Gems of Chinese Literature/Fa Hsien-Gayâ

by Fa Hsien

FROM this point (Râjagriha) going west four yôjanas,^[2] the pilgrims arrived at the city of Gayâ, also a complete waste within its walls. Journeying twenty more li^[3] to the south, they arrived at the place where the Bôdhisatva passed six years in self-mortification;^[4] it has forests on all sides. From that point going west three li, they arrived at the spot where Buddha entered the water to bathe, and an angel pressed down the branch of a tree to pull him out of the pool. Also, by going two li further north, at a place where the two lay-sisters presented Buddha with congee made with milk, and two li to the north of this is the place where Buddha, sitting on a large stone and facing the east, ate it. The tree and the stone are both still there, the latter being about six feet in length and breadth by over two feet in height. In Central India the climate is equable; trees will live several thousand, and even so much as ten thousand years. From this point going north-east half a yôjana, the pilgrims arrived at a cave where the Bôdhisatva, having entered, sat down cross-legged with his face to the west, and reflected as follows:―“If I am to attain perfect Wisdom, there should be some divine manifestation.” Thereupon, the silhouette of a Buddha appeared upon the stone, over three feet in height; it is plainly visible to this day. Then Heaven and Earth quaked mightily, and the angels in space cried out, saying, “This is not the spot where past and future Buddhas have attained and should attain perfect Wisdom. The proper place is beneath the Bô tree, less than half a yôjana to the south-west of this.” When the angels had uttered these words, they proceeded to lead the way with singing in order to conduct him thither. The Bôdhisatva got up and followed, and when thirty paces from the tree an angel gave him the kusa grass.^[5] Having accepted this, he went on fifteen paces further, when five hundred dark-coloured birds came and flew three times round him, and departed. The Bôdhisatva went on to the Bô^[6] tree, and laying down his kusa grass sat with his face to the east. Then, Mâra, the king of the devils, sent three beautiful girls to approach from the north and tempt him; he himself approaching from the south with the same object. The Bôdhisatva pressed the ground with his toes, whereupon the infernal army retreated in confusion and the three girls became old women.^[7]

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1. The doctrine of the Trinity was a Buddhist dogma long before it was adopted by the Christian Church. See Chu Hsi, “Taoism and Buddhism.”
2. In popular language, the yôjana may mean a day’s march; also, from five to nine miles.
3. The Chinese li is about one-third of a mile.
4. As a preparation for Buddhahood.
5. An odoriferous grass of lucky augury.
6. The patra or palm tree.
7. The Bôdhisatva, having successfully resisted temptation, became a Buddha, the Buddha of the present day.