On a certain day when the Blessed One
dwelt at Jetavana, the gardenof Anathapindika,
a celestial deva came to him in the shape of aBrahman
enlightened and wearing clothing as white assnow.
The deva asked,
What is the sharpest sword?
What is the deadliest poison?
What is the fiercest fire?
What is the darkest night?
The Blessed One replied,
The sharpest sword is a word spoken in wrath;
the deadliest poison is covetousness;
the fiercest fire is hatred;
the darkest night is ignorance.
The deva said,
What is the greatest gain?
What is the greatest loss?
Which armour is invulnerable?
What is the best weapon?
The Blessed One replied,
The greatest gain is to give to others;
the greatest loss is to greedily receivewithout gratitude;
an invulnerable armor is patience;
the best weapon is wisdom.
The deva said,
Who is the most dangerous thief?
What is the most precious treasure?
Who can capture the heavens and the earth?
Where is the securest treasure-trove?
The Blessed One replied,
The most dangerous thief is unwholesomethought;
the most precious treasure is virtue;
the heavens and the earth may be captured bythe mind's eye;
surpassing rebirth locates the securesttreasure-trove.
The deva asked,
What is attraction?
What is repulsion?
What is the most horrible pain?
What is the greatest enjoyment?
The Buddha replied,
Attraction is wholeness;
repulsion is unwholesomeness;
the most tormenting pain is bad conscience;
the height of bliss is redeemed awakening.
The deva asked,
What causes ruin in the world?
What breaks off friendships?
What is the most violent fever?
Who is the best physician?
The Blessed One replied,
Ruin in the world is caused by ignorance;
friendships are broken off by envy andselfishness;
the most violent fever is hatred;the bestphysician is the Buddha;
The deva continued,
Now I have only one doubt to resolve andabsolve:
What is it fire cannot burn,nor moisturecorrode,
nor wind crush down,
but is able to enlighten the whole world.
The Buddha replied,
Blessing!
Neither fire, nor moisture, nor wind
can destroy the blessing of good deeds,
and blessings enlighten the whole world.
Hearing these answers,
the deva was overflowing with joy.
Then clasping hands, bowed down in respect and
disappeared suddenly from the presence of theBuddha.
Gospel of Buddha
By Paul Carus (1894)
This note appeared on Kenneth Say Facebook
Mettacittena
2nd Oct 2011
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