Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

DHAMMAPADA.
death and life both conjoined. And when the body-
dies, and the spirit flees, a^ when a royal personage
rejects a (broken) chariot, so do the flesh and bones
lie scattered and dispersed. What reliance, then,
can one place on the body ?
On hearing these words, the Brahmans became soherejd
and thoughtful, and finally attained to the condition of
Eahats.
2. In days of old, when Buddha was residing in the
Jetavana, at ^rlvastl, preaching the Law for the good of
Devas and men,- at this time there was a Brahman village,
consisting of some five hundred or more families, in which
were also five hundred young JSrahman students training
themselves in the secret lore of their caste, and filled with
disdain for all others, without any reverence for old age
or superior rank. Now these five hundred youths, vaunt-
iug their own powers of investigating truth, spoke thus
" As for this Shaman Gotama, he does hut self-style him-
self Buddha; his talents reach hut httle way compared
with ours ; we ought to challenge him to come here and
dispute with us." Accordingly, they sent one to challenge
him ; and so Buddha, with all his disciples, came to the
place, and having sat down heside some running water,
they ate their food and washed their hands. At this time
an old Brahman and his wife passed along through the
village, begging their food. Buddha, knowing that formerly
this old man had been very rich, and one of the
chief ministers of the kingdom, he immediately turned to
the young Brahmans, and asked them whether they knew
who this- old man was ? They all answered at once, " We
know perfectly." And then Buddha mquired again, " And
who is he ? " They said, " He was formerly a great mini-
ster, and very rich." "Then how is it (Buddha asked)
he is now begging his food?" To which they replied,
" Because he took no care of his money, and was foolish
"
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