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

THE TRAVELS OF FA-HIEN 249
da, that he was not able to ask Buddha to remain longer in this
world.
Three or four li east from this place there is a tope commemorating
the following occurrence : A hundred years after
the pari-nirvana of Buddha, some Bhikshus of Vaisali went
wrong in the matter of the disciplinary rules in ten particulars,
and appealed for their justification to what they said were the
words of Buddha. Hereupon the Arhats and Bhikshus observant
of the rules, to the number in all of seven hundred
monks, examined afresh and collated the collection of disci-
plinary books. ^ Subsequently men built at this place the tope
in question, which is still existing.
CHAPTER XXVI
Remarkable Death of Ananda
Four yojanas on from this place to the east brought the
travellers to the confluence of the five rivers. When Ananda
was going from Magadha to Vaisali, wishing his pari-nirvana
to take place there, the devas informed king Ajatasatru^ of it,
and the king immediately pursued him, in his own grand carriage,
with a body of soldiers, and had reached the river. On
the other hand, the Lichchhavis of Vaisali had heard that
Ananda was coming to their city, and they on their part came
to meet him. In this way, they all arrived together at the
river, and Ananda considered that, if he went forward, king
Ajatasatru would be very angry, while, if he went back, the
Lichchhavis would resent his conduct. He thereupon in the
very middle of the river burnt his body in a fiery ecstasy of
Samadhi,- and his pari-nirvana was attained. He divided his
the top of the Kamadhatu. He assumes ^ He was the son of king Bimbisara,
different forms, especially monstrous who was one of the first royal converts
ones, to ternpt or frighten the saints, to Buddhism. Ajasat murdered his
or sends his daughters, or inspires father, or at least wrought his death;
wicked men like Devadatta or the Nir- and was at first opposed to Sakyamuni,
granthas to do his work. He is often and a favorer of Devadotta. When
represented with one hundred arms, and converted, he became famous for his
riding on an elephant. liberality in almsgiving.
^ Or the Vinaya-pitaka. The meeting ^ " Samadhi," says Eitel, " signifies
referred to was an important one, and is the highest pitch of abstract, ecstatic
generally spoken of as the second Great meditation; a state of absolute indiffer-
Council of the Buddhist Church. The ence to all influences from within or
first Council was that held at Rajagriha, without; a state of torpor of botli the
shortly after Buddha's death, under the material and spiritual forces of vitality;
presidency of Kasyapa—say about B.C. a sort of terrestrial Nirvana, consistently
410. The second was that spoken of culminating in total destruction of life."
here—say about B.C. 300.