thou who art perfect in wisdom and compassion
Emancipate all beings
And bring them to Buddhahood, amen.”
As the Word of awakening spread around, the ladies cut off their hair, put on the yellow robe, took begging bowls, and came out to meet Buddha. No, he said, “As water is held up by a strong dyke, so have I established a barrier of regulations which are not to be transgressed.” But since even the Princess Yasodhara and his devoted maternal aunt Prajapati Gotami were among this elite group of earnest and fearless women, and Ananda with typical affectionateness and at the importunate insistence of Gotama’s aunt interceded so fervently in their favor, the Blessed One relented and the Sisterhood of Bhikshunis came into being. “Let them be subject and subordinate to the brethren,” he commanded.
“Even so,” spoke the Holy One, “their admission means that the Good Law shall not endure for a thousand years, but only for five hundred. For as when mildew falls upon a field of rice that field is doomed, even so when women leave the household life and join an Order, that Order will not long endure.” Coupled with this was his premonition of the troubles that came in after days when Devadatta rose up and used some of the nuns for his schemes.
The Great King Prasenajit, whose kingdom dwelt in mighty peace yet himself being beset with confusion and doubt after a falling-out with his erstwhile beloved queen, and wishing at this time to hear the good and evil law from the lips of the Honored of the Worlds, found the Buddha, approached him respectfully from the right side, paid his compliments, and sat down.
To King Prasenajit the Tiger of the Law said: “Even those who, by evil Karma, have been born in low degree, when they see a person of virtuous character feel reverence for him; how much rather ought an independent king, who by his previous conditons of life has acquired much merit, when he encounters Buddha, to conceive even more reverence.
“Nor is it difficult that a country should enjoy more rest and peace, by the presence of Buddha, than if he were not to dwell therein.
“Now then, for the sake of the great ruler, I will briefly relate the good and evil law. The great requirement is a loving heart! To regard the people as we do an only son; not to exercise one’s self in false theories, nor to ponder much on kingly dignity, nor to listen to the smooth words of false teachers.
“Not to vex one’s self by ‘lying on a bed of nails,’ but to meditate deeply on the vanity of earthly things, to realize the fickleness of life by constant recollection.
“Not to exalt one’s self by despising others, but to retain an inward sense of happiness resulting from one’s self, and to look forward to increased happiness hereafter resulting also from one’s own self.
“Hear, O Maharajah! Self be your lantern, self be your refuge, no other refuge! The Established Law be your lantern, the Established Law be your refuge!
“Evil words will be repeated far and wide by the multitude, but there are few to follow good direction.
“As when enclosed in a fourstone mountain, there is no escape or place of refuge for anyone, so within this sorrow-piled mountain-wall of old age, birth, disease, and death, there is no other escape for the world than the practicing of the true law by one’s own self.
“All the ancient conquering kings, who were as gods on earth, thought by their strength to overcome decay; but after a brief life they too disappeared.
“Look at your royal chariot; even it is showing signs of wear and tear.
“The Aeon-fire will melt Mount Sumeru, the great water of the ocean will be dried up, how much less can our human frame, which is as a bubble and a thing of unreality, kept through the suffering of the long night of life pampered by wealth, living idly and in carelessness, how does this body expect to endure for long upon the earth! Death suddenly comes and it is carried away as rotten wood
Emancipate all beings
And bring them to Buddhahood, amen.”
As the Word of awakening spread around, the ladies cut off their hair, put on the yellow robe, took begging bowls, and came out to meet Buddha. No, he said, “As water is held up by a strong dyke, so have I established a barrier of regulations which are not to be transgressed.” But since even the Princess Yasodhara and his devoted maternal aunt Prajapati Gotami were among this elite group of earnest and fearless women, and Ananda with typical affectionateness and at the importunate insistence of Gotama’s aunt interceded so fervently in their favor, the Blessed One relented and the Sisterhood of Bhikshunis came into being. “Let them be subject and subordinate to the brethren,” he commanded.
“Even so,” spoke the Holy One, “their admission means that the Good Law shall not endure for a thousand years, but only for five hundred. For as when mildew falls upon a field of rice that field is doomed, even so when women leave the household life and join an Order, that Order will not long endure.” Coupled with this was his premonition of the troubles that came in after days when Devadatta rose up and used some of the nuns for his schemes.
The Great King Prasenajit, whose kingdom dwelt in mighty peace yet himself being beset with confusion and doubt after a falling-out with his erstwhile beloved queen, and wishing at this time to hear the good and evil law from the lips of the Honored of the Worlds, found the Buddha, approached him respectfully from the right side, paid his compliments, and sat down.
To King Prasenajit the Tiger of the Law said: “Even those who, by evil Karma, have been born in low degree, when they see a person of virtuous character feel reverence for him; how much rather ought an independent king, who by his previous conditons of life has acquired much merit, when he encounters Buddha, to conceive even more reverence.
“Nor is it difficult that a country should enjoy more rest and peace, by the presence of Buddha, than if he were not to dwell therein.
“Now then, for the sake of the great ruler, I will briefly relate the good and evil law. The great requirement is a loving heart! To regard the people as we do an only son; not to exercise one’s self in false theories, nor to ponder much on kingly dignity, nor to listen to the smooth words of false teachers.
“Not to vex one’s self by ‘lying on a bed of nails,’ but to meditate deeply on the vanity of earthly things, to realize the fickleness of life by constant recollection.
“Not to exalt one’s self by despising others, but to retain an inward sense of happiness resulting from one’s self, and to look forward to increased happiness hereafter resulting also from one’s own self.
“Hear, O Maharajah! Self be your lantern, self be your refuge, no other refuge! The Established Law be your lantern, the Established Law be your refuge!
“Evil words will be repeated far and wide by the multitude, but there are few to follow good direction.
“As when enclosed in a fourstone mountain, there is no escape or place of refuge for anyone, so within this sorrow-piled mountain-wall of old age, birth, disease, and death, there is no other escape for the world than the practicing of the true law by one’s own self.
“All the ancient conquering kings, who were as gods on earth, thought by their strength to overcome decay; but after a brief life they too disappeared.
“Look at your royal chariot; even it is showing signs of wear and tear.
“The Aeon-fire will melt Mount Sumeru, the great water of the ocean will be dried up, how much less can our human frame, which is as a bubble and a thing of unreality, kept through the suffering of the long night of life pampered by wealth, living idly and in carelessness, how does this body expect to endure for long upon the earth! Death suddenly comes and it is carried away as rotten wood
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