Part 15: Sermon on saṃsāra by Abhinandana

When śakra had ceased speaking after this hymn of praise, the Master commenced a sermon in a deep voice which penetrated for a yojana.

“This saṃsāra is a pit of calamities. To any one falling into it, neither father, mother, friend, brother, nor any one else is any protection. Since Indras, Upendras, etc. come within the sphere of death, who, alas! gives protection to creatures against the fear of death? While father, mother, sister, brother, and children look on, a person without protection is led by his actions to Yama’s house. People, their wits confused, grieve over their family being led to destruction by their actions, but do not grieve over themselves who will be led in future. In saṃsāra made terrible by the blazing flames of the forest-fire of pain there is no protection for any creature like a young deer in a forest. There is no protection against death by means of the eightfold Āyurveda,^[1] by life-giving remedies, by charms overcoming death, etc. A king, even though in the midst of a cage of swords, though surrounded by a fourfold army, is seized with violence by the servants of Yama, like a poor man. Just as cattle do not know any remedy against death, neither do wise men. Alas! the confusion in regard to remedies! The same ones who, equipped only with swords, free the earth from obnoxious persons, put their fingers in their mouths,^[3] terrified at Yama’s frown. Even for munis devoid of evil it is never possible to prevent death by vows resembling sword-blades. Alas! the universe is without protection, without kings, without leaders, since it without a remedy is devoured by the Rakṣas Yama. Dharma, which is a remedy, is not so against death, but it is known as a helper because it grants a good state of existence (gati). Then let us struggle for the fourth object of existence, for eternal bliss, by adopting the method characterized by mendicancy.”

From this sermon men and women in general adopted mendicancy. There were a hundred and sixteen gaṇabhṛts, Vajranābha, etc. After giving them permission for exposition and for the gaṇas according to rule, the Lord delivered a sermon consisting of instruction. The Master told them the ‘three-steps,’ origination, perishing, and permanence. In accordance with the ‘three-steps’ they made the texts of the twelve aṅgas. The Master stopped his sermon at the close of the watch. Then he threw up the oblation brought by the king, and gods, kings, and men took it in turn. Then the Lord of the World arose, went to the middle wall, and sat down on the dais placed in the northeast. Vajranābha the gaṇadhara, seated on the Master’s foot-stool, delivered a sermon. A śrutakevalin, he was looked upon by the people as a kevalin.^[2] He ended the sermon at the close of the second watch of the day. After bowing to the Arhat, all the gods, etc. went to their respective abodes.