Lives of Alcyone

was burning near, and told them how it was no inapt symbol of
delusion, in that the flame looked like what it was not; it seemed
solid while it was not so, and it burned the man who touched it. Then
He explained how all passion and all desire were like the burning
flame—how with them, as with it, no half-measures were useful,
since the fire was never safe until it was utterly stamped out---never
certain not to reappear and cause devastation until there was no
single spark of it left. So, He said, must anger, passion, desire,
delusion, be stamped out of the human heart. Only then could peace
be attained, only then could man enter upon the Path.
The impression produced upon both the cousins was
indescribable. At once Alcyone announced his intention of giving up
everything in the world, and devoting himself entirely to following the
Lord. His wife Irene immediately agreed with him, and he proposed
to turn over to Mizar his share in the temple, the headship of the
family, and all his worldly wealth. Mizar, however, refused to receive
this, and declared that if Alcyone devoted himself to the religious life
he would do so too, and even Thetis approved of this, though she
said that she could not dare to offer herself for it, after all that had
happened. Alcyone thought that the family should be perpetuated
and the office of manager of the temple should be carried on,
because of their promise to the father Jagannadha; and finally they
went together to the Lord Buddha, told Him all that had happened
from the beginning to the end, and put themselves unreservedly in
His hands. The Blessed One heard their story, and to Alcyone He
said:
“ Are you sure that there remains now no taint of hatred in
your heart—that you forgive to the uttermost, even the death of your