Dhana made a march day by day like the sun, looked for by all the people with wide-open eyes. At that time, it was the fiery summer season terrible to travelers, diminishing the water of the ponds and rivers, as well as shortening the nights. Winds that were like fires, thoroughly unbearable, blew, and the sun spread its heat that was like a mass of fire on all sides. The members of the caravans stopped at every tree near a pond and, having entered every water-dispensary, drank much water, and fell (on the ground). Continue reading “The first Incarnation of Rishabhdev as the Merchant Dhana – Part 2” »
The first Incarnation of Rishabhdev as the Merchant Dhana – Part 2
Statement & Refutation of Ksanikavada (The Buddhist Doctrine)
STATEMENT
Then Satamati said: “There is no other soul here than the momentary, deceptive knowledge of the sense-objects of the categories. The doctrine in regard to permanence in objects has as its source knowledge derived from memory. The unity of past and present moments is certainly not true.” Continue reading “Statement & Refutation of Ksanikavada (The Buddhist Doctrine)” »
The Twenty Sthanakas
Now the Master Vajranabha acquired strong Tirthankara-bodymaking and family-karma by the twenty sthanakas as follows. Of these the first is by worship of the Arhats and Arhat-statues, and by hymns of praise containing true events, avoiding blasphemy. The second is the celebration in words of the true state of emancipation with festivals of watching in the places where the siddhas attained perfection. Continue reading “The Twenty Sthanakas” »
Sermon – Part 1
“Dharma is the highest happiness. Dharma bestows heaven and emancipation. Dharma shows the road for crossing the wilderness of samsara. Dharma nourishes like a mother, protects like a father, pleases like a friend, and is loving like a kinsman. Dharma imparts very fine qualities like a guru. Dharma confers a distinguished position like a master. Dharma is a mansion of bliss. Dharma is a shield in danger from enemies. Dharma is heat for the destruction of cold. Dharma knows the weak points of sins. From Dharma* a creature could become a king, from Dharma a Rama, from Dharma an ardhacakrin, from Dharma a cakrin, from Dharma a god, and from Dharma an Indra. From Dharma one attains Ahamindraship in the Graiveyaka and Anuttara heavens. From Dharma one attains Arhatship. What is not accomplished by Dharma? Dharma is socalled from supporting creatures who have fallen into a bad condition of existence. It is fourfold with the divisions of offering (dana), Austerity (Shila), penance (tapas*), and state of mind (bhava). Continue reading “Sermon – Part 1” »
Description of Airavana
Then the thrones of all the Indras shook, as if to urge them in the business of the Master’s kevala-festival. The bells in the heavens rang at once with a penetrating sound, like messengers in the business of summoning their respective people. From the mere thought of the Lord of Saudharma wishing to go to the Master’s feet, the god Airavana, turned into an elephant, approached. With his body a lac of yojanas long he shone like Meru which had become alive, wishing to see the Master. Continue reading “Description of Airavana” »
Fourth Incarnation as Mahabala
When he died from Saudharma, then he was born as a son of King satabala, the crest-jewel of the Vidyadharas, by his wife Candrakanta, in the West Videhas, in the province Gandhilavati, on Mt. Vaitadhya, in the country named Gandhara, in the city Gandhasamrddhaka. He was exceedingly strong, and was named ‘Mahabala’ because of his strength. Protected by guards and cherished, he gradually grew up like a tree. Gradually filled with all the arts, like the moon with digits, highly distinguished, he became a festival to the eye of the people. Continue reading “Fourth Incarnation as Mahabala” »
Refutation of the Carvaka System
Then Svayambuddha said: “People, alas! are made to fall by the atheists who are enemies to themselves and others, dragged like blind men by blind. That the soul exists is known by its own perception, like pleasure and pain. From lack of superior proof, no one can deny it. ‘I am happy; I am unhappy this unrefuted conviction could not arise to anyone without a soul. When a soul has thus been proved in one’s own body from one’s own feeling, it is also present in other bodies from inference. Continue reading “Refutation of the Carvaka System” »
Second & Third Incarnation
SECOND INCARNATION
As a result of his gift to the munis he became a twin in the Uttarakurus, who have the period of pure happiness present, on the north bank of the river Sita, to the east of the Jambu tree. There people wish to eat at the end of the fourth day, and have two hundred fifty-six ribs. They are born as twins, are three gavyutis tall, live for three palyas, bear children toward the end of life, have slight passions, and are free from self-interest. Continue reading “Second & Third Incarnation” »
The Gods – Their Cars – Their Bells their Family – Part 3
The Indra of Aisana made himself five-fold, like the King of Saudharma, and took the Lord of the Three Worlds on his lap. Of these, one held over the Lord’s head a camphor-white umbrella, giving a lesya of the quarters, as it were, with its swinging pearlpendants. Two others fanned the Lord of the Jinas with chauris dancing from joy, as it were, from the various movements of the body. Another, twirling a trident in his hand, went in front as if thinking to purify himself by the Master’s glances. Then the Indra of Saudharmakalpa created four tall bulls from crystal in the four directions from the Lord of the World. Continue reading “The Gods – Their Cars – Their Bells their Family – Part 3” »
