The Marriage-feast In Jambunada
There was a man in Jambunada who was to be married the next day,
and he thought, "Would that the Buddha, the Blessed One, might be
present at the wedding."
And the Blessed One passed by his house and met him, and when he
read the silent wish in the heart of the bridegroom, he consented
to enter.
the host whose means were limited received them as best he could,
saying: "Eat, my Lord, and all thy congregation, according to
your desire."
While the holy men ate, the meats and drinks remained
undiminished, and the host thought to himself: "How wondrous is
this! I should have had plenty for all my relatives and
friends. Would that I had invited them all."
When this thought was in the host's mind, all his relatives and
friends entered the house; and although the hall in the house was
small there was room in it for all of them. They sat down at the
table and ate, and there was more than enough for all of them.
The Blessed One was pleased to see so many guests full of good
cheer and he quickened them and gladdened them with words of
truth, proclaiming the bliss of righteousness:
"The greatest happiness which a mortal man can imagine is the
bond of marriage that ties together two loving hearts. But there
is a greater happiness still: it is the embrace of truth. Death
will separate husband and wife, but death will never affect him
who has espoused the truth.
"Therefore be married unto the truth and live with the truth in
holy wedlock. The husband who loves his wife and desires for a
union that shall be everlasting must be faithful to her so as to
be like truth itself, and she will rely upon him and revere him
and minister unto him. And the wife who loves her husband and
desires a union that shall be everlasting must be faithful to him
so as to be like truth itself; and he will place his trust in
her, he will provide for her. Verily, I say unto you, their
children will become like unto their parents and will bear
witness to their happiness.
"Let no man be single, let every one be wedded in holy love to
the truth. And when Mara, the destroyer, comes to separate the
visible forms of your being, you will continue to live in the
truth, and you will partake of the life everlasting, for the
truth is immortal."
There was no one among the guests but was strengthened in his
spiritual life, and recognized the sweetness of a life of
righteousness; and they took refuge in Buddha, the Dharma, and
the Sangha.
More
-
Rahula
Many people in Kapilavatthu believed in the Tathagata and took refuge in his doctrine, among them Nanda, Siddhattha's halfbrother, the son of Pajapati; Devadatta, his cousin and brother-in-law; Upali the barber; and Anuruddha the philosopher. Som... Rejoice!
Rejoice at the glad tidings! The Buddha, our Lord, has found the root of all evil; he has shown us the way of salvation. The Buddha dispels the illusions of our mind and redeems us from the terror of death. ... Rescue In The Desert
There was a disciple of the Blessed One, full of energy and zeal for the truth, who, living under a vow to complete a meditation in solitude, flagged in a moment of weakness. He said to himself: "The Teacher said there are several kinds of men; I ... Samsara And Nirvana
Look about and contemplate life! Everything is transient and nothing endures. There is birth and death, growth and decay; there is combination and separation. The glory of the world is like a flower: it s... Sariputta And Moggallana
At that time Sariputta and Moggallana, two Brahmans and chiefs of the followers of Sanjaya, led a religious life. They had promised each other: "He who first attains Nirvana shall tell the other one." ... Sariputta's Faith
The Blessed One proceeded with a great company of the brethren to Nalanda; and there he stayed in a mango grove. Now the venerable Sariputta came to the place where the Blessed One was, and having saluted him, took his seat r... Secrecy And Publicity
The Buddha said: "Three things, O disciples, are characterized by secrecy: love affairs, priestly wisdom, and all aberrations from the path of truth. "Women who are in love, O disciples, seek secre... Simha's Question Concerning Annihilation
At that time many distinguished citizens were sitting together assembled in the town-hall and spoke in many ways in praise of the Buddha, of the Dharma, and of the Sangha. Simha, the general-in-chief, a disciple of the Niggantha sect, was sitting ... The Annihilation Of Suffering
And the Buddha said: "What, my friends, is evil? "Killing is evil; stealing is evil; yielding to sexual passion is evil; lying is evil; slandering is evil; abuse is evil; gossip is evil; envy is evil; hatred is evil; to cling t... The Bhikkhus Rebuked
And it happened that the Blessed One walked up and down in the open air unshod. When the elders saw that the Blessed One walked unshod, they put away their shoes and did likewise. But the novices... The Bhikkhus' Conduct Toward Women
The bhikkhus came to the Blessed One and asked him: "O Tathagata, our Lord and Master, what conduct toward women dost thou prescribe to the samanas who have left the world?" And the Blessed One said: ... The Bodhisatta's Birth
There was in Kapliavatthu a Sakya king, strong of purpose and reverenced by all men, a descendant of the Okkakas, who call themselves Gotama, and his name was Suddhodana or Pure-Rice. His wife Maya-devi was beautiful as the water-lily and ... The Bodhisatta's Renunciation
It was night. The prince found no rest on his soft pillow; he arose and went out into the garden. "Alas!" he cried, "all the world is full of darkness and ignorance; there is no one who knows how to cure the ills of existence." And he groaned with... The Bodhisatta's Search
Alara and Uddaka were renowned as teachers among the Brahmans, and there was no one in those days who surpassed them in learning and philosophical knowledge. The Bodhisatta went to them and sat at their feet... The Buddha Announces His Death
Said the Tathagata to Ananda: "In former years, Ananda, Mara, the Evil One, approached the holy Buddha three times to tempt him. "And now, Ananda, Mara, the Evil One, came again today to the place where I was, and, standing beside me, addres... The Buddha Omnipresent
And the Blessed One thus addressed the brethren: "Those only who do not believe, call me Gotama, but you call me the Buddha, the Blessed One, the Teacher. And this is right, for I have in this life entered Nirvana, while the li... The Buddha Replies To The Deva
On a certain day when the Blessed One dwelt at Jetavana, the garden of Anathapindika, a celestial deva came to him in the shape of a Brahman whose countenance was bright and whose garments were white like snow. The deva asked questions which the ... The Buddha's Farewell Address
When the Blessed One had remained as long as he wished at Ambapali's grove, he went to Beluva, near Vesali. There the Blessed One addressed the brethren, and said: "O mendicants, take up your abode for the rainy season round about Vesali, each one... The Buddha's Father
The Buddha's name became famous over all India and Suddhodana, his father, sent word to him saying: "I am growing old and wish to see my son before I die. Others have had the benefit of his doctrine, but not his father nor his relatives." ... The Buddha's Final Entering Into Nirvana
Then the Mallas, with their young men and maidens and their wives, being grieved, and sad, and afflicted at heart, went to the Upavattana, the sala grove of the Mallas, and wanted to see the Blessed One, in order to partake of the bliss that devol... The Buddha's Parents Attain Nirvana
When Suddhodana had grown old, he fell sick and sent for his son to come and see him once more before he died; and the Blessed One came and stayed at the sick-bed, and Suddhodana, having attained perfect enlightenment, died in the arms of the Blesse... The Communication Of Bliss
Annabhara, 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. ... The Conditions Of Welfare
When the Blessed One was residing on the mount called Vulture's Peak, near Rajagaha, Ajatasattu the king of Magadha, who reigned in the place of Bimbisara, planned an attack on the Vajjis, and he said to Vassakara, his prime minister: "I will root... The Cruel Crane Outwitted
A tailor who used to make robes for the brotherhood was wont to cheat his customers, and thus prided himself on being smarter than other men. But once, on entering upon an important business transaction with a stranger, he found his master in frau... The Despot
King Brahmadatta happened to see a beautiful woman, the wife of a Brahman merchant, and, conceiving a passion for her ordered a precious jewel secretly to be dropped into the merchant's carriage. The jewel was missed, searched for, and found. The ... The Dhammapada
This is the Dhammapada, the path of religion pursued by those who are followers of the Buddha: Creatures from mind their character derive; mind-marshalled are they, mind-made. Mind is the source either of bl... The First Converts
The Blessed One tarried in solitude seven times seven days, enjoying the bliss of emancipation. At that time Tapussa and Bhallika, two merchants, came traveling on the road near by, and when they saw the great samana, m... The Giddy Fish
There was a bhikkhu who had great difficulty in keeping his senses and passions under control; so, resolving to leave the Order, he came to the Blessed One to ask him for a release from the vows. And the Blessed One said to the bhikkhu: ... The Goal
And the Blessed One thus addressed the bhikkhus: "It is through not understanding the four noble truths, O bhikkhus, that we had to wander so long in the weary-path of samsara, both you and I. ... The Hungry Dog
There was a great king who oppressed his people and was hated by his subjects; yet when the Tathagata came into his kingdom, the lung desired much to see him. So he went to the place where the Blessed One stayed and asked: "O Sakyamuni, canst thou... The King's Gift
The king, having taken his refuge in the Buddha, invited the Tathagata to his palace, saying: "Will the Blessed One consent to take his meal with me to-morrow together with the fraternity of bhikkhus?" ... The Lesson Given To Rahula
Before Rahula, the son of Gotama Siddhattha and Yasodhara, attained to the enlightenment of true wisdom, his conduct was not always marked by a love of truth, and the Blessed One sent him to a distant vihara to govern his mind and to guard his ton... The Light Of The World
There was a certain Brahman in Kosambi, a wrangler and well versed in the Vedas. As he found no one whom he regarded his equal in debate he used to carry a lighted torch in his hand, and when asked for the reason of his strange conduct, he replied... The Listless Fool
There was a rich Brahman, well advanced in years, who, unmindful of the impermanence of earthly things and anticipating a long life, had built himself a large house. The Buddha wondered why a man so near to death had ... The Lost Son
There was a householder's son who went away into a distant country, and while the father accumulated immeasurable riches, the son became miserably poor. And the son while searching for food and clothing happened to come to the country in which his... The Man Born Blind
There was a man born blind, and he said: "I do not believe in the world of light and appearance. There are no colors, bright or sombre. There is no sun, no moon, no stars. No one has witnessed these things." ... The Marriage-feast In Jambunada
There was a man in Jambunada who was to be married the next day, and he thought, "Would that the Buddha, the Blessed One, might be present at the wedding." And the Blessed One passed by his house and met... The Mirror Of Truth
The Blessed One proceeded to the village Nadika with a great company of brethren and there he stayed at the Brick Hall. And the venerable Ananda went to the Blessed One and mentioning to him the names of the brethren and sisters that had died, an... The Mustard Seed
There was a rich man who found his gold suddenly transformed into ashes; and he took to his bed and refused all food. A friend, hearing of his sickness, visited the rich man and learned the cause of his grief. And the friend said: "Thou didst not ... The Outcast
When Bhagavat dwelt at Savatthi in the Jetavana, he went out with his alms-bowl to beg for food and approached the house of a Brahman priest while the fire of an offering was blazing upon the altar. And the priest said: "Stay there, O shaveling; s... The Patient Elephant
While the Blessed One was residing in the Jetavana, there was a householder living in Savatthi known to all his neighbors as patient and kind, but his relatives were wicked and contrived a plot to rob him. One day they came to the householder and ... The Peacemaker
It is reported that two kingdoms were on the verge of war for the possession of a certain embankment which was disputed by them. And the Buddha seeing the kings and their armies ready to fight, requested them to tell him the cause of their q... The Praise Of All The Buddhas
All the Buddhas are wonderful and glorious. There is not their equal upon earth. They reveal to us the path of life. And we hail their appearance with pious reverence. All the Buddhas teach the same truth. ... The Preacher's Mission
And the Blessed One said to his disciples: "When I have passed away and can no longer address you and edify your minds with religious discourse, select from among you men of good family and education to preach the truth i... The Purpose Of Being
Eternal verities dominate the formation of worlds and constitute the cosmic order of natural laws. But when, through the conflicting motion of masses, the universe was illumined with blazing fire, there was no eye to see the light, no ear to liste... The Re-establishment Of Concord
Whilst the dispute between the parties was not yet settled, the Blessed One left Kosambi, and wandering from place to place he came at last to Savatthi. And in the absence of the Blessed One the quarrels ... The Sangha
Having pointed out to the five bhikkhus the truth, the Buddha said: "A man that stands alone, having decided to obey the truth, may be weak and slip back into his old ways. Therefore, ... The Schism
While the Blessed One dwelt at Kosambi, a certain bhikkhu was accused of having committed an offence, and, as he refused to acknowledge it, the brotherhood pronounced against him the sentence of expulsion. ... The Sermon At Benares
On seeing their old teacher approach, the five bhikkhus agreed among themselves not to salute him, nor to address him as a master, but by his name only. "For," so they said, "he has broken his vow and has abandoned holiness. He is no bhikkhu but G... The Sermon At Rajagaha
And the Blessed One having dwelt some time in Uruvela went forth to Rajagaha, accompanied by a great number of bhikkhus, many of whom had been Jatilas before; and the great Kassapa, chief of the Jatilas and formerly a fireworshipper, went with him... The Sermon On Abuse
And the Blessed One observed the ways of society and noticed how much misery came from malignity and foolish offences done only to gratify vanity and self-seeking pride. And the Buddha said: "If a man foolishly does m... The Sermon On Charity
Anathapindika rejoiced at the words of the Blessed One and said: "I dwell at Savatthi, the capital of Kosala, a land rich in produce and enjoying peace. Pasenadi is the king of the country, and his name is renowned among our own people and our nei... The Sick Bhikkhu
An old bhikkhu of a surly disposition was afflicted with a loathsome disease the sight and smell of which was so nauseating that no one would come near him or help him in his distress. And it happened that the World-honored One came to the vihara ... The Sower
Bharadvaja, a wealthy Brahman farmer, was celebrating his harvest-thanksgiving when the Blessed One came with his alms-bowl, begging for food. Some of the people paid him reverence, but the Brahman was angry... The Teacher Unknown
And the Blessed One said to Ananda: "There are various kinds of assemblies, O Ananda; assemblies of nobles, of Brahmans, of householders, of bhikkhus, and of other beings. When I used to enter an assembly, I always... The Three Characteristics And The Uncreate
When the Buddha was staying at the Veluvana, the bamboo grove at Rajagaha, he addressed the brethren thus: "Whether Buddhas arise, O priests, or whether Buddhas do not arise, it remains a fact and the fixed and necessary... The Three Personalities Of The Buddha
When the Blessed One had passed away into Nirvana, the disciples came together and consulted what to do in order to keep the Dharma pure and uncorrupted by heresies. And Upali rose, saying: ... The Three Woes
The palace which the king had given to the prince was resplendent with all the luxuries of India; for the king was anxious to see his son happy. All sorrowful sights, all misery, and all knowle... The Ties Of Life
When Siddhattha had grown to youth, his father desired to see him married, and he sent to all his kinsfolk, commanding them to bring their princesses that the prince might select one of them as his wife. ... The Two Brahmans
At one time when the Blessed One was journeying through Kosala he came to the Brahman village which is called Manasakata. There he stayed in a mango grove. And two young Brahmans came to him who were of ... The Uposatha And Patimokkha
When Seniya Bimbisara, the king of Magadha, was advanced in years, he retired from the world and led a religious life. He observed that there were Brahmanical sects in Rajagaha keeping sacred certain days, and the people went to their meeting-hous... The Vanity Of Worldliness
There was a poet who had acquired the spotless eye of truth, and he believed in the Buddha, whose doctrine gave him peace of mind and comfort in the hour of affliction. And it happened that an epidemic swept over the ... The Widow's Two Mites And The Parable Of The Three Merchants
There was once a lone widow who was very destitute, and having gone to the mountain she beheld hermits holding a religious assembly. Then the woman was filled with joy, and uttering praises, said, "It is well, holy priests! but while others give ... The Woman At The Well
Ananda, the favorite disciple of the Buddha, having been sent by the Lord on a mission, passed by a well near a village, and seeing Pakati, a girl of the Matanga caste, he asked her for water to drink. ... Truth The Saviour
The things of the world and its inhabitants are subject to change. They are combinations of elements that existed before, and all living creatures are what their past actions made them; for the law of cause and effect is uniform and without except... Upaka
Now the Blessed One thought: "To whom shall I preach the doctrine first? My old teachers are dead. They would have received the good news with joy. But my five disciples are still alive. I shall go to them, and to them shall I first proclaim the g... Uruvela The Place Of Mortification
The Bodhisatta went in search of a better system and came to a settlement of five bhikkhus in the jungle of Uruvela; and when the Blessed One saw the life of those five men, virtuously keeping in check their senses, subduing their passions, and p... Vasavadatta
There was a courtesan in Mathura named Vasavadatta. She happened to see Upagutta, one of Buddha's disciples, a tall and beautiful youth, and fell desperately in love with him. Vasavadatta sent an invitation to the young man, but he replied: "The t... Visakha
Visakha, a wealthy woman in Savatthi who had many children and grandchildren, had given to the order the Pubbarama or Eastern Garden, and was the first in Northern Kosala to become a matron of the lay sisters. ... Women Admitted To The Sangha
Yasodhara had three times requested of the Buddha that she might be admitted to the Sangha, but her wish had not been granted. Now Pajapati, the foster-mother of the Blessed One, in the company of Yasodhara, and many other women, went to the Tatha... Words Of Instruction
The bhikkhus came to the Blessed One, and having saluted him with clasped hands they said: "O Master, thou all-seeing one, we all wish to learn; our ears are ready to hear, thou art our teacher, thou art... Yasa The Youth Of Benares
At that time there was in Benares a noble youth, Yasa by name, the son of a wealthy merchant. Troubled in his mind about the sorrows of the world, he secretly rose up in the night and stole away to the Blessed One. ...