ABSTRACT

 1. In days of old about 300 lis to the south of Râjagriha there was a village of some 500 or so mountain peasants, whose hearts were estranged from religion, and beyond the usual means of conversion, and yet were not indifferent to the hope of final salvation. On this the World-honoured One, transforming himself into the appearance of a Shaman, went to the village to beg his food, and having gathered sufficient, he left the village and took his seat beneath a neighbouring tree. Whilst thus sitting he entered on a condition of Samâdhi called that of Nirvâna, and so continued for seven days, without moving, and (apparently) without breathing. The men of the village seeing him thus, and believing life to be extinct, said among themselves, “This Shaman is evidently dead; we will collect wood for a funeral pyre, and burn his body.” Having done so, they set fire to the wood. After it had gone out Buddha arose from its embers, and manifesting his glorious body in various miraculous ways, he returned to the shade of the tree where he was before, and again seated himself in perfect composure. The villagers, seeing this wonderful occurrence, one and all came near and paid him reverential homage, and said, “We indeed are but poor mountain people, and did not know that you were a god, and therefore prepared the pyre to burn your body on. We confess our fault, and pray forgiveness, and supplicate that no misfortune may befall us in consequence, whether disease, or famine, or drought.” On this the World-honoured opened his mouth, and uttered these stanzas:—

“My life is now at rest, with no anger amongst those who are angry (or those who hate). Men indeed on all sides feel anger, but my life (conduct) is free from anger. My life is now at rest, free from disease amongst the diseased; all men suffer from disease, to me there is none. My life is now at rest, sorrowless in the midst of sorrow; all men have sorrow, but I have none. My life is now at rest, in perfect peace, without any personal aim (wou wei), feeding on (unearthly) joys, like the bright gods above (Abhâsvaras). My life is now at rest, calm, indifferent, with no thought about ‘what I must do.’ Pile up then the wood, and let the fire encircle me; but how can it touch such an one as I?” 1