."
    [13]

    Ananda said: "How shall we know him?" [14]

    The Blessed One said:
    "He will be known as Metteyya,
    which means 'he whose name is kindness.'" [15]

    End Chapter 96


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

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