Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

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THE TRAVELS OF FA-HIEN
Maha-prajapati ;^ of the well and walls of the house of the
Vaisya head Sudatta;- and where the Angulimalya'^ became
an Arhat, and his body was afterwards burned on his attaining
to pari-nirvana. At all these places topes were subsequently
erected, which are still existing in the city. The Brahmans,
with their contrary doctrine, became full of hatred and envy in
their hearts, and wished to destroy them, but there came from
the heavens such a storm of crashing thunder and flashing
lightning that they were not able in the end to effect their pur-
pose.
As you go out from the city by the south gate, and one
thousand two hundred paces from it, the Vaisya head Sudatta
built a vihara, facing the south ; and when the door was open,
on each side of it there was a stone pillar, with the figure of a
wheel on the top of that on the left, and the figure of an ox on
the top of that on the right. On the left and right of the build-
ing the ponds of water clear and pure, the thickets of trees
always luxuriant, and the numerous flowers of various hues,
constituted a lovely scene, the whole forming what is called
the Jetavana vihara.
When Buddha went up to the Trayastrimsas heaven, and
preached the Law for the benefit of his mother, after he had
been absent for ninety days, Prasenajit, longing to see him,
caused an image of him to be carved in Gosirsha Chandana
wood, and put in the place where he usually sat. When Buddha,
on his return entered the vihara, this image immediately
left its place, and came forth to meet him. Buddha said to it,
" Return to your seat. After I have attained to pari-nirvana,
you will serve as a pattern to the four classes of my disciples,"*
and on this the image returned to its seat. This was the very
first of all the images of Buddha, and that which men subse-
* Explained by " Path of Love," and force of circumstances. Being convert-
" Lord of Life." Prajapati was aunt and ed by Buddha, he became a monk,
nurse of Sakyamuni, the first woman * Arya, meaning " honorable," " venadmitted
to the monkhood, and the first erable," is a title given only to those
superior of the first Buddhistic con- who have mastered the four spiritual
vent. She is yet to become a Buddha. truths:— (i) that " miserj; " is a neces-
* Sudatta, meaning " almsgiver," was sary condition of all sentient existence;
the original name of Anatha-pindika, this is duhka: (2) that the " accumulaa
wealthy householder, or Vaisya head, tion " of misery is caused by the pasof
Sravasti, famous for his liberality. sions; this is samudaya: (3) that the
Of his old house, only the well and " extinction " of passion is possible;
walls remainedat the time of Fa-hien's this is nirodha: and (4) that the "path "
visit to Sravasti. _ leads to the extinction of passion; which
* The Angulimalya were a sect or set is marga. According to their attainment
of Sivaitic fanatics, who made assassi- of these truths, the Aryas, or followers
nation a religious act. The one of them of Buddha, are distinguished ipto four
here mentioned had joined them by the classes—Srotapannas, Sakridagamins,
Anagamins, and Arhats.