THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
1374
(1) ‚I will attempt to echo the Buddha's discourse on
PÈrÈyana
:
The Buddha who is an
arahat,
untainted by the filth (of delusion), endowed with vast
knowledge comparable to the earth, released from sensuousness, barren of forests of
defilements, expounded the Dhamma as He has understood it. Why should the Buddha
say something which is untrue?
(2) ‚Come, now, I will sing in praise of the Buddha, the One purified of the dirt of
delusion (
moha
), the One purged of vanity (
mÈnÈ
) and ingratitude (
makkha
).
(3) ‚Brahmin, the Buddha has dispelled the darkness of defilements. He is endowed with
the All-seeing Eye. He has reached the end of the world. He has passed beyond all
forms of existence. He is free of moral intoxicants. He has exhausted all
dukkha
. He
has earned the name of ‘the Awakened One’. This man, Brahmin, is the man I have
resorted to.
(4) ‚Brahmin, like a bird that leaves the lowly bushes of scanty fruit and resorts to a
fruitful grove, so also I have left the company of lesser minds, and like a golden swan,
have reached a great lake of immense wisdom.
(5) ‚Brahmin, before the time of Buddha Gotama's Teaching, religious teachers
proclaimed their views to me saying: ‘This is how it has always been, and this is how
it will always be’. They were mere hearsay knowledge, gaining ground as oral
tradition. They only serve as sources of unwholesome speculation bearing on
sensuality, etc.
(6) ‚Brahmin, that Buddha Gotama whom I have followed is unrivalled. He is committed
to dispelling darkness. He has a halo around His person and sheds light of knowledge
everywhere. My Teacher, Buddha Gotama, has awe-inspiring wisdom. His intelligence
is infinite like the earth.
(7) ‚Brahmin, the Buddha expounded to me the Dhamma which can be personally
apperceived, which is not delayed in its result, which leads to the end of Craving, and
to Security (NibbÈna). That Buddha, my Teacher, is beyond comparison.
(8 - 9) ‚Thereupon BÈvarÊ asked Pingiya thus: ‚Pingiya, whereas the Buddha expounded to
you the Dhamma which is personally appreciable, which is not delayed in its result,
which leads to the end of craving, and to security against all defilements and, whereas
the Buddha is beyond comparison; has awe-inspiring Wisdom, and infinite intelligence
like the earth, yet why do you ever stay away from him?‛ (BÈvarÊ scolded his nephew
for not staying close to such a great man as the Buddha.)
(10 - 11) ‚Brahmin, that Buddha, my Teacher, expounded to me the Dhamma which can
be personally apperceived, which is not delayed in its result, which leads to the end of
craving, and to security against all defilements. He has awe-inspiring wisdom, and
infinite intelligence like the earth. In fact, I do not stay away from Him even for a
moment.
(12) ‚Brahmin, with mindfulness, I am seeing the Buddha with my mind as clearly as with
my eyes, I am seeing Him by day or by night. By night I remain remembering His
greatness with reverence. That is why I never consider myself away from the Buddha,
even for a moment.
(13) ‚Brahmin, my conviction, my delightful satisfaction, and my mindfulness, never leave
Buddha Gotama's Teaching. Wherever the Buddha, endowed with infinite Wisdom,
goes I bow (with my mind) in that direction in homage.
(14) ‚Brahmin, it is due to my old age that I am not physically able to go near the Buddha.
But I always go to Him in my thoughts. My mind is always connected with His
presence.
(15) ‚Brahmin, I had lain in the mire of sensuousness, agitating all the time, while drifting
from one island to another, i.e. taking refuge in one teacher now, and then another
teacher next. Now I have met (seen) the Teacher, (at the PasÈÓaka Shrine) who is free
of moral intoxicants, who has crossed over the floods of saÑsÈra.‛