..续本文上一页isciples together, gave them full instructions, and sent them out in all directions to preach his doctrine.

　　76. Q. What was the essence of it

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　　A. That the way of emancipation lies in leading the holy life and following the rules laid down, which will be explained later on.

　　77. Q. Tell me what name he gave to this course of life.

　　A. The Noble Eight-fold Path.

　　78. Q. How is it called in the Pâlî language

　　A. Ariyo atthangiko maggo.

　　79. Q. Whither did the Buddha then go

　　A. To Uruvela.

　　80. Q. What happened there

　　A. He converted a man named Kâshyappa, renowned for his learning, and teacher of the Jatilas, a great sect of fire-worshippers, all of whom became also his followers.

　　81. Q. Who was his next great convert

　　A. King Bimbisâra, of Magadha.

　　82. Q. Which two of the Buddha”s most learned and beloved disciples were converted at about this time

　　A. Sâriputra and Moggallâna, formerly chief disciples of Sanjaya, the ascetic.

　　83. Q. For what did they become renowned

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　　A. Sâriputra for his profound learning (Prajña), Moggallâna for his exceptional spiritual powers (Iddhi).

　　84. Q. Are these wonder-working powers miraculous

　　A. No, but natural to all men and capable of being developed by a certain course of training.

　　85. Q. Did the Buddha hear again from his family after leaving them

　　A. Oh yes, seven years later, while he was living at Râjagriha, his father, King Suddhodana, sent a message to request him to come and let him see him again before he died.

　　86. Q. Did he go

　　A. Yes. His father went with all his relatives and ministers to meet him and received him with great joy.

　　87. Q. Did he consent to resume his old rank

　　A. No. In all sweetness he explained to his father that the Prince Siddhârtha had passed out of existence, as such, and was now changed into the condition of a Buddha, to whom all beings were equally akin and equally dear. Instead of ruling over one tribe or nation, like an earthly king, he,

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　　through his Dharma, would win the hearts of all men to be his followers.

　　88. Q. Did he see Yasodharâ and his son Râhula

　　A. Yes. His wife, who had mourned for him with deepest love, wept bitterly. She also sent Râhula to ask him to give him his inheritance, as the son of a prince.

　　89. Q. What happened

　　A. To one and all he preached the Dharma as the cure for all sorrows. His father, son, wife, Ânanda (his half-brother), Devadatta (his cousin and brother-in-law), were all converted and became his disciples. Two other famous ones were Anuruddha, afterwards a great metaphysician, and Upâli, a barber, afterwards the greatest authority on Vinaya. Both of these gained great renown.

　　90. Q. Who was the first Bhikkhuni

　　A. Prajâpatî, the aunt and foster-mother of Prince Siddhartha. With her, Yasodharâ and many other ladies were admitted into the order as Bhikkhunis or female devotees.

　　91. Q. What effect did the taking up of the religious life by his sons Siddhartha and Ânanda, his

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　　nephew Devadatta, his son”s wife Yasodharâ and his grandson Râhula, have upon the old king Suddhodana

　　A. It grieved him much and he complained to the Buddha, who then made it a rule of the order that no person should thenceforth be ordained without the consent of his parents if alive.

　　92. Q. Tell me about the fate of Devadatta

　　A. He was a man of great intelligence and rapidly advanced in the knowledge of the Dharma, but being also extremely ambitious, he came to envy and hate the Buddha, and at last plotted to kill him. He also influenced Ajâtashatru, son of King Bimbisâra, to murder his noble father, and to become his—Devadatta”s—disciple.

　　93. Q. Did he do …

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