The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-22
BUDDHIST Parable OF the PrOdisal
uDlle. in Popular LIE in Buddha.l

lille, i'm Popular Life in Buddha.J
\ certain man had son, who went away
into a ar countrr. There he became mis-
crablv poor. The father, however, grew
rich. and accumulated much gold and
treasure, and many storehOuscs and ele-
pbants. But he tendcrly loved his lost
son. and secretly lamented that he bad no
one TO whom 10 leave his palaces ana SUI
yeruas at his death. After many years,
the Door man, in search OF food and cloth
ing. happened to come to the count y
where his father had great possessions.
And when he was afar off his father saw
him. ana reflected thus in his mind: III
at once acknowledge my son and give him
nv .pold and treasures | sail do MN a
GREAT injury. He is ignorant and undls-
ciDlined. he IS poor and brutalized. with
one OF such miserable incinatlons 'twere
better TO educate the mind little by llttle.
| will make him one OF my hired servants.
Then the son, famishcd and in rags, az
rived at the door OF his fathers house,
and, seeing a great throne upraiscd ana
many followers doing homage to him VINO
sat upon it, was awed by the pomp
and the wealth around. Instantly ne
fled once more to the highway. his"
he thought, ais the house OF the poor
man. IL | stay at the palace OF the hlng
erhaps | shall be thrown into prison"
Then the father sent messengers after the
son. who was caught and brought back, IN
spite OF his cries and lamentations. When
he reached his fathers house he fell down
iainting with fear, not recognizing his
father. and believing he was about to SUI
fer some crlel punishment. The father
IL, = 70 naI
| the DOOR man, and sent two laborers OF ms
own rank OF life to engage him as SER
want on the estate. They gave him broom
and basket, and engaged him TO clean up
the dung-heap ut a double wage. From the
window OF his palace the rich man watched
his son at his work; and, Disgusting him.
self as a poor nan and covering his limos
with dust ard dirt, he approached his son
and said: "Stay here, good man, ana
will provide you with food and clothing.
| You are honest, you are industrious. LOOK
uUon me as your father" After many
wears. the father felt his end approaching,
and he summoned his son and the officers
OF the King and announced to them the
secret that he had so long kept. The poor
man was really his son who had wandered
away from him, and now that he was con-
scious OF his former debascd condil0
and was able to appreciate and retain vas'
wealth. he was determined to hand over to
| him his entire treasure. The poor man
was astonished at this sudden change OF
fortune. but overioycd at meeting his father
once more. The parallels OF Buddha are
reported in the Lotus OF the perfect law &c
be yelled from the ignorant by means o.
an enigmatic form OF language. The rlct
man of this parable, with his throne
adorned by flowers and garlands OF Jewels
Is announced to be Tirthagata, Wh(
dearly loves all his children, and has pre-
pared for them vast spiritual treasures
But each son Of Tirthasata has miserable
inclinations. lie prefers the dung-heap Il
the pearl Mani. TO teach such maj
Tirthagata is obliged to employ inierio
agents, the monk and the ascetlc, ana U
wean him by degrees from the lower Oh
ljects Of desire. When he speaks himsel
he is forced to veil much OF his thought, a
it would not be understood. His sons lee
no Joy on learning spiritual things. Littl
by little must their minds be trained ant
disciplined for higher truths.