Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 47: The Preacher's Mission"

Latest revision as of 19:24, 31 December 2013

And the Blessed One said to his disciples: [1]

"When I have passed away and can no longer address you
and edify your minds with religious discourse,
select from among you men of good family and education
to preach the truth in my stead.
And let those men be invested with the robes of the Tathagata,
let them enter into the abode of the Tathagata,
and occupy the pulpit of the Tathagata. [2]

"The robe of the Tathagata is sublime forbearance and patience.
The abode of the Tathagata is charity and love of all beings.
The pulpit of the Tathagata is the comprehension of the good law
in its abstract meaning as well as in its particular application. [3]

"The preacher must propound the truth with unshrinking mind.
He must have the power of persuasion rooted in virtue
and in strict fidelity to his vows. [4]

"The preacher must keep in his proper sphere and be steady in his course.
He must not flatter his vanity by seeking the company of the great,
nor must he keep company with persons who are frivolous and immoral.
When in temptation, he should constantly think of the Buddha and he will conquer. [5]

"All who come to hear the doctrine,
the preacher must receive with benevolence,
and his sermon must be without invidiousness. [6]

"The preacher must not be prone to carp at others,
or to blame other preachers; nor speak scandal, nor propagate bitter words.
He must not mention by name other disciples
to vituperate them and reproach their demeanour. [7]

"Clad in a clean robe, dyed with good colour with appropriate undergarments,
he must ascend the pulpit with a mind free from blame and at peace with the whole world. [8]

"He must not take delight in querulous desputations
or engage in controversies so as to show the superiority of his talents,
but be calm and composed. [9]

"No hostile feelings shall reside in his heart,
and he must never abandon the disposition of charity toward all beings.
His sole aim must be that all beings become Buddhas. [10]

"Let the preacher apply himself with zeal to his work,
and the Tathagata will show to him
the body of the holy law in its transcendent glory.
He shall be honoured as one whom the Tathagata has blessed.
The Tathagata blesses the preacher
and also those who reverently listen to him
and joyfully accept the doctrine. [11]

"All those who receive the truth will find perfect enlightenment.
And, verily, such is the power of the doctrine
that even by the reading of a single stanza,
or by reciting, copying, and keeping in mind
a single sentence of the good law,
persons may be converted to the truth
and enter the path of righteousness
which leads to deliverance from evil. [12]

"Creatures that are swayed by impure passions,
when they listen to the voice, will be purified.
The ignorant who are infatuated with the follies of the world will,
when pondering on the profundity of the doctrine, acquire wisdom.
Those who act under the impulse of hatred will,
when taking refuge in the Buddha, be filled with good-will and love. [13]

"A preacher must be full of energy and cheerful hope,
never tiring and never despairing of final success. [14]

"A preacher must be like a man in quest of water
who digs a well in an arid tract of land.
So long as he sees that the sand is dry and white,
he knows that the water is still far off.
But let him not be troubled or give up the task as hopeless.
The work of removing the dry sand must be done
so that he can dig down deeper into the ground.
And often the deeper he has to dig,
the cooler and purer and more refreshing will the water be. [15]

"When after some time of digging
he sees that the sand becomes moist,
he accepts it as a token that the water is near. [16]

"So long as the people do not listen to the words of truth,
the preacher knows that he has to dig deeper into their hearts;
but when they begin to heed his words
he apprehends that they will soon attain enlightenment. [17]

"Into your hands, O ye men of good family and education
who take the vow of preaching the words of the Tathagata,
the Blessed One transfers, intrusts, and commends the good law of truth. [18]

"Receive the good law of truth, keep it, read and re-read it,
fathom it, promulgate it, and preach it to all beings
in all the quarters of the universe. [19]

"The Tathagata is not avaricious, nor narrow-minded,
and he is willing to impart the perfect Buddha-knowledge
unto all who are ready and willing to receive it.
Be ye like unto him.
Imitate him and follow his example
in bounteously giving, showing,
and bestowing the truth. [20]

"Gather round you hearers who love to listen
to the benign and comforting words of the law;
rouse the unbelievers to accept the truth
and fill them with delight and joy.
Quicken them, edify them,
and lift them higher and higher
until they see the truth face to face
in all its splendour and infinite glory." [21]

When the Blessed One had thus spoken, the disciples said: [22]

"O thou who rejoicest in kindness having its source in compassion,
thou great cloud of good qualities and of benevolent mind,
thou quenchest the fire that vexeth living beings,
thou pourest out nectar, the rain of the law! [23]

"We shall do, O Lord,
what the Tathagata commands.
We shall fulfill his behest;
the Lord shall find us obedient to his words." [24]

And this vow of the disciples resounded through the universe,
and like an echo it came back from all the Bodhisattas who are to be
and will come to preach the good law of Truth to future generations. [25]

And the Blessed One said:
"The Tathagata is like unto a powerful king
who rules his kingdom with righteousness,
but being attacked by envious enemies
goes out to wage war against his foes.
When the king sees his soldiers fight
he is delighted with their gallantry
and will bestow upon them donations of all kinds.
Ye are the soldiers of the Tathagata,
while Mara, the Evil One, is the enemy who must be conquered.
And the Tathagata will give to his soldiers the city of Nirvana,
the great capital of the good law.
And when the enemy is overcome, the Dharma-raja,
the great king of truth, will bestow upon all his disciples
the most precious crown which jewel brings perfect enlightenment,
supreme wisdom, and undisturbed peace." [26]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{DisplayImages|668|2095|1744|278|979|1454|848|1794|1492|889|1833|1120}}
+{{DisplayImages|668|2095|1744|278|979|1454|848|1794|1492|889|1833|1120|1133|1096}}
-And the Blessed One said to his disciples: [1]<br/>
+And the [[Blessed One]] said to his [[disciples]]: [1]<br/>
 <br/>
 "When I have passed away and can no longer address you<br/>
-and edify your minds with religious discourse,<br/>
+and edify your [[minds]] with [[religious]] {{Wiki|discourse}},<br/>
-select from among you men of good family and education<br/>
+select from among you men of good family and [[education]]<br/>
-to preach the truth in my stead.<br/>
+to {{Wiki|preach}} the [[truth]] in my stead.<br/>
-And let those men be invested with the robes of the Tathagata,<br/>
+And let those men be invested with the [[robes]] of the [[Tathagata]],<br/>
-let them enter into the abode of the Tathagata,<br/>
+let them enter into the abode of the [[Tathagata]],<br/>
-and occupy the pulpit of the Tathagata. [2]<br/>
+and occupy the pulpit of the [[Tathagata]]. [2]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The robe of the Tathagata is sublime forbearance and patience.<br/>
+"The robe of the [[Tathagata]] is [[sublime]] [[forbearance]] and [[patience]].<br/>
-The abode of the Tathagata is charity and love of all beings.<br/>
+The abode of the [[Tathagata]] is [[charity]] and [[love]] of all [[beings]].<br/>
-The pulpit of the Tathagata is the comprehension of the good law<br/>
+The pulpit of the [[Tathagata]] is the [[comprehension]] of the good law<br/>
 in its abstract meaning as well as in its particular application. [3]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The preacher must propound the truth with unshrinking mind.<br/>
+"The preacher must propound the [[truth]] with unshrinking [[mind]].<br/>
-He must have the power of persuasion rooted in virtue<br/>
+He must have the power of {{Wiki|persuasion}} rooted in [[virtue]]<br/>
-and in strict fidelity to his vows. [4]<br/>
+and in strict fidelity to his [[vows]]. [4]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The preacher must keep in his proper sphere and be steady in his course.<br/>
+"The preacher must keep in his proper [[sphere]] and be steady in his course.<br/>
 He must not flatter his vanity by seeking the company of the great,<br/>
-nor must he keep company with persons who are frivolous and immoral.<br/>
+nor must he keep company with persons who are frivolous and [[immoral]].<br/>
-When in temptation, he should constantly think of the Buddha and he will conquer. [5]<br/>
+When in {{Wiki|temptation}}, he should constantly think of the [[Buddha]] and he will conquer. [5]<br/>
 <br/>
-"All who come to hear the doctrine,<br/>
+"All who come to hear the [[doctrine]],<br/>
-the preacher must receive with benevolence,<br/>
+the preacher must receive with [[benevolence]],<br/>
-and his sermon must be without invidiousness. [6]<br/>
+and his {{Wiki|sermon}} must be without invidiousness. [6]<br/>
 <br/>
 "The preacher must not be prone to carp at others,<br/>
-or to blame other preachers; nor speak scandal, nor propagate bitter words.<br/>
+or to blame other preachers; nor speak scandal, nor propagate [[bitter]] words.<br/>
-He must not mention by name other disciples<br/>
+He must not mention by [[name]] other [[disciples]]<br/>
 to vituperate them and reproach their demeanour. [7]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Clad in a clean robe, dyed with good colour with appropriate undergarments,<br/>
+"Clad in a clean robe, dyed with good {{Wiki|colour}} with appropriate undergarments,<br/>
-he must ascend the pulpit with a mind free from blame and at peace with the whole world. [8]<br/>
+he must ascend the pulpit with a [[mind]] free from blame and at [[peace]] with the whole [[world]]. [8]<br/>
 <br/>
-"He must not take delight in querulous desputations<br/>
+"He must not take [[delight]] in querulous desputations<br/>
 or engage in controversies so as to show the superiority of his talents,<br/>
-but be calm and composed. [9]<br/>
+but be [[calm]] and composed. [9]<br/>
 <br/>
-"No hostile feelings shall reside in his heart,<br/>
+"No {{Wiki|hostile}} [[feelings]] shall reside in his [[heart]],<br/>
-and he must never abandon the disposition of charity toward all beings.<br/>
+and he must never abandon the disposition of [[charity]] toward all [[beings]].<br/>
-His sole aim must be that all beings become Buddhas. [10]<br/>
+His sole aim must be that all [[beings]] become [[Buddhas]]. [10]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Let the preacher apply himself with zeal to his work,<br/>
+"Let the preacher apply himself with [[zeal]] to his work,<br/>
-and the Tathagata will show to him<br/>
+and the [[Tathagata]] will show to him<br/>
-the body of the holy law in its transcendent glory.<br/>
+the [[body]] of the {{Wiki|holy}} law in its [[transcendent]] glory.<br/>
-He shall be honoured as one whom the Tathagata has blessed.<br/>
+He shall be honoured as one whom the [[Tathagata]] has blessed.<br/>
-The Tathagata blesses the preacher<br/>
+The [[Tathagata]] blesses the preacher<br/>
 and also those who reverently listen to him<br/>
-and joyfully accept the doctrine. [11]<br/>
+and joyfully accept the [[doctrine]]. [11]<br/>
 <br/>
-"All those who receive the truth will find perfect enlightenment.<br/>
+"All those who receive the [[truth]] will find [[perfect enlightenment]].<br/>
-And, verily, such is the power of the doctrine<br/>
+And, verily, such is the power of the [[doctrine]]<br/>
-that even by the reading of a single stanza,<br/>
+that even by the reading of a single [[stanza]],<br/>
-or by reciting, copying, and keeping in mind<br/>
+or by reciting, copying, and keeping in [[mind]]<br/>
 a single sentence of the good law,<br/>
-persons may be converted to the truth<br/>
+persons may be converted to the [[truth]]<br/>
-and enter the path of righteousness<br/>
+and enter the [[path of righteousness]]<br/>
-which leads to deliverance from evil. [12]<br/>
+which leads to [[deliverance]] from [[evil]]. [12]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Creatures that are swayed by impure passions,<br/>
+"Creatures that are swayed by impure [[passions]],<br/>
-when they listen to the voice, will be purified.<br/>
+when they listen to the {{Wiki|voice}}, will be [[purified]].<br/>
-The ignorant who are infatuated with the follies of the world will,<br/>
+The [[ignorant]] who are infatuated with the follies of the [[world]] will,<br/>
-when pondering on the profundity of the doctrine, acquire wisdom.<br/>
+when [[pondering]] on the profundity of the [[doctrine]], acquire [[wisdom]].<br/>
-Those who act under the impulse of hatred will,<br/>
+Those who act under the impulse of [[hatred]] will,<br/>
-when taking refuge in the Buddha, be filled with good-will and love. [13]<br/>
+when [[taking refuge]] in the [[Buddha]], be filled with good-will and [[love]]. [13]<br/>
 <br/>
-"A preacher must be full of energy and cheerful hope,<br/>
+"A preacher must be full of [[energy]] and cheerful {{Wiki|hope}},<br/>
-never tiring and never despairing of final success. [14]<br/>
+never tiring and never despairing of final [[success]]. [14]<br/>
 <br/>
-"A preacher must be like a man in quest of water<br/>
+"A preacher must be like a man in quest of [[water]]<br/>
 who digs a well in an arid tract of land.<br/>
 So long as he sees that the sand is dry and white,<br/>
-he knows that the water is still far off.<br/>
+he [[knows]] that the [[water]] is still far off.<br/>
 But let him not be troubled or give up the task as hopeless.<br/>
 The work of removing the dry sand must be done<br/>
 so that he can dig down deeper into the ground.<br/>
 And often the deeper he has to dig,<br/>
-the cooler and purer and more refreshing will the water be. [15]<br/>
+the cooler and purer and more refreshing will the [[water]] be. [15]<br/>
 <br/>
-"When after some time of digging<br/>
+"When after some [[time]] of digging<br/>
 he sees that the sand becomes moist,<br/>
-he accepts it as a token that the water is near. [16]<br/>
+he accepts it as a token that the [[water]] is near. [16]<br/>
 <br/>
-"So long as the people do not listen to the words of truth,<br/>
+"So long as the [[people]] do not listen to the words of [[truth]],<br/>
-the preacher knows that he has to dig deeper into their hearts;<br/>
+the preacher [[knows]] that he has to dig deeper into their hearts;<br/>
 but when they begin to heed his words<br/>
-he apprehends that they will soon attain enlightenment. [17]<br/>
+he apprehends that they will soon attain [[enlightenment]]. [17]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Into your hands, O ye men of good family and education<br/>
+"Into your hands, O ye men of good family and [[education]]<br/>
-who take the vow of preaching the words of the Tathagata,<br/>
+who take the [[vow]] of preaching the words of the [[Tathagata]],<br/>
-the Blessed One transfers, intrusts, and commends the good law of truth. [18]<br/>
+the [[Blessed One]] transfers, intrusts, and commends the good law of [[truth]]. [18]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Receive the good law of truth, keep it, read and re-read it,<br/>
+"Receive the good law of [[truth]], keep it, read and re-read it,<br/>
-fathom it, promulgate it, and preach it to all beings<br/>
+fathom it, promulgate it, and {{Wiki|preach}} it to all [[beings]]<br/>
-in all the quarters of the universe. [19]<br/>
+in all the quarters of the [[universe]]. [19]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The Tathagata is not avaricious, nor narrow-minded,<br/>
+"The [[Tathagata]] is not avaricious, nor narrow-minded,<br/>
 and he is willing to impart the perfect Buddha-knowledge<br/>
 unto all who are ready and willing to receive it.<br/>
@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
 Imitate him and follow his example<br/>
 in bounteously giving, showing,<br/>
-and bestowing the truth. [20]<br/>
+and bestowing the [[truth]]. [20]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Gather round you hearers who love to listen<br/>
+"[[Gather]] round you hearers who [[love]] to listen<br/>
 to the benign and comforting words of the law;<br/>
-rouse the unbelievers to accept the truth<br/>
+rouse the unbelievers to accept the [[truth]]<br/>
-and fill them with delight and joy.<br/>
+and fill them with [[delight]] and [[joy]].<br/>
 Quicken them, edify them,<br/>
 and lift them higher and higher<br/>
-until they see the truth face to face<br/>
+until they see the [[truth]] face to face<br/>
-in all its splendour and infinite glory." [21]<br/>
+in all its splendour and [[infinite]] glory." [21]<br/>
 <br/>
-When the Blessed One had thus spoken, the disciples said: [22]<br/>
+When the [[Blessed One]] had thus spoken, the [[disciples]] said: [22]<br/>
 <br/>
-"O thou who rejoicest in kindness having its source in compassion,<br/>
+"O thou who rejoicest in [[kindness]] having its source in [[compassion]],<br/>
-thou great cloud of good qualities and of benevolent mind,<br/>
+thou great cloud of good qualities and of {{Wiki|benevolent}} [[mind]],<br/>
-thou quenchest the fire that vexeth living beings,<br/>
+thou quenchest the [[fire]] that vexeth [[living beings]],<br/>
-thou pourest out nectar, the rain of the law! [23]<br/>
+thou pourest out [[nectar]], the [[rain]] of the law! [23]<br/>
 <br/>
-"We shall do, O Lord,<br/>
+"We shall do, O [[Lord]],<br/>
-what the Tathagata commands.<br/>
+what the [[Tathagata]] commands.<br/>
 We shall fulfill his behest;<br/>
-the Lord shall find us obedient to his words." [24]<br/>
+the [[Lord]] shall find us obedient to his words." [24]<br/>
 <br/>
-And this vow of the disciples resounded through the universe,<br/>
+And this [[vow]] of the [[disciples]] resounded through the [[universe]],<br/>
-and like an echo it came back from all the Bodhisattas who are to be<br/>
+and like an echo it came back from all the [[Bodhisattas]] who are to be<br/>
-and will come to preach the good law of Truth to future generations. [25]<br/>
+and will come to {{Wiki|preach}} the good law of [[Truth]] to {{Wiki|future}} generations. [25]<br/>
 <br/>
-And the Blessed One said:<br/>
+And the [[Blessed One]] said:<br/>
-"The Tathagata is like unto a powerful king<br/>
+"The [[Tathagata]] is like unto a powerful [[king]]<br/>
-who rules his kingdom with righteousness,<br/>
+who rules his {{Wiki|kingdom}} with [[righteousness]],<br/>
 but being attacked by envious enemies<br/>
-goes out to wage war against his foes.<br/>
+goes out to wage [[war]] against his foes.<br/>
-When the king sees his soldiers fight<br/>
+When the [[king]] sees his soldiers fight<br/>
-he is delighted with their gallantry<br/>
+he is [[delighted]] with their gallantry<br/>
-and will bestow upon them donations of all kinds.<br/>
+and will bestow upon them {{Wiki|donations}} of all kinds.<br/>
-Ye are the soldiers of the Tathagata,<br/>
+Ye are the soldiers of the [[Tathagata]],<br/>
-while Mara, the Evil One, is the enemy who must be conquered.<br/>
+while [[Mara]], the [[Evil One]], is the enemy who must be conquered.<br/>
-And the Tathagata will give to his soldiers the city of Nirvana,<br/>
+And the [[Tathagata]] will give to his soldiers the city of [[Nirvana]],<br/>
 the great capital of the good law.<br/>
 And when the enemy is overcome, the Dharma-raja,<br/>
-the great king of truth, will bestow upon all his disciples<br/>
+the great [[king]] of [[truth]], will bestow upon all his [[disciples]]<br/>
-the most precious crown which jewel brings perfect enlightenment,<br/>
+the most [[precious]] {{Wiki|crown}} which [[jewel]] brings [[perfect enlightenment]],<br/>
-supreme wisdom, and undisturbed peace." [26]<br/>
+[[supreme wisdom]], and undisturbed [[peace]]." [26]<br/>
 {{The Gospel of Buddha}}

Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 47: The Preacher's Mission"

Latest revision as of 19:24, 31 December 2013

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