DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45392#0363
The Pali Canon
for edification, they throw a strong light on the every-
day life of ancient India, very welcome to the historian
of manners. Those which refer to the crafts are of special
interest: we read, for example:
“ Just, O king, as a clever potter or his apprentice could
make, could succeed in getting out of properly prepared
clay any shape of vessel he wanted to have, or an ivory
carver out of ivory, or a goldsmith out of gold: such,
O king, is the Skill which is an immediate fruit of the
life of a recluse.”—Samanna-phala Sutta.
And with reference to the practice of breathing exercises,
and mindfulness:
“ Even as a skilful turner, or turner’s apprentice, drawing
his string at length, or drawing it out short, is conscious
that he is doing one or the other, so let a Brother practise
inhaling and exhaling.”—Maha Satthipatthana Sutta.
A favourite simile is that of the oil-lamp:
“Just, O Brethren, as an oil-lamp burns oil and wick, and
a man from time to time adds more oil and renews the
wick, this oil-lamp thus fed with fuel burns for a much
longer time—so, Brethren, waxes Craving in the man
who finds his pleasure in things of the world, that in
sooth are nought but bonds.”—Samyutta Nikaya.
Another favourite simile is that of the lotus, for
“‘Just as the lotus born of watery mud, grows in the
water, rises above the water, and is not defiled by it: so
have I arisen in the world, and passed beyond the world,
and am not defiled by the world,’ says Gautama.”—
Samyutta Nikaya.
The lotus has thus become a symbol of purity ; and in
iconography, when an apparitional character had been
given to the figure of the Buddha, and in the case of
other superhuman beings, the lotus pedestal or seat is a
277
for edification, they throw a strong light on the every-
day life of ancient India, very welcome to the historian
of manners. Those which refer to the crafts are of special
interest: we read, for example:
“ Just, O king, as a clever potter or his apprentice could
make, could succeed in getting out of properly prepared
clay any shape of vessel he wanted to have, or an ivory
carver out of ivory, or a goldsmith out of gold: such,
O king, is the Skill which is an immediate fruit of the
life of a recluse.”—Samanna-phala Sutta.
And with reference to the practice of breathing exercises,
and mindfulness:
“ Even as a skilful turner, or turner’s apprentice, drawing
his string at length, or drawing it out short, is conscious
that he is doing one or the other, so let a Brother practise
inhaling and exhaling.”—Maha Satthipatthana Sutta.
A favourite simile is that of the oil-lamp:
“Just, O Brethren, as an oil-lamp burns oil and wick, and
a man from time to time adds more oil and renews the
wick, this oil-lamp thus fed with fuel burns for a much
longer time—so, Brethren, waxes Craving in the man
who finds his pleasure in things of the world, that in
sooth are nought but bonds.”—Samyutta Nikaya.
Another favourite simile is that of the lotus, for
“‘Just as the lotus born of watery mud, grows in the
water, rises above the water, and is not defiled by it: so
have I arisen in the world, and passed beyond the world,
and am not defiled by the world,’ says Gautama.”—
Samyutta Nikaya.
The lotus has thus become a symbol of purity ; and in
iconography, when an apparitional character had been
given to the figure of the Buddha, and in the case of
other superhuman beings, the lotus pedestal or seat is a
277