Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 98: The Three Personalities of the Buddha"

Latest revision as of 20:20, 31 December 2013

When the Blessed One had passed away into Nirvana,
the disciples came together and consulted what to do
in order to keep the Dharma pure and uncorrupted by heresies. [1]

And Upali rose, saying: [2]

"Our great Master used to say to the brethren:
'O bhikkhus! after my final entrance into Nirvana
you must reverence and obey the law.
Regard the law as your master.
The law is like unto a light
that shines in the darkness,
pointing out the way;
it is also like unto a precious jewel
to gain which you must shun no trouble,
and be ready to bring any sacrifice,
even, should it be needed, your own lives.
Obey the Dharma which I have revealed to you;
follow it carefully and regard it
in no way different from myself.' [3]

"Such were the words of the Blessed One. [4]

"The law, accordingly, which the Buddha has left us as a precious inheritance
has now become the visible body of the Tathagata.
Let us, therefore, revere it and keep it sacred.
For what is the use of erecting dagobas for relics,
if we neglect the spirit of the Master's teachings?" [5]

And Anuruddha arose and said: [6]

"Let us bear in mind, O brethren,
that Gotama Siddhattha has revealed the truth to us.
He was the Holy One and the Perfect One and the Blessed One,
because the eteranl truth had taken abode in him. [7]

"The Tathagata taught us
that the truth existed before he was born into this world,
and will exist after he has entered into the bliss of Nirvana. [8]

"The Tathagata said: [9]

"'The truth is omnipresent and eternal,
endowed with excellencies innumerable,
above all human nature,
and ineffable in its holiness.' [10]

"Now, let us bear in mind that not this or that law
which is revealed to us in the Dharma is the Buddha,
but the entire truth, the truth which is eternal,
omnipresent, immutable, and most excellent. [11]

"Many regulations of the Sangha are temporary;
they were prescribed because they suited the occasion
and were needed for some transient emergency.
The truth, however, is not temporary. [12]

"The truth is not arbitrary
nor a matter of opinion,
but can be investigated,
and he who earnestly searches for the truth
will find it. [13]

"The truth is hidden to the blind,
but he who has the mental eye sees the truth.
The truth is Buddha's essence,
and the truth will remain the ultimate standard
by which we can discern false and true doctrines. [14]

"Let us, then, revere the truth;
let us inquire into the truth and state it,
and let us obey the truth.
For the truth is Buddha our Master,
our Teacher, our Lord." [15]

And Kassapa rose and said: [16]

"Truly thou hast spoken well, O brother Anuruddha.
Neither is there any conflict of opinion on the meaning of our religion.
For the Blessed One possesses three personalities,
and every one of them is of equal importance to us. [17]

"There is the Dharma Kaya.
There is the Nirmana Kaya.
There is the Sambhoga Kaya. [18]

"Buddha is the all-excellent truth,
eternal, omnipresent, and immutable.
This is the Sambhoda Kaya
which is in a state of perfect bliss. [19]

"Buddha is the all-loving teacher
assuming the shape of the beings whom he teaches.
This is the Nirmana Kaya,
his apparitional body. [20]

"Buddha is the all-blessed dispensation of religion.
He is the spirit of the Sangha and the meaning of the commands
which he has left us in his sacred world, the Dharma.
This is the Dharma Kaya,
the body of the most excellent law. [21]

"If buddha had not appeared to us as Gotama Sakyamuni,
how could we have the sacred traditions of his doctrine?
And if the generations to come
did not have the sacred traditions preserved in the Sangha,
how could they know anything of the great Sakyamuni?
And neither we nor others would know anything about the most excellent truth
which is eternal, omnipresent, and immutable. [22]

"Let us then keep sacred and revere the traditions;
let us keep sacred the memory of Gotama Sakyamuni,
so that people may find the truth;
for he whose spiritual eye is open will discover it,
and it is the same to every one who possesses the comprehension of a Buddha
to recognize it and to expound it." [23]

Then the brethren decided to convene a synod in Rajagaha
in order to lay down the pure doctrines of the Blessed One,
to collect and collate the sacred writings,
and to establish a canon which should serve
as a source of instruction for future generations. [24]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{DisplayImages|529|1003|517|1895|1087|2117|1256|937|386|1511|1532|1084}}
-When the Blessed One had passed away into Nirvana,<br/>
+When the [[Blessed One]] had passed away into [[Nirvana]],<br/>
-the disciples came together and consulted what to do<br/>
+the [[disciples]] came together and consulted what to do<br/>
-in order to keep the Dharma pure and uncorrupted by heresies. [1]<br/>
+in order to keep the [[Dharma]] [[pure]] and uncorrupted by heresies. [1]<br/>
 <br/>
-And Upali rose, saying: [2]<br/>
+And [[Upali]] rose, saying: [2]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Our great Master used to say to the brethren:<br/>
+"Our great [[Master]] used to say to the brethren:<br/>
-'O bhikkhus! after my final entrance into Nirvana<br/>
+'O [[bhikkhus]]! after my final entrance into [[Nirvana]]<br/>
 you must reverence and obey the law.<br/>
-Regard the law as your master.<br/>
+Regard the law as your [[master]].<br/>
 The law is like unto a light<br/>
 that shines in the darkness,<br/>
 pointing out the way;<br/>
-it is also like unto a precious jewel<br/>
+it is also like unto a [[precious]] [[jewel]]<br/>
 to gain which you must shun no trouble,<br/>
-and be ready to bring any sacrifice,<br/>
+and be ready to bring any {{Wiki|sacrifice}},<br/>
-even, should it be needed, your own lives.<br/>
+even, should it be needed, your own [[lives]].<br/>
-Obey the Dharma which I have revealed to you;<br/>
+Obey the [[Dharma]] which I have revealed to you;<br/>
 follow it carefully and regard it<br/>
 in no way different from myself.' [3]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Such were the words of the Blessed One. [4]<br/>
+"Such were the words of the [[Blessed One]]. [4]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The law, accordingly, which the Buddha has left us as a precious inheritance<br/>
+"The law, accordingly, which the [[Buddha]] has left us as a [[precious]] inheritance<br/>
-has now become the visible body of the Tathagata.<br/>
+has now become the [[visible]] [[body]] of the [[Tathagata]].<br/>
-Let us, therefore, revere it and keep it sacred.<br/>
+Let us, therefore, revere it and keep it [[sacred]].<br/>
-For what is the use of erecting dagobas for relics,<br/>
+For what is the use of erecting [[dagobas]] for [[relics]],<br/>
-if we neglect the spirit of the Master's teachings?" [5]<br/>
+if we neglect the [[spirit]] of the [[Master's]] teachings?" [5]<br/>
 <br/>
-And Anuruddha arose and said: [6]<br/>
+And [[Anuruddha]] arose and said: [6]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Let us bear in mind, O brethren,<br/>
+"Let us bear in [[mind]], O brethren,<br/>
-that Gotama Siddhattha has revealed the truth to us.<br/>
+that [[Gotama]] [[Siddhattha]] has revealed the [[truth]] to us.<br/>
-He was the Holy One and the Perfect One and the Blessed One,<br/>
+He was the [[Holy One]] and the [[Perfect One]] and the [[Blessed One]],<br/>
-because the eteranl truth had taken abode in him. [7]<br/>
+because the eteranl [[truth]] had taken abode in him. [7]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The Tathagata taught us<br/>
+"The [[Tathagata]] taught us<br/>
-that the truth existed before he was born into this world,<br/>
+that the [[truth]] existed before he was born into this [[world]],<br/>
-and will exist after he has entered into the bliss of Nirvana. [8]<br/>
+and will [[exist]] after he has entered into the [[bliss]] of [[Nirvana]]. [8]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The Tathagata said: [9]<br/>
+"The [[Tathagata]] said: [9]<br/>
 <br/>
-"'The truth is omnipresent and eternal,<br/>
+"'The [[truth]] is {{Wiki|omnipresent}} and [[eternal]],<br/>
 endowed with excellencies innumerable,<br/>
-above all human nature,<br/>
+above all [[human nature]],<br/>
-and ineffable in its holiness.' [10]<br/>
+and {{Wiki|ineffable}} in its holiness.' [10]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Now, let us bear in mind that not this or that law<br/>
+"Now, let us bear in [[mind]] that not this or that law<br/>
-which is revealed to us in the Dharma is the Buddha,<br/>
+which is revealed to us in the [[Dharma]] is the [[Buddha]],<br/>
-but the entire truth, the truth which is eternal,<br/>
+but the entire [[truth]], the [[truth]] which is [[eternal]],<br/>
-omnipresent, immutable, and most excellent. [11]<br/>
+{{Wiki|omnipresent}}, immutable, and most {{Wiki|excellent}}. [11]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Many regulations of the Sangha are temporary;<br/>
+"Many regulations of the [[Sangha]] are temporary;<br/>
 they were prescribed because they suited the occasion<br/>
 and were needed for some transient emergency.<br/>
-The truth, however, is not temporary. [12]<br/>
+The [[truth]], however, is not temporary. [12]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The truth is not arbitrary<br/>
+"The [[truth]] is not arbitrary<br/>
 nor a matter of opinion,<br/>
 but can be investigated,<br/>
-and he who earnestly searches for the truth<br/>
+and he who earnestly searches for the [[truth]]<br/>
 will find it. [13]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The truth is hidden to the blind,<br/>
+"The [[truth]] is hidden to the blind,<br/>
-but he who has the mental eye sees the truth.<br/>
+but he who has the [[mental]] [[eye]] sees the [[truth]].<br/>
-The truth is Buddha's essence,<br/>
+The [[truth]] is [[Buddha's]] [[essence]],<br/>
-and the truth will remain the ultimate standard<br/>
+and the [[truth]] will remain the [[Wikipedia:Absolute (philosophy)|ultimate]] standard<br/>
-by which we can discern false and true doctrines. [14]<br/>
+by which we can discern false and true [[doctrines]]. [14]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Let us, then, revere the truth;<br/>
+"Let us, then, revere the [[truth]];<br/>
-let us inquire into the truth and state it,<br/>
+let us inquire into the [[truth]] and state it,<br/>
-and let us obey the truth.<br/>
+and let us obey the [[truth]].<br/>
-For the truth is Buddha our Master,<br/>
+For the [[truth]] is [[Buddha]] our [[Master]],<br/>
-our Teacher, our Lord." [15]<br/>
+our [[Teacher]], our [[Lord]]." [15]<br/>
 <br/>
-And Kassapa rose and said: [16]<br/>
+And [[Kassapa]] rose and said: [16]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Truly thou hast spoken well, O brother Anuruddha.<br/>
+"Truly thou hast spoken well, O brother [[Anuruddha]].<br/>
-Neither is there any conflict of opinion on the meaning of our religion.<br/>
+Neither is there any conflict of opinion on the meaning of our [[religion]].<br/>
-For the Blessed One possesses three personalities,<br/>
+For the [[Blessed One]] possesses [[three personalities]],<br/>
-and every one of them is of equal importance to us. [17]<br/>
+and every one of them is of {{Wiki|equal}} importance to us. [17]<br/>
 <br/>
-"There is the Dharma Kaya.<br/>
+"There is the [[Dharma]] [[Kaya]].<br/>
-There is the Nirmana Kaya.<br/>
+There is the [[Nirmana Kaya]].<br/>
-There is the Sambhoga Kaya. [18]<br/>
+There is the Sambhoga [[Kaya]]. [18]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Buddha is the all-excellent truth,<br/>
+"[[Buddha]] is the all-excellent [[truth]],<br/>
-eternal, omnipresent, and immutable.<br/>
+[[eternal]], {{Wiki|omnipresent}}, and immutable.<br/>
-This is the Sambhoda Kaya<br/>
+This is the Sambhoda [[Kaya]]<br/>
-which is in a state of perfect bliss. [19]<br/>
+which is in a state of [[perfect bliss]]. [19]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Buddha is the all-loving teacher<br/>
+"[[Buddha]] is the all-loving [[teacher]]<br/>
-assuming the shape of the beings whom he teaches.<br/>
+assuming the shape of the [[beings]] whom he teaches.<br/>
-This is the Nirmana Kaya,<br/>
+This is the [[Nirmana Kaya]],<br/>
-his apparitional body. [20]<br/>
+his apparitional [[body]]. [20]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Buddha is the all-blessed dispensation of religion.<br/>
+"[[Buddha]] is the all-blessed dispensation of [[religion]].<br/>
-He is the spirit of the Sangha and the meaning of the commands<br/>
+He is the [[spirit]] of the [[Sangha]] and the meaning of the commands<br/>
-which he has left us in his sacred world, the Dharma.<br/>
+which he has left us in his [[sacred]] [[world]], the [[Dharma]].<br/>
-This is the Dharma Kaya,<br/>
+This is the [[Dharma]] [[Kaya]],<br/>
-the body of the most excellent law. [21]<br/>
+the [[body]] of the most {{Wiki|excellent}} law. [21]<br/>
 <br/>
-"If buddha had not appeared to us as Gotama Sakyamuni,<br/>
+"If [[buddha]] had not appeared to us as [[Gotama]] [[Sakyamuni]],<br/>
-how could we have the sacred traditions of his doctrine?<br/>
+how could we have the [[sacred]] [[traditions]] of his [[doctrine]]?<br/>
 And if the generations to come<br/>
-did not have the sacred traditions preserved in the Sangha,<br/>
+did not have the [[sacred]] [[traditions]] preserved in the [[Sangha]],<br/>
-how could they know anything of the great Sakyamuni?<br/>
+how could they know anything of the great [[Sakyamuni]]?<br/>
-And neither we nor others would know anything about the most excellent truth<br/>
+And neither we nor others would know anything about the most {{Wiki|excellent}} [[truth]]<br/>
-which is eternal, omnipresent, and immutable. [22]<br/>
+which is [[eternal]], {{Wiki|omnipresent}}, and immutable. [22]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Let us then keep sacred and revere the traditions;<br/>
+"Let us then keep [[sacred]] and revere the [[traditions]];<br/>
-let us keep sacred the memory of Gotama Sakyamuni,<br/>
+let us keep [[sacred]] the [[memory]] of [[Gotama]] [[Sakyamuni]],<br/>
-so that people may find the truth;<br/>
+so that [[people]] may find the [[truth]];<br/>
-for he whose spiritual eye is open will discover it,<br/>
+for he whose [[spiritual]] [[eye]] is open will discover it,<br/>
-and it is the same to every one who possesses the comprehension of a Buddha<br/>
+and it is the same to every one who possesses the [[comprehension]] of a [[Buddha]]<br/>
-to recognize it and to expound it." [23]<br/>
+to [[recognize]] it and to expound it." [23]<br/>
 <br/>
-Then the brethren decided to convene a synod in Rajagaha<br/>
+Then the brethren decided to convene a synod in [[Rajagaha]]<br/>
-in order to lay down the pure doctrines of the Blessed One,<br/>
+in order to lay down the [[pure]] [[doctrines]] of the [[Blessed One]],<br/>
-to collect and collate the sacred writings,<br/>
+to collect and collate the [[sacred]] writings,<br/>
-and to establish a canon which should serve<br/>
+and to establish a [[canon]] which should serve<br/>
-as a source of instruction for future generations. [24]<br/>
+as a source of instruction for {{Wiki|future}} generations. [24]<br/>
 {{The Gospel of Buddha}}

Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 98: The Three Personalities of the Buddha"

Latest revision as of 20:20, 31 December 2013

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