Page:Gospel of Buddha.djvu/217

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"Master, thou hast cured my bodily ailments; I come now to seek enlightenment of my mind."3

And the Blessed One said: "The worldling nourishes his body, but the wise man nourishes his mind. He who indulges in the satisfaction of his appetites works his own destruction; but he who walks in the path will have both the salvation from evil and a prolongation of life."4


LXXI.

THE COMMUNICATION OF BLISS.

Annabhāra, the slave of Sumana, having just cut the grass on the meadow, saw a samana with his bowl begging for food. Throwing down his bundle of grass he ran into the house and returned with the rice that had been provided for his own food.1

The samana ate the rice and gladdened him with words of religious comfort.2

The daughter of Sumana having observed the scene from a window called out: "Good! Annabhāra, good! Very good!"3

Sumana hearing these words inquired what she meant, and on being informed about Annabhāra's devotion and the words of comfort he had received from the samana, went to his slave and offered him money to divide the bliss of his offering.4

"My lord," said Annabhāra, "let me first ask the venerable man." And approaching the samana, he said: "My master has asked me to share with him the bliss of the offering I made thee of my allowance of rice. Is it right that I should divide it with him?"5

The samana replied in a parable. He said: "In a village of one hundred houses a single light was burning. Then

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