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.

LXXVI.

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL.

Ānanda, the favorite disciple of the Buddha, having been sent by the Lord on a mission, passed by a well near a village, and seeing Pakati, a girl of the Mātanga caste, he asked her for water to drink. 1

Pakati said: “O Brahman, I am too humble and mean to give thee water to drink, do not ask any service of me lest thy holiness be contaminated, for I am of low caste.” 2

And Ānanda replied: “I ask not for caste but for water;” and the Mātanga girl’s heart leaped joyfully and she gave Ānanda to drink. 3

Ānanda thanked her and went away; but she followed him at a distance. 4

Having heard that Ānanda was a disciple of Gotama Sakyamuni, the girl repaired to the Blessed One and cried: “O Lord help me, and let me live in the place where Ānanda thy disciple dwells, so that I may see him and minister unto him, for I love Ānanda.” 5

And the Blessed One understood the emotions of her heart and he said: “Pakati, thy heart is full of love, but thou understandest not thine own sentiments. It is not Ānanda that thou lovest, but his kindness. Accept, then, the kindness thou hast seen him practise unto thee, and in the humility of thy station practise it unto others. 6

“Verily there is great merit in the generosity of a king when he is kind to a slave; but there is a greater merit in the slave when he ignores the wrongs which he suffers and cherishes kindness and good-will to all mankind. He will cease to hate his oppressors, and even when powerless to resist their usurpation will with compassion pity their arrogance and supercilious demeanor. 7

“Blessed art thou, Pakati, for though thou art a Mātanga thou wilt be a model for noblemen and noblewomen. Thou art of low caste, but Brahmans may learn a lesson from thee. Swerve not from the path of justice and righteousness and thou wilt outshine the royal glory of queens on the throne.” 8