Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

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WIDE AND DIFFUSIVE. 135
and grossness of habit ; if you would escape from this condition,
then you must give up your luxurious living, and
afterwards you will become thin again. And then the
Lord added these stanzas :
' "
A man ought to recollect and consider at every
meal to exercise self-control, and thus avoid those
aches and pains to which we are constantly liable
by allowing time for taking food, he causes his life
to be prolonged."
On hearing these verses, the king was so gratified that
he ordered his chief cook to remember them, 'and to recite
them in his presence before and after every meal. By
doing thus the king was able to restrain himself, and
gradually recovered his lightness of body and animal
spirits, at which- he was so rejoiced, that one day he went
afoot to the place where Buddha was, and coming into his
presence he paid him homage. On the Lord requesting
him to be seated, he inquired, "Where, king, are your
horses and chariot, how is it that you have come here
afoot ? " On which the king answered with joy— " By
attending to what Buddha, on a former occasion taught
me, I have become light of body again, so that I find no
difficulty whatever in walking as I have to the place
where we are now assembled." Then Buddha addressed
the king as foUows :— " Mah§,raja !
it is because men do not
consider the impermanence of things in the world that
matters are as they are. They nourish and cherish their
bodies and their appetites, not remembering even their
own comfort (happiness) in so doing, and thus the man
dies and his spirit departs, whilst his body decays in
the tomb. The wise man nourishes his soul (spirit), the
foolish man nourishes his body. If you can understand
this, then you may prepare yourself to receive the sacred
teaching (of my doctrine)," and then the Lord added these
verses :
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