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Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

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TWIN VERSES. 6^<br />

following <strong>the</strong> king." The two mercliants having departed<br />

<strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> city some thirty U, came to an inn where <strong>the</strong>y<br />

put up. In taking some wine <strong>the</strong> good merchant w<strong>as</strong><br />

restrained and protected by <strong>the</strong> four guardian spirits that<br />

watch over <strong>the</strong> world. The o<strong>the</strong>r, on <strong>the</strong> contrary, w<strong>as</strong><br />

incited by an evil spirit to drink on, till he w<strong>as</strong> overpowered<br />

by sleep, and lay down ia <strong>the</strong> road near <strong>the</strong> inn.<br />

Early in <strong>the</strong> morning, <strong>the</strong> merchants' waggons leaving <strong>the</strong><br />

place, <strong>the</strong> drivers not perceiving <strong>the</strong> man lying in <strong>the</strong> road,<br />

he w<strong>as</strong> crushed to death by <strong>the</strong> waggon wheels.<br />

[The o<strong>the</strong>r merchant, having come to a distant country,<br />

w<strong>as</strong> selected by <strong>the</strong> genuflection of a sacred horse l to<br />

succeed <strong>the</strong> king; and he accordingly w<strong>as</strong> appointed to<br />

<strong>the</strong> throne. After this, considering <strong>the</strong> strange turn events<br />

had taken, he returned and iuvited Buddha to visit him,<br />

and preach to his people—on which occ<strong>as</strong>ion <strong>the</strong> Worldhonoured<br />

one declared <strong>the</strong> re<strong>as</strong>on of <strong>the</strong> death of <strong>the</strong> evilmiaded<br />

merchant, and <strong>the</strong> prosperity of him who thought<br />

wisely, and <strong>the</strong>n added <strong>the</strong>se lines]<br />

"<br />

"The mind is <strong>the</strong> origin of all that is ; ^ <strong>the</strong> mind<br />

is <strong>the</strong> m<strong>as</strong>ter, <strong>the</strong> mind is <strong>the</strong> cause.* If in <strong>the</strong> ,<br />

midst of <strong>the</strong> mind* <strong>the</strong>re are evil thoughts, <strong>the</strong>n<br />

<strong>the</strong> vi^ords are evil, <strong>the</strong> deeds are evil, and <strong>the</strong> sorrow<br />

which results <strong>from</strong> sin follows that man, <strong>as</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

chariot wheel follows him (or it) who draws it,<br />

' Tliia reference to a " sacred horse " seems to agree with <strong>the</strong> P41i " manois<br />

curious. It seems to show some mayo," "springing <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> mind"<br />

connection of<br />

worship.<br />

Buddhism with Sun- (Oh. sub. voc), whilst <strong>the</strong> Chinese<br />

"tsun" corresponds with "setfho"<br />

3 In <strong>the</strong> Chu'h Yau (Cod. iii.) this (best, excellent, &c.)<br />

verse occurs under <strong>the</strong> heading of *,The Chinese "chung sin,'' al-<br />

"Thought," K. xix. fol. f.<br />

' This translation differs <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Pali. AU <strong>the</strong> Chinese versions, howthough<br />

irregular, seems to be a close<br />

version of <strong>the</strong> Pali "man<strong>as</strong>a." The<br />

question arises whe<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong>se transever,<br />

are agreed, and no o<strong>the</strong>r rendering<br />

seems to be admissible— "The<br />

lations <strong>the</strong> construction is not adapted<br />

to <strong>the</strong> original, in opposition to strict<br />

mind is supreme, <strong>the</strong> mind is <strong>the</strong> rules,<br />

cause." The latter term " shi<br />

,<br />

:

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