The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Preface.
• Pronunciation.
• Introduction.
• I.: Rejoice!
• II.: SamsĀra and NirvĀna.
• III.: Truth the Saviour.
• Prince Siddhattha Becomes Buddha.
• IV.: The Bodhisatta’s Birth.
• V.: The Ties of Life.
• VI.: The Three Woes.
• VII.: The Bodhisatta’s Renunciation.
• VIII.: King BimbisĀra.
• IX.: The Bodhisatta’s Search.
• X.: UruvelĀ, the Place of Mortification.
• XI.: MĀra the Evil One.
• XII.: Enlightenment.
• XIII.: The First Converts.
• XIV.: BrahmĀs Request.
• The Foundation of the Kingdom of Righteousness.
• XV.: Upaka.
• XVI.: The Sermon At Benares.
• XVII.: The Sangha.
• XVIII.: Yasa, the Youth of Benares.
• XIX.: Kassapa.
• XX.: The Sermon At RĀjagaha.
• XXI.: The King’s Gift.
• XXII.: SĀriputta and MoggallĀna.
• XXIII.: AnĀthapindika.
• XXIV.: The Sermon On Charity.
• XXV.: Jetavana.
• XXVI.: The Three Characteristics and the Uncreate.
• XXVII.: The Buddha’s Father.
• XXVIII.: YasodharĀ.
• XXIX.: RĀhula.
• Consolidation of the Buddha’s Religion.
• XXX.: JĪvaka, the Physician.
• XXXI.: The Buddha’s Parents Attain NirvĀna.
• XXXII.: Women Admitted to the Sangha.
• XXXIII.: The Bhikkhus’ Conduct Toward Women.
• XXXIV.: VisĀkhĀ.
• XXXV.: The Uposatha and PĀtimokkha.
• XXXVI.: The Schism.
• XXXVII.: The Re-establishment of Concord.
• XXXVIII.: The Bhikkhus Rebuked.
• XXXIX.: Devadatta.
• Xl.: Name and Form.
• Xli.: the Goal.
• Xlii.: Miracles Forbidden.
• Xliii.: the Vanity of Worldliness.
• Xliv.: Secrecy and Publicity.
• Xlv.: the Annihilation of Suffering.
• Xlvi.: Avoiding the Ten Evils.
• Xlvii.: the Preacher’s Mission.
• The Teacher.
• Xlviii.: the Dhammapada.
• Xlix.: the Two Brahmans.
• L.: Guard the Six Quarters.
• Li.: Simha’s Question Concerning Annihilation.
• Lii.: All Existence Is Spiritual.
• Liii.: Identity and Non-identity.
• Liv.: the Buddha Omnipresent.
• Lv.: One Essence, One Law, One Aim.
• Lvi.: the Lesson Given to RĀhula.: Lvii.: the Sermon On Abuse.
• Lviii.: the Buddha Replies to the Deva.
• Lix.: Words of Instruction.
• Lx.: AmitĀbha.
• Lxi.: the Teacher Unknown.
• Parables and Stories.
• Lxii.: Parables.
• Lxiii.: the Widow’s Two Mites and the Parable of the Three Merchants.
• Lxiv.: the Man Born Blind.
• Lxv.: the Lost Son.
• Lxvi.: the Giddy Fish.
• Lxvii.: the Cruel Crane Outwitted.
• Lxviii.: Four Kinds of Merit.
• Lxix.: the Light of the World.
• Lxx.: Luxurious Living.
• Lxxi.: the Communication of Bliss.
• Lxxii.: the Listless Fool.
• Lxxiii.: Rescue In the Desert.
• Lxxiv.: the Sower.
• Lxxv.: the Outcast.
• Lxxvi.: the Woman At the Well.
• Lxxvii.: the Peacemaker.
• Lxxviii.: the Hungry Dog.
• Lxxix.: the Despot.
• Lxxx.: VĀsavadattĀ.
• Lxxxi.: the Marriage-feast In JambŪnada.
• Lxxxii.: a Party In Search of a Thief.
• Lxxxiii.: In the Realm of YamarĀja.
• Lxxxiv.: the Mustard Seed.
• Lxxxv.: Following the Master Over the Stream.
• Lxxxvi.: the Sick Bhikkhu.
• Lxxxvii.: the Patient Elephant.
• Lxxxviii.: the Conditions of Welfare.
• Lxxxix.: SĀriputta’s Faith.
• XC.: PĀtaliputta.
• XCI.: The Mirror of Truth.
• XCII.: AmbapĀlĪ.
• XCIII.: The Buddha’s Farewell Address.
• XCIV.: The Buddha Announces His Death.
• XCV.: Chunda, the Smith.
• XCVI.: Metteyya.
• XCVII.: The Buddha’s Final Entering Into NirvĀna.
• Conclusion.
• XCVIII.: The Three Personalities of the Buddha.
• XCIX.: The Purpose of Being.
• C.: The Praise of All the Buddhas.
• Table of Reference.
• Abbreviations In the Table of Reference.
• Glossary of Names and Terms.
• Remarks On the Illustrations of the Gospel of Buddha.

LII.

ALL EXISTENCE IS SPIRITUAL.

And there was an officer among the retinue of Simha who had heard of the discourses of the Blessed One, and there was some doubt left in his heart. 1

This man came to the Blessed One and said: “It is said, O Lord, that the samana Gotama denies the existence of the soul. Do they who say so speak the truth, or do they bear false witness against the Blessed One?” 2

And the Blessed One said: “There is a way in which those who say so are speaking truly of me; on the other hand, there is a way in which those who say so do not speak truly of me. 3

“The Tathāgata teaches that there is no self. He who says that the soul is his self and that the self is the thinker of our thoughts and the actor of our deeds, teaches a wrong doctrine which leads to confusion and darkness. 4

“On the other hand, the Tathāgata teaches that there is mind. He who understands by soul mind, and says that mind exists, teaches the truth which leads to clearness and enlightenment.” 5

The officer said: “Does, then, the Tathāgata maintain that two things exist? that which we perceive with our senses and that which is mental?” 6

Said the Blessed One: “Verily, I say unto thee, thy mind is spiritual, but neither is the sense-perceived void of spirituality. The bodhi is eternal and it dominates all existence as the good law guiding all beings in their search for truth. It changes brute nature into mind, and there is no being that cannot be transformed into a vessel of truth.” 7