ABSTRACT
Few Buddhist stories can be better known than that of Akgulimala, the brigand who wore a necklace1 of his victims’ fingers, from which he derived his name. According to the version generally known to Buddhists, he needed a thousand victims, and was just one short when he had a chance to complete his tally by killing the Buddha. The Buddha was walking through the forest where Akgulimala waylaid his victims, so he tried to attack him, but although he ran as fast as he could and the Buddha seemed to walk at normal speed, he could not catch up with him. At this miracle, Akgulimala spoke to the Buddha, and after a brief dialogue in verse declared himself converted.
