Page:Gospel of Buddha.djvu/173

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"Such is the religion thy father wants thee to have, and the performance of the ceremony shall remind thee of thy duties."6

And Sigāla looked up to the Blessed One with reverence as to his father and said: "Truly, Gotama, thou art the Buddha, the Blessed One, the holy teacher. I never knew what I was doing, but now I know. Thou hast revealed to me the truth that was hidden as one who bringeth a lamp into the darkness. I take my refuge in the Enlightened Teacher, in the truth that enlightens, and in the community of brethren who have been taught the truth."


LI.

SIMHA'S QUESTION CONCERNING ANNIHILATION,

At that time many distinguished citizens were sitting together assembled in the town-hall and spoke in many ways in praise of the Buddha, of the Dharma, and of the Sangha. Simha, the general-ln-chief, a disciple of the Niggantha sect, was sitting among them. And Simha thought: "Truly, the 'Blessed One must be the Buddha, the Holy One. I will go and visit him."1

Then Simha, the general, went to the place where the Niggantha chief, Nataputta, was 5 and having approached him, he said: "I wish, Lord, to visit the samana Gotama."2

Nātaputta said: "Why should you, Simha, who believe in the result of actions according to their moral merit, go to visit the samana Gotama, who denies the result of actions? The samana Gotama, O Simha, denies the result of actions; he teaches the doctrine of non-action; and in this doctrine he trains his disciples."3

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