Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 edition. Excerpt: ... NOTES 1, 2. These stanzas contain two ideas which are of the very warp and woof of Buddhism: (a) The view depends upon the point of view; (6) Thought is potent in influencing man's destiny. The Chinese Commentary illustrates both these ideas: Two merchants listened to the Buddha's preaching; one was delighted, the other angry: men hear what they are prepared to hear. Soon after one was killed, the other became King: so potent is thought! 8. Cf. Luke vi, 48. 9, 10. The Buddha often used a play upon words to arrest men's attention and help their memory. The Pali of these stanzas contains a pun of this kind, which cannot be imitated in English: Kdsavam means either the yellow robe of the mendicant, or impurity, stain, sin. 11, 12. The work of Gautama as a preaoher lay largely in this directing of men's efforts: the great reality is character; this and this alone is man's business upon earth. All else are "shadows" not worth pursuing. Cf. St. John's words: "Little children, flee idols " (t.e. " shadows "), 1 John v, 21. So St. Paul speaks of covetousness as "idolatry "--the pursuit of the great "shadow," Mammon (Col. iii, 5). When the Buddhist puts on the yellow robe, he symbolises his belief that "virtue is the truest wealth " the gold of character is alone worth striving after. (Cf. Dhammapada, 75 and note.) On the day of his ordination (upasampada) the candidate adorns himself with all the jewellery he can obtain, and doffs it only to don the yellow robe. 15-18. Here and Hereafter: i.e. in this birth and the next. Man may be reborn upon earth, or in one of the hells or in one of the heavens. A demon who does well may become a man or a god: a god who lives unworthily may become a man or a demon. Tormented when he goes to hell. The Buddhist...
