Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists

DoHow Sumedha became a Buddha-Electproceeding on his way near where Sumedha lived, andmen were preparing a path for his feet to tread. Sumedhajoined in this work, and when the Buddha approached laydown in the mud, saying to himself:Can I but keep him from the mire.To me great merit shall accrue.As he lay there the thought came to his mind : "Whyshould I not now cast off all remaining evil in myself andenter into Nirvana? But let me not do so all for myselfalone; rather let me also some day achieve omniscienceand convey a multitude of beings in the ship of doctrineover the ocean of rebirth safely to the farther shore?"Dlpankara, all-knowing, paused by his side and proclaimedhim to the multitude as one who ages after should likewise become a Buddha, and named the place of his birth,his family,his disciples,and his tree. At this the peoplerejoiced for ifthey ; thought, we attain not to Nirvananow, in another life, taught by this other Buddha, theywould have again a good opportunity to learn the truth ;for the doctrine of all Buddhas is the same. All naturethen showed signs and presages in witness of Sumedha sundertaking and dedication each tree bore :fruit, the riversstood still, a rain of flowers fell down from Heaven, the"fires of Hell died down. not turn back," Dlpankarasaid. "Goon! Advance! Most certainly we know thisthing ; surely a Buddha shalt thou be "Sumedha deter1mined then to fulfil the conditions of a Buddhaperfectionin alms, in keeping the precepts, in renunciation, in wisdom,in courage, in patience, in truth, in resolution, in goodwill, and in indifference. Beginning, then, to fulfil theseten conditions of the quest, Sumedha returned to theforest and dwelt there till he passed away.25 1