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.

LXXXVIII.

THE CONDITIONS OF WELFARE.

WHEN the Blessed One was residing on the mount called Vulture’s Peak, near Rājagaha, Ajātasattu the king of Magadha, who reigned in the place of Bimbisāra, planned an attack on the Vajjis, and he said to Vassakāra, his prime minister: “I will root out the Vajjis, mighty though they be. I will destroy the Vajjis; I will bring them to utter ruin! Come now, O Brahman, and go to the Blessed One; inquire in my name for his health, and tell him my purpose. Bear carefully in mind what the Blessed One may say, and repeat it to me, for the Buddhas speak nothing untrue.” 1

When Vassakara, the prime minister, had greeted the Blessed One and delivered his message, the venerable Ānanda stood behind the Blessed One and fanned him, and the Blessed One said to him: “Hast thou heard, Ānanda, that the Vajjis hold full and frequent public assemblies?” 2

“Lord, so I have heard,” replied he. 3

“So long, Ānanda,” said the Blessed One, “as the Vajjis hold these full and frequent public assemblies, they may be expected not to decline, but to prosper. So long as they meet together in concord, so long as they honor their elders, so long as they respect womanhood, so long as they remain religious, performing all proper rites, so long as they extend the rightful protection, defence and support to the holy ones, the Vajjis may be expected not to decline, but to prosper.” 4

Then the Blessed One addressed Vassakāra and said: “When I stayed, O Brahman, at Vesālī, I taught the Vajjis these conditions of welfare, that so long as they should remain well instructed, so long as they will continue in the right path, so long as they live up to the precepts of righteousness, we could expect them not to decline, but to prosper.” 5

As soon as the king’s messenger had gone, the Blessed One had the brethren, that were in the neighborhood of Rājagaha, assembled in the service-hall, and addressed them, saying: 6

“I will teach you, O bhikkhus, the conditions of the welfare of a community. Listen well, and I will speak. 7

“So long, O bhikkhus, as the brethren hold full and frequent assemblies, meeting in concord, rising in concord, and attending in concord to the affairs of the Sangha; so long as they, O bhikkhus, do not abrogate that which experience has proved to be good, and introduce nothing except such things as have been carefully tested; so long as their elders practise justice; so long as the brethren esteem, revere, and support their elders, and hearken unto their words; so long as the brethren are not under the influence of craving, but delight in the blessings of religion, so that good and holy men shall come to them and dwell among them in quiet; so long as the brethren shall not be addicted to sloth and idleness; so long as the brethren shall exercise themselves in the sevenfold higher wisdom of mental activity, search after truth, energy, joy, modesty, self-control, earnest contemplation, and equanimity of mind, — so long the Sangha may be expected not to decline, but to prosper. 8

“Therefore, O bhikkhus, be full of faith, modest in heart, afraid of sin, anxious to learn, strong in energy, active in mind, and full of wisdom.” 9