The Life of Gotama the Buddha

Compiled exclusively from the Pali Canon

E.H. Brewster

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Year: 2013
• eBook ISBN: 9781136377488
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Sciences sociales
• Subtopic: Études ethniques

This is Volume XII of sixteen of the Oriental series looking at Buddhism. It was written in 1926, and looks at the Life of Gotama the Buddha, a religious teacher and reformer. This work is complied from the Pali Canon of the three Pitakas.

PART I
THE EARLIEST YEARS

Honour to the Exalted One
The Arahant Buddha Supreme

THE PROPHECY OF ASITA

(FROM THE POEM “ NĂLAKASUTTA” OF THE SUTTA-NIPĂTA)

The Seer Asita saw in their leisure hour groups of nextworld devas joyful and glad, and the devas of bright garments, holding scarves and eagerly praising their ruler.

Seeing the devas so pleased and uplifted, paying due heed, he thereupon said: “ Why is the assembly of devas so greatly pleased, why are you waving scarves ? ”

“ There was not such excitement when in the battle with the Asuras they were defeated and the devas were victorious. What wonder have the devas seen that they rejoice so greatly ? ”

“ They shout and sing and make music, they wave their arms and dance ; I ask you, inhabitants of Meru’s peaks. O sirs, quickly dispel my doubt.”

“The Bodhisatta, the excellent pearl, the incomparable, is born for good and for blessing in the world of men, in the Sakyas’ town, in the country of Lumbini. Therefore are we glad and are greatly rejoicing.”

“ He, the most excellent of all beings, the highest man, the bull of men, the most excellent of all creatures, will turn the wheel (of the Dhamma) in the Wood of the Seers, roaring like a lion, mighty lord of beasts.”

(The Saint Asita) having heard those tidings, descended swiftly. Then he went to the dwellings of Suddhodana, and being seated there he thus addressed the Sakyas : “ Where is the prince ? I too wish to behold him.”

Then the Sakyas showed to Asita, the child, their prince, who was like the shining gold, beaten out by a very skilful (smith) in the mouth of a crucible, beaming with glory and of peerless beauty.

Seeing the prince shining like crest of flame, glowing like the bull of stars going through the sky, like the clear sun free from clouds in autumn (Asita) was joyous, he obtained abundant rapture.

The air-devas held in the sky a canopy of a thousand circles, and many branches, and yaks’ tails with golden handles were fanned ; but those who held the yaks’ tails and the canopy were not seen.

Then the Seer (Asita) with matted hair, known as Dark Glory, welcomed him with uplifted heart and happy mind (who was) like a beautiful gem on an orange cloth, the white canopy carried above his head.

And he, having welcomed, as he was fain to do, the bull of the Sakyas, and, as adept in signs and runes, with glad thoughts raised his voice, saying: “ This one is peerless, he is chief among those who stand upon two feet.”

Then remembering his own forth-faring, he was distressed and wept. The Sakyas seeing the Seer weeping, asked: “ Might there be for us danger to the boy ? ”

Seeing the Sakyas dipturbed the Seer said: “ I mind me of nothing baneful for the boy, nor will there be for him danger, for he is no inferior. Be without care.”

“This prince will touch the height of perfect enlightenment ; he will turn the wheel of the dhamma,¹ he seeing the exceedingly pure, feeling compassion for the welfare of the many, spread abroad by him will be the holy life.”

“ But my life here will soon be at an end, within (his lifetime) there will be death for me ; I shall not hear the dhamma of the incomparable Burden-Bearer, therefore I am afflicted woeful and in ill plight.”

Having brought forth great joy to the Sakyas, he departed from within the palace, leading the religious life ; then having compassion for his own sister’s son, he led him to take up the holy life under the incomparable Burden-Bearer,

(Saying) : “ When thou hearest from others the report of the Buddha, of him who has arrived at perfect enlightenment, and walks the way of the dhamma ; go there and asking for instructions lead the holy life under that Blessed One.”

Thus taught by him of friendly mind, by him who saw into the future, what is exceedingly pure, Nālaka dwelt with his accumulated merits and with guarded senses, looking forward to the Victorious One.

Then when the time of Asita’s prophecy had arrived, hearing report as the Victorious One turned the wheel (of the dhamma), he went and saw the Chief of Saints, and after being converted he asked the great Sage for the highest wisdom.

THE THREEFOLD PRIDE (MEMORIES OF YOUTH)

(ANGUTTARA-NIKĂYA, Vol I, p. 145;)

“ I was tenderly cared for, monks, supremely so, infinitely so. At my father’s home lotus-pools were made for me ; in one place for the blue lotus-flowers, in one place for white lotus-flowers and in one place for red lotus-flowers ; blossoming for my sake. And, monks, I used only unguents from Benares. Of Benares fabric were my three robes. Day and night a white umbrella was held over me, so that I might not be troubled by cold, heat, dust, chaff, or dew. I dwelt in three palaces, monks ; in one for the cold, in one for the summer, and in one for the rainy season.”

“ When in the palace for the rainy season, surrounded during the four months by female musicians, I did not go down from the palace.”

“ And, monks, while in another’s dwelling only a dish of red rice and rice soup would be offered to the servants and slaves, in my father’s house not only rice but a dish with rice and meat was given to the servants and slaves.”

“ Endowed, monks, with such wealth, being nurtured with such delicacy, there came this thought: “ Verily the unenlightened worldling himself subject to old age, without escape from old age, when he sees another grown old, is oppressed, beset and sickened. I too am subject to old age and cannot escape it. If I, who am subject to old age and without escape from it, should see another one who is grown old, and should be oppressed, beset, and sickened, it would not be well with me. While I thought thus, monks, all pride of youth left me.”

“ Verily the unenlightened worldling himself subject to sickness without escape from sickness, when he sees another sick, is oppressed, beset, and sickened. I too am subject to sickness and cannot escape it. If I, who am subject to sickness without escape from it, should see another one who is sick, and should be oppressed, beset, and sickened, it would not be well with me.”

“ While I thought thus, monks, all pride in health left me.”

“Verily the unenlightened worldling himself subject to death without escape from it, when he sees another dead, is oppressed, beset, and sickened. I too am subject to death, and cannot escape it. If I, who am subject to death without escape from it, should see another one who is dead and should be oppressed, beset, sickened, it would not be well with me.”

“ While I thought thus, monks, all pride in life left me.”

¹ On the retention of this word see Preface.

PART II
DISCIPLINE AND ENLIGHTENMENT

The Sublime Story

I

(FROM DĬGHA NIKĂYA XIV)

Closely following the Rhys Davids translation

(This story is presented in the Canon as told by Gotama to his disciples concerning the earliest of the seven Buddhas recognized in the oldest books, Vipassin, “ seer, ” but as true for each of the others. Since it is the Gotama-story that has been applied to the rest, we give it here as such.)

Now Gotama, when as Bodhisat he ceased to belong to the hosts of the heaven of Delight, descended into his mother’s womb, mindful and self-possessed.¹ That, in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that, when the Bodhisat ceases to belong to the hosts of heaven of Delight, and enters a mother’s womb, there is made manifest throughout the world— including the worlds of the gods, the Māras and the Brahmās and the world (of earth) with its recluses and brahmans, its princes and peoples—an infinite and splendid radiance passing the glory of the gods. Even in those dark spaces which are between the worlds, baseless, murky and dark, and where even the moon and sun, so wondrous and mighty, cannot prevail to give light, even there is made manifest this infinite and splendid radiance, passing the glory of the gods. And those beings who happen to be existing there, perceiving each other by that radiance say: “ Verily there be other beings reborn here.” And the ten thousand worlds of the universe tremble and shudder and quake. And that this infinite splendid radiance is made manifest in the world, passing the glory of the gods, that, in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that, when a Bodhisat is descending into a mother’s womb, four sons of the gods go toward the four quarters to protect him saying : “ Let no one, be he human, or non-human, or whatsoever he be, work harm to the Bodhisat or to the mother of the Bodhisat.” That in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that, when the Bodhisat is descending into a mother’s womb the mother of the Bodhisat is a woman, virtuous through her own nature ; averse from taking life, averse from taking what is not given, averse from unchastity, averse from lying speech, averse from indulgence in strong drinks. That, in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that when a Bodhisat is descending into a mother’s womb, that mother has no mind for indulgence in the pleasures of sense with men, and is incapable of transgression with any man whatever, who may be enamoured of her. That, in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that, when the Bodhisat is descending into a mother’s womb, that mother is living in the enjoyment yielded by the five senses, is addicted to it, possessed of it, surrounded by it. That, in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that, when the Bodhisat is descending into a mother’s womb, no ailment whatever befalls that mother ; at ease is she and unafflicted in body ; and within her womb she sees the Bodhisat complete, in the endowment of all his organs and his limbs. Just as if, brethren, there were a beautiful cat’s-eye of purest water, octangular, cut with supreme skill, translucent, and flawless, excellent in every way. And through it were strung a thread, blue or orange, red, white, or yellow. If a man who had eyes to see were to take it into his hand, he would clearly perceive how the one was strung on the other. Even so, brethren, when the Bodhisat is descending into a mother’s womb, no ailment whatever befalls that mother, at ease is she and unafflicted in body ; and within her womb she sees the Bodhisat complete in the endowment of all his organs and his limbs. That in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that, on the seventh day after the birth of a Bodhisat, the mother of the Bodhisat dies, and is reborn in the heaven of Delight. That in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that, whereas other women bring forth after bearing either nine or ten months, the mother of a Bodhisat brings not forth till she has borne the child ten months. That, in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that, whereas other women bring forth sitting or reclining, the mother of a Bodhisat brings forth, not so, but standing. That, in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that, when a Bodhisat issues from his mother’s womb, gods receive him first, afterwards men. That, in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that, when a Bodhisat issues from his mother’s womb, and has not yet touched the earth, four sons of the gods receive him, and present him to the mother, saying: “ Rejoice, lady, for mighty is the son that is born to thee.” That, in such a case, is the rule.

It is the rule that, when a Bodhisat issues from his mother’s womb, he comes forth stainless, undefiled by watery matter, undefiled by mucus, undefiled by blood, undefiled by any uncleanness whatever, pure, spotless. Just as if, brethren, a jewel were laid...

Table of contents

• COVER
• TITLE
• COPYRIGHT
• DEDICATION
• CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY MRS. C. A. F. RHYS DAVIDS
• PREFACE
• PART I THE EARLIEST YEARS
• PART II DISCIPLINE AND ENLIGHTENMENT
• PART III FIRST EVENTS AFTER THE ENLIGHTENMENT
• PART IV THE BUDDHA’S RELATION WITH HIS DISCIPLES AND OTHERS
• PART V LAST EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA
• INDEX