The travels of Fa-Hian (400 A.D.)

by Samuel Beal | 1884 | 20,385 words | ISBN-10: 8120811070

This is the English translation of the travel records of Fa-Hian (or, Faxian): a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled by foot from China to India between A.D. 399 and A.D. 412. The full title is: The travels of Fa-Hian: Buddhist-country-records; By Fa-hian, the Sakya of the Sung (Dynasty) [Date, 400 A.D]. This work is an extract of the book “Buddhi...

Chapter XXXI

Going west from this four yojanas, we arrive at the town of Gaya, All within this city likewise is desolate and desert. Going south 20 li, we arrive at the place where Bodhisattva, when alive, passed six years in self-inflicted austerities. This place is well wooded. From this place westward three li, is the spot where Buddha entered the water to bathe and the deva lowered the branch of a tree to help him out of the water. Again, going north two li, we arrive at the place where the village girlsgave the milk and rice to Buddha. From this going north two li is the spot where Buddha, seated on a stone under a great tree, and looking towards the east, ate the rice and milk. The tree and the stone still remain. The stone is about six feet square and two in height. In Mid-India the heat and cold are so equalised that trees will live for thousands of years, and even so many as ten thousand.

Going north-east from this half a yojana, we arrive at a stone cell, into which Bodhisattva entering, sat down with his legs crossed, and as he faced the west he reflected with himself, “If I am to arrive at the condition of perfect wisdom, let there be some spiritual manifestation.” Immediately on the stone wall there appeared the shadow of Buddha, in length somewhat about three feet. This shadow is still distinctly visible. Then the heavens and the earth were shaken, and all the devas in space cried out and said, “This is not the place appointed for the Buddhas (past or those to come) to arrive at perfect wisdom; at a distance less than half a yojana south-west from this, beneath the Pei-to tree, is the spot where all the Buddhas (past or yet to come) should arrive at that condition.” The devas having thus spoken, immediately went before him, singing and leading the way with a view to induce him to follow. Then Bodhisattva, rising up, followed them. When distant thirty paces from the tree, a deva gave him some grass of good omen. Bodhisattva having accepted it, advanced fifteen paces. Then 500 blue birds came flying towards him, and having encircled Bodhisattva three times, departed. Bodhisattva, then going forward, arrived under the Pei-to tree, and spreading out the grass of good omen, sat down with his face towards the east. Then it was that Mara-raja dispatched three pleasure-girls from the northern quarter to come and tempt him, whilst Mara himself coming from the south, assailed him likewise. Then Bodhisattva letting the toe of his foot down to the earth, the whole army of Mara was scattered, and the three women were changed into hags.

On the place above mentioned, where he inflicted on himself mortification for six years, and on each spot subsequently mentioned, men in after times raised towers and placed figures (of Buddha), which still remain. Buddha having arrived at supreme wisdom, for seven days sat contemplating the tree, experiencing the joys of emancipation. On this spot they have raised a tower, as well as on the following, viz., where he walked for seven days under the Pei-to tree, from east to west; where all the devas, having caused the appearance of a hall composed of the seven precious substances, for seven days paid religious worship to Buddha; where the blind dragon Muchilinda for seven days encircled Buddha in token of respect; also where Buddha, seated on a square stone beneath a Nyagrodha tree, and with his face to the east, received the respectful salutation of Brahma; also where the four heavenly kings respectfully offered him his alms-bowl; also where the 500 merchants presented him with parched corn and honey; also where he converted the Kasyapas, elder and younger brothers, and their thousand disciples. In the place where Buddha arrived at perfect reason there are three sangharamas, in all of which priests are located. The dependants of the congregation of priests supply them with all necessaries, so that there is no lack of anything. They scrupulously observe the rules of the Vinaya with respect to decorum, which relate to sitting down, rising up, or entering the assembly; and the rules which the holy congregation observed during Buddha’s lifetime are still observed by these priests.

The sites of the four great pagodas have always been associated together from the time of the Nirvana. The four great pagodas are those erected on the place where he was born, where he obtained emancipation, where he began to preach, and where he entered Nirvana.

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