The Life, Or Legend, of Guadama, the Buddha of the Burmese: With Annotations. The Ways to Neibban, and Notice on the Phongyies, Or Burmese Monks

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American Mission Press, 1866 - 538 pages

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Page 196 - Charity bestowed upon those who are worthy of it is like good seed sown on a good soil that yields an abundance of fruits. But alms given to those who are yet under the tyrannical yoke of the passions are like seed deposited in a bad soil. The passions of the receiver of the alms choke, as it were, the growth of merits.
Page 420 - Buddhist law of the five precepts forbids him to yield to such propensities, but it does not teach him particular duties to perform. It does not elevate man above his original level, but it aims at preventing him from falling lower. ) The five prohibitions are : Not to destroy the life of any being ; not to steal ; not to commit adultery ; not to tell lies ; not to drink any intoxicating liquors or beverages. Our author seems to be a perfect master in casuistry, as he shows the greatest nicety and...
Page 481 - On the occasion of the death of some persons, it happens sometimes that a member of the family will enter the community for six months or a year. When a young lad is to make his first entrance into a house of the Order, he is led thereto, riding on a richly caparisoned pony, or sitting in a fine palankeen carried on the shoulders of four or more men.
Page 13 - Preithas 19 were satiated ; animals were exempt from all infirmities; all rational beings uttered but words of peace, and mutual benevolence; horses exhibited signs of an excessive joy ; elephants, with a solemn and deep voice, expressed their contentment; musical instruments resounded of themselves with the most melodious harmony; gold and silver ornaments worn at the arms and feet, without coming in contact, emitted pleasing sounds ; all places became suddenly filled with a resplendent light; refreshing...
Page 503 - God, thou wilt be little moved by what thou perceivest around thee. Where art thou when thou art not present ,to thyself? And when thou hast run over all things, what profit will it be to thee if thou hast neglected thyself?
Page 12 - ... her bed, directed his course towards the cave. On the extremity of his trunk, lifted up like a beautiful string of flowers, he carried a white lily. His voice, occasionally resounding through the air, could be heard distinctly by the inmates of the grotto, and indicated his approach. He soon entered the cave, turned three times round the couch whereupon sat the princess, then, standing for a while, he came nearer, opened her right side, and appeared to conceal himself in her womb.
Page 481 - Kiaong (such is the general name given to all the houses of the Brotherhood in Burmah) the young postulant is to reside in. The procession in this stately order, attended with a band playing on various musical instruments, moves on slowly and circuitously through the principal streets of the town, towards the monastery that has been fixed upon. This display of an ostentatious pomp is, on the part of the parents and relatives, an honor paid to the postulant who generously consecrates . himself to...
Page 74 - Most excellent being," were heard throughout the same series of worlds. Magnificent ornaments decorated all places. Flagstaffs appeared in every direction, adorned with splendid streamers. Of such dimensions were they that the extremities of those in the east reached the opposite side of the west ; and those in the north, the southern boundary. Some flags, hanging from the seats of Brahmas, reached the surface of the earth. All the trees of ten thousand worlds shot out branches, loaded with fruits...

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