The Gospel of Buddha

Preface

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The Gospel of Buddha

Luxurious Living

While the Buddha was preaching his doctrine
for the conversion of the world in the neighbourhood of Savatthi,
a man of great wealth who suffered from many ailments
came to him with clasped hands and said:
"World-honoured Buddha,
pardon me for my want of respect in not saluting thee as I ought,
but I suffer greatly from obesity, excessive drowsiness, and other complaints,
so that I cannot move without pain." [1]

The Tathagata, seeing the luxuries with which the man was surrounded asked him:
"Hast thou a desire to know the cause of thy ailments?"
And when the wealthy man expressed his willingness to learn, the Blessed One said:
"There are five things which produce the condition of which thou complainest:
opulent dinners, love of sleep, hankering after pleasure,
thoughtlessness, and lack of occupation.
Exercise self-control at thy meals, and take upon thyself
some duties that will exercise thy abilities
and make thee useful to thy fellow-men.
In following this advice thou wilt prolong thy life." [2]

The rich man remembered the words of the Buddha
and after some time having recovered his lightness
and body and youthful buoyancy
returned to the World-honoured One and,
coming afoot without horses and attendants, said to him:
"Master, thou hast cured my bodily ailments;
I come now to seek enlightenment of my mind." [3]

And the Blessed One said:
"The worldling nourishes his body,
but the wise man nourishes his mind.
He who indulges in the satisfaction of his appetites works his own destruction;
but he who walks in the path will have both the salvation from evil
and a prolongation of life." [4]

End Chapter 70

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