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Buddha-carita, or Life of Buddha by Ven. Aśvaghoṣa

An English translation of this famous life of the Buddha, one of the great pieces of Sanskrit literature, with additions to help complete the text.

An English translation of this famous life of the Buddha, one of the great pieces of Sanskrit literature, with additions to help complete the text.

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<strong>Buddha</strong>-<strong>carita</strong>, <strong>or</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Buddha</strong> - 151<br />

62. ‘But another wise man, having contracted his soul which is <strong>by</strong><br />

nature extended everywhere like the ether, – as he gazes ever further<br />

on, detects a yet higher distinction.<br />

63. ‘Another one <strong>of</strong> those who are pr<strong>of</strong>oundly versed in the supreme<br />

Self, having abolished himself <strong>by</strong> himself, sees that nothing exists and<br />

is called a Nihilist.<br />

64. ‘Then like the Muñja-reed’s stalk from its sheath <strong>or</strong> the bird from<br />

its cage, the soul, escaped from the body, is declared to be "liberated."<br />

65. ‘This is that supreme Brahman, constant, eternal, and without<br />

distinctive signs; which the wise who know reality declare to be<br />

liberation.<br />

66. ‘Thus have I shown to thee the means and liberation; if thou hast<br />

understood and approved it, then act acc<strong>or</strong>dingly.<br />

67. ‘Jaigīṣavya and Janaka, and the aged Parāsara, <strong>by</strong> following this<br />

path, were liberated, and so were others who sought liberation.’<br />

68. The prince having not accepted his w<strong>or</strong>ds but having pondered<br />

them, filled with the f<strong>or</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> his f<strong>or</strong>mer arguments, thus made<br />

answer:<br />

69. ‘I have heard this thy doctrine, subtil and pre-eminently<br />

auspicious, but I hold that it cannot be final, because it does not teach<br />

us how to abandon this soul itself in the various bodies.

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