BUDDHA'S ADVICE TO A YOUNG MAN.

There was once a man who had only one son, who was much beloved by both his parents. They procured for him means of instruction, and fondly hoped that he would be an honour to their house. But alas! he was careless and negligent, and learned nothing. In consequence of this his parents took him to their home, and hoped he would be useful in the management of the house. But he was idle and dirty in his ways, and altogether a grief to them. In consequence of this, he was slighted by all the neighbours, and became an object of contempt amongst his friends, and almost hateful to his parents. Deeply touched by this, he sought some comfort in religious exercises, but found no hope in all his penances and prayers to the Gods. At last hearing that Buddha was the all-wise Teacher, who could meet the necessities of his case, he came to him and begged his help. To whom Buddha replied,

"If you would find comfort in my society, the
first thing for you to learn is purity of conduct.
Go back, therefore, to your home, and learn to obey
your parents, recite your prayers, be diligent in
your daily occupations, let no love of ease tempt
you to neglect cleanliness of person or
dress; and then, having learned this, come back to
me, and you may perhaps be allowed to enter into the
companionship of my followers."

decency of

—“DHAMMAPADA.”

From the Buddhist Camon, translated by Beal.

123. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

things fail, that Virtue, for with

Thales, the Milesian, one of the seven wise men of Greece, being asked what was the oldest thing, he answered, God, because he has ever been. What was the largest thing? Space, because it comprehends everything besides. What was the handsomest thing? The world, because it is the work of God. What the most lasting? Hope, because when all other still remains. What the best thing? What the best thing? out it nothing that is good can be said or done. What the quickest? A man's thoughts, because in one moment they run over all the universe. What the strongest? Necessity, because it surmounts all other accidents. What is the easiest? To give counsel. What the hardest? To know oneself. What the wisest thing? Time, because it brings all things to pass.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

1

Flowers, wherefore do ye bloom?

-We strew thy pathway to the tomb.

2

Stars, wherefore do ye rise?

-To light thy spirit to the skies.

3

Fair Moon, why dost thou wane?
-That I may wax again.

4

O Sun, what makes thy beams so bright?

-The Word that said,-"Let there be light."

5

Planets, what guides you in your course?
-Unseen, unfelt, unfailing force.

6

Nature, whence sprang thy glorious frame?
-My Maker call'd me, and I came.

7

O Light, thy subtle essence who may know?
-Ask not; for all things but myself I show.

8

What is yon arch which everywhere I see?
-The sign of Omnipresent Deity.

9

Where rests the horizon's all-embracing zone? -Where earth, God's footstool, touches heaven, his

throne.

10

Ye Clouds, what bring ye in your train?
-God's embassies, storm, lightning, hail or rain.

11

Winds, whence and whither do ye blow?
-Thou must be born again to know.

12

Bow in the cloud, what token dost thou bear? -That Justice still cries "Strike," and Mercy

"Spare ".

13

Dews of the morning, wherefore were ye given ?

-To shine on earth, then rise to heaven.

14

Rise, glitter, break; yet, Bubble, tell me why?
-To show the course of all beneath the sky.

15

Stay, Meteor, stay thy falling fire!

-No, thus shall all the host of heaven expire.

16

Ocean, what law thy chainless waves confined? -That which in Reason's limits holds thy mind.

17

Time, whither dost thou flee?

-I travel to Eternity.

18

Eternity, what art thou,-say?

-Time past, time present, time to come,-to-day.

19

Ye Dead, where can your dwelling be?

-The house for all the living; come and see.

20

O Life, what is thy breath?
-A vapour lost in death.

21

O Death, how ends thy strife?
-In everlasting life.

22

O Grave, where is thy victory?

-Ask Him who rose again for me.

-JAMES MONTGOMERY,

124. RAMA AND SITA.

Dasharatha, king of Ayodhyâ, had by his wife Kausalyâ, a son named Râma; by his wife Kaikeyî, a son named Bharata; by his wife Sumitrâ, two sons named Lakshamana and Shatrughna.

The four brothers grew up together at Ayodhyâ, but while they were yet striplings, the sage Vishwâmitra sought the aid of Râma to protect him from the Râkshasas. The father, though very unwilling, was constrained to consent to the sage's request. Râma and Lakshamana then went to the hermitage of Vishwâmitra and there Râma killed the demon Tâdikâ. Vishwâmitra supplied Râma with celestial arms and exercised a considerable influence over his actions. Vishwâmitra, afterwards, took Râma and his brothers to Mithilâ to the court of Janaka. This king had a lovely daughter, named Sîtâ, whom he offered in marriage to any one who could bend the wonderful bow which had once belonged to Shiva. Râma not only bent the bow but broke it, and thus won the hand of the princess, who became a most virtuous and devoted wife.

Preparations were made at Ayodhyâ for the inauguration of Râma, as successor to the throne. Kaikeyî the second wife of Dasharatha, and mother of Bharata, was her husband's favourite. She was kind to Râma. in childhood and youth, but she had a spiteful female slave, who worked upon the maternal affection of her mistress until she aroused a strong feeling of jea