Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 21.djvu/49

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SADDHARMA-PUNDARÎKA
OR
THE LOTUS OF THE TRUE LAW.


HOMAGE TO
ALL THE BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS.


CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.

Thus have I heard. Once upon a time the Lord was staying at Râgagriha, on the Gridhrakûta[1] mountain, with a numerous assemblage of monks, twelve hundred monks, all of them Arhats, stainless, free from depravity, self-controlled[2], thoroughly emancipated in thought and knowledge, of noble breed, (like unto) great elephants, having done their task, done their duty, acquitted their charge, reached the goal; in whom the ties which bound them to existence were wholly destroyed, whose minds were thoroughly emancipated by perfect knowledge, who had reached the utmost perfection in subduing all their thoughts; who were possessed of the transcendent faculties[3];


  1. I. e. Vulture Peak.
  2. Vasîbhûta. Like vasin, it likewise means, 'having subdued others or the world.'
  3. The five Abhigñâs, viz. the magical powers, the divine ear,
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B