The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-12-05

means was that Inc had become unable
to do good and to help his friends in
the vihara to spread the truths of reli-
gion
Again years passed on, and it hap
pened that Panthaka, young shrama-
ma and disciple of Narada, was trav
cling through the mountains of Klaus
hambi, and he fell among the robbers
in the mountains. As he had nothing
in his possession, the robbtr chief beat
him severely and let him 60 On the
next morning Panthaka, while pursu-
ing his way through the woods, heard
anoise as of quarreling and fighting
men, and going to the place he saw
number of robbers, all of them in
great rage, and in the midst of them
stood Mahaduta, their chief. And the
chief was desperately fighting them,
like lion surrounded by hounds, and
be slew several of his aggressors with
formidable blows, but there were too
many against one. At last he succumb-
ed and fell to the ground as II dead,
covered with fatal wounds.
As soon as the robbers had left the
place the young shramana approached
to see whether he could be of any as
sistance to the wounded men. He found
that all the robbers were dead, and
there was only little life left in the
chief. He at once went down to the lit
tic brooklot which was murmuring near
by, fetched fresh water in his bowl and
brought it to the dying man. Mahaduta
opened his eyes, and crashing his teeth
said
where are those ungrateful dogs
whom | have led to victory and sue
cess? Without me rs their chief they
will soon perish like, jackals hunted
down by skillfui hunters. y
500 not think of your comrades, the
companions of your sinful life, " said
Panthaka, "but think of your soul and
accept in the last moment the chance of
salvation that is offered you. Here is
water to drink, and let me dress your
wounds. Perhaps may save your life.
ALAS, alas" replied Mahaduta, 'are
you not the man whom beat but yes
terday, and now you come to my as
sistance to assuage my pain? You bring
me fresh water to quench my thirst and
try to save my life. 1t is useless, hon.
orable sir. | am a doomed man. The
| churls have wounded me unto death, the
ungrateful towards. They have dealt
me the blows which | taught them. "
"You reap what you have sown, ="
continued the shramana. Had you
taught your comrades acts Of Kindness
you would have received from them acts
g l,,t IA, Z l,p
lesson of slaughter it is but your own
deed that you are slain by their hands "
True, very true" said the robber
chief. my fate is we'll deserved, but
how sad is my lot, that l must reap the
full, harvest of all my evil deeds in fu-
ture existence. Advise me, O holy sir,
what l can do to Tighten the sins of my
life, which Cypress me like great rock
placed upon my breast, taking away the
breath of my lungs"
Said Panthaka; Root out your sin
full desires; destroy all evil passions
and fill your soul with kindness to-
ward all your fellow beings"
The robber chief said: 81 have done
much evil aud no good. How can 1 ex-
tricate myself from the net of sorrow
which l have woven out Of the evil de-
sires of my own heart? My karma will
lead me TO hell, and | shall never be
able to walk on the path of salvation. -
Said the shramana: Indeed your
karma will in its future incarnationS
reap the seeds of evil that you have
sown There is no escape for an evil
doer from the consequences of his OWL
actions. But there is no cause for de
spair. The man who is converted anG
has rooted out the illusion of self, with
all its lusts and sinful desires, will be
source of blessing to himself and 9th
ers.
'As an illustration ! will tell you the
story of the great robber Kandara, who
died without repentance and was reborn
as a demon i'll hell, where he suffered
for his evil deeds the most terrible ago
MES and pains. He had been in hel
several kalpas and was unable to rist
out of his wretched condition wheI
Buddha appeared upon earth and at
tanned to the blessed state of enlighten
nent. AT that memorable moment {
ray of light fell down into hell, quick
ening all the demons with life anC
hope, and the robber Kandata CRIED
aloud: % blessed Buddha, have mer
cy upon me. | suffer greatly and al
though l have done evil / am anxious
to walk i'll the noble path of righteous
ness But ! cannot extricate myself
from the net of sorrow. Help me, {
Lord; have mercy on me.
"Now, it is the law Of Karma tina
evil deeds lead to destruction, for abso
lutte evil is so bad that it cannot exist
Absolute evil involves the impossibility
of existence. But good deeds lead tC
life Thus there is final end of every
deed that is done, but there is no enc
In the development of good deeds. The
least act of goodness bears fruits con
tanning new seeds of goodness, and they
continue to grow; they nourish the sou
i'll its weary transmigrations until i
reaches the final deliverance from al
evil i'll Nirvana. When Buddha, tn,
lord, heard the prayer of the demon
suffering in hell, he sent down a spider
Il