English
The rushing torrents take a course towards the four cardinal points, and each, dividing itself into five hundred lesser streams, disappears in the Ocean. Thus, from the eastern side of the lake all the rivers of the East proceed, and so on. Now, with respect to the shape of the earth, it may be compared to that of a gourd or calabash, the top of which is the extreme summit of the Himavat Mountains, descending from which the whole earth gradually widens out. China then drains the eastern watershed of this system, and is therefore the extreme east- ei'n portion of the world. So we gather again that India is the middle country, corresponding with the central origin of the rivers. (5.) In reference to the Navel of the earth. The Brahma- jala Sutra^ says, " Sakya Muni Buddha, at the Bodhi man- dala, seated on a royal diamond throne, resplendent and beautiful.''^ Again the Saddharma prakasa sasana Sutra^says, ''AH the Jambudwipas thi-oughout the universe possess a diamond throne, the origin of which is eighty-four thousand yojanas below the surface of the earth. All the Buddhas seated on these thrones arrive at Supreme Wisdom. Hence no other country but Jambudwipa can possibly possess a Buddha." The Si-yu-chi says, " In central India, south of ^ In Chinese, Fan wang-king. - In Chinese, Tching-fah-nim-chu-king. 22 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST the Ganges, is the country Magadha, in the south-west part of which, across the Nairanjana river, about ten li, is the Bodhi-tree. Underneath this tree is a Diamond throne, the thousand Buddhas seated here enter the diamond Samadhi (ecstasy) /' The Kosha Shaster says, " This throne reaches down to the Diamond wheel (circle) below the earth, and it is therefore termed the " Diamond throne." All the Bud- dhas of the three ages have perfected wisdom and conquered Mara, seated on this throne." So we conclude this spot represents the navel of the earth. (6) In reference to the Wheel-Kings. Men who exceed all others in virtue are born in a superior country. Now those called golden-wheel kings are the most exalted in this particular, among all the inhabitants of Jambudwipa — they are the most sacred of absolute Sovereigns. The golden wheel, therefore, is their symbol ; seven precious possessions compose their regalia, illustrious marks on their persons proclaim their dignity, whilst they are surrounded by a thousand ministers (sons) . The royal dragon-horse flying through space proclaims to each of the tributary kings of the four continents that a Chakravartin^ is born, and exhorts them to virtue and renewed devotion of life. So then the wheel-king, when born, appears in the Middle country, and this Middle country is just the same as mid-India, where so many generations of wheel-kings have been born. This country, therefore, is of supreme excellence. (7.) In reference to Sanscrit letters. These letters are like the old seal characters amongst us. They have re- mained the same from the creation of the world, unchanged through successive myriads of years. In this respect they differ from any letters we possess, for both the seal and the square characters with us have undergone numerous changes. The Sanscrit letters were originally imparted to men by Brahma (Fan tien), hence the books are called Brahma Books. Both gold and silver-wheel kings have transmitted 1 That is, a wheel king, or 'universal monarch— one who rules all within the circle of rocks supposed to surround the world. SCRIPTURES PROM THE CHINESE. 23 their use to the present age. Therefore ghosts and demons hasten from the spot where Sanscrit books are kept. At the time when Sanscrit words are repeated in religious re- citations the Kwei-shin (spirits) reverently attend. For who would not be impressed with reverence at hearing the illustrious words (gem words) used by heavenly kings? For this reason all the Buddhas in delivering the Law have used Sanscrit words. The eight classes of Dragons and monsters of the deep, uttering these words obtain spiritual enlighten- ment. The sounds which possess such remarkable virtue are embodied in these words, and their use is fully ex- plained and illustrated in the Books of Dharani.^ For example, by the repetition of the sound ^'^ho" we enter Samadhi. By carefully looking at (contemplating) the circle surmounting the letter (anusvara ?) we obtain en- lightenment. The sound ^^Om" pronounced during worship is an acceptable offering to all the Buddhas. The sound Hri is able to dispel every sorrow and purify every cor- rupting influence. The foolish may thus obtain wisdom. The short-lived may prolong their days. The diseased obtain health, simply in the use of these Sanscrit Books. Of the sixty-four principal kinds of writing in the world, then, the chief and best is the Sanscrit ; the second is that used in Kourudwipa (the northern continent), besides which there are the lotus letters, the tree-leaf books, the Yau-sun, the Chih-chun, and so through the sixty-four; — but the Sanscrit is the sovereign language in literature. (8.) In reference to pleasantness of Climate. The admix- ture of heat and cold differs according to the locality. High places are cold, low and swampy neighbourhoods are moist, thus the differences occur. The most agreeable climate is that which possesses a moderate and equable temperature, and as we lose this, and experience extremes of heat and cold, we are inconvenienced. So it is the extreme south is intensely hot, and the extreme north bitterly cold; the coast is windy and damp, and the mountainous regions of ' 111 Chinese, Tsuug-chi-kiug, /.e., the Book or Sutra of Collects. 24 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST the southern barbarous tribes pestilential and sickly. The ground when too wet, becomes bogf^y, and when too dry, sandy. If the water is impure the fountains and wells are poisoned, and so there are no limits to the ill effects of these differences of climate. In India, however, the heat of summer is not too great, and the cold of winter is not too severe — the four seasons are all moderate and agreeable. Add to this the beauty of the birds, the scent and lovely hues of the Divine flowers,^ the variety of the trees,^ the sweet tasting fountains, the medicinal lily roots of the Dragon Lake,^ and we see how perfect must be the climate that nourishes these various and choice products. (9.) With respect to the Reasonable Medium. We should naturally expect to find the middle land in possession of the true medium, in point of doctrine. For if not, how would it differ from the frontier countries ? For even the great teachers of our own land (flowery land) have been able to ex- press themselves as follows : — " To govern the people accord- ing to reason, the secret of this is 'measure\^^^ "To grasp firmly, that is the medium method.^^ " Use the middle method in dealing with the people.^^ "What is the due medium but • Hionen Thsang of the Tang dynasty had collected some seeds of the Divine Flower, but in crossing the Ganges the wind blew them away. He doubted not this was owing to the watchful jealousy of the Dragons. Ch. Ed. - The musical bamboo, known as that of Kai-kuh. It was to the valley of Kai-kuh that Hwang Ti (according to the Han Records) sent, and procured the bamboo out of which he made musical instruments. Ch. Ed. There are other trees named in the text, such as the tree of the medicine-king (Baisajya rajah), the touch of which produces health, and which grows in the Snowy Mountains. The scented oU-jalant, which also grows in the Snowy Mountains, and causes the milk of the oxen to be rich as essential oil, and their droppings to be sweet as incense. ^ When Buddha was alive, a Bikshu being sick, procured from the Dragon of the Snowy Mount Lake a lily root, about one foot long and of a sweet taste, which instantly restored him to health. * Merpwi/ — le juste milieu — das mass. Vide Philehus., § 155. Platonic Dialogues., ii, ol8 (AVhewell). SCRIPTURES FROM THE CHINESE. 25 the great Reason^ of the world : let the states of equi- librium and harmony exist in perfection and a happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish."^ Now, if worldly sages can deliver such wise sentenceSj how much more our Great Teacher who was separated from the world ? or rather how could he avoid coming into the world Himself, to exhibit to men and exemplify in himself this profound doctrine ?