DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5832#0273
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SCENES IN INDIA.
When Sakia grew up, he was deeply affected by
the sight of human misery, and in spite of every
remonstrance, resolved to lay aside the splendours of
royalty and lead the life of a hermit. Several of the
young nobles imitated his example and professed
themselves his disciples. For many years, Sakia
lived in the desert, absorbed in meditation, scarcely
paying any attention to the common necessaries of
life, and evincing his humility by refusing the services
and homage of his disciples. From hence he re-
moved to a still more solitary place, where he was
assailed by several temptations, over all of which he
triumphed. Being now persuaded that he had sub-
dued all human lusts, he prepared to publish a new
system of faith ; but before commencing the publi-
cation be underwent a series of fasts and penances for
forty-nine days. His first sermon to his disciples on
the origin and necessity of faith, may be regarded as
a brief summary of the principal doctrines of Bud-
dhism.
" The universal state of misery, that is, the present
world, is the first truth; the path of salvation is the
second truth; the temptation to which we are ex-
posed is the third truth; and the mode of overcoming
temptation is the fourth truth." He then proceeds to
explain the signification of these truths in the follow-
ing terms. " In the course of human life no moment
of pleasure equals that in which we acquire cognizance
of the truth; thus I name this world, a true state of
misery, and the practice of the precepts of faith the
greatest happiness. Consider the fourfold condition
of man; the pains attending his birth; the diseases
SCENES IN INDIA.
When Sakia grew up, he was deeply affected by
the sight of human misery, and in spite of every
remonstrance, resolved to lay aside the splendours of
royalty and lead the life of a hermit. Several of the
young nobles imitated his example and professed
themselves his disciples. For many years, Sakia
lived in the desert, absorbed in meditation, scarcely
paying any attention to the common necessaries of
life, and evincing his humility by refusing the services
and homage of his disciples. From hence he re-
moved to a still more solitary place, where he was
assailed by several temptations, over all of which he
triumphed. Being now persuaded that he had sub-
dued all human lusts, he prepared to publish a new
system of faith ; but before commencing the publi-
cation be underwent a series of fasts and penances for
forty-nine days. His first sermon to his disciples on
the origin and necessity of faith, may be regarded as
a brief summary of the principal doctrines of Bud-
dhism.
" The universal state of misery, that is, the present
world, is the first truth; the path of salvation is the
second truth; the temptation to which we are ex-
posed is the third truth; and the mode of overcoming
temptation is the fourth truth." He then proceeds to
explain the signification of these truths in the follow-
ing terms. " In the course of human life no moment
of pleasure equals that in which we acquire cognizance
of the truth; thus I name this world, a true state of
misery, and the practice of the precepts of faith the
greatest happiness. Consider the fourfold condition
of man; the pains attending his birth; the diseases