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The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

An English translation of one of the five great Tamil classics, a story of Buddhist virtues, magical powers and philosophy; along with a detailed study of the text.

An English translation of one of the five great Tamil classics, a story of Buddhist virtues, magical powers and philosophy; along with a detailed study of the text.

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161 - <strong>Maṇimēkhalai</strong> goes to the Garden<br />

crystal containing a lotus seat with the footmarks of the Buddha of<br />

miraculous power.<br />

Flowers in bloom shot into full blossom immediately, if placed on it;<br />

full blown flowers placed on it never faded; bees would not smell<br />

them. Further, people who wished to offer flowers to any of the gods<br />

would have their wishes fulfilled if, with their thoughts on their gods,<br />

they placed their flower offerings on the seat; if without any thought<br />

flowers should be placed on it, they would never go out of it.<br />

This Buddha seat with the peculiar features described above was<br />

erected in this garden by the divine architect Maya, to illustrate at<br />

one and the same time the two principles that those who do a thing<br />

without setting their minds upon it in full, will not reap the fruit of<br />

their action; and that whatever is done without an undisturbed [119]<br />

resolution of the mind to do so, will not bear fruit.<br />

Having said this, Sutamatī with <strong>Maṇimēkhalai</strong> went along threading<br />

their way through the various crowds of idle people, a crowd<br />

following these two praising the beauty of <strong>Maṇimēkhalai</strong> and<br />

blaming her mother for having consigned her to this life of asceticism,<br />

and ultimately reached the flower garden, which was their objective.

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