A Record of Buddhistic kingdoms: being an account by the Chinese monk Fa-hsien of travels in India and Ceylon (A.D. 399-414) in search of the Buddhist books of discipline eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 180 pages of information about A Record of Buddhistic kingdoms.

A Record of Buddhistic kingdoms: being an account by the Chinese monk Fa-hsien of travels in India and Ceylon (A.D. 399-414) in search of the Buddhist books of discipline eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 180 pages of information about A Record of Buddhistic kingdoms.

   (7) Western Tukhara ({.} {.}) is the same probably as the Tukhara
   ({.}) of chapter xii, a king of which is there described as trying to
   carry off the bowl from Purushapura.

   (8) North of the Bosteng lake at the foot of the Thien-shan range (E. 
   H., p. 56).

(9) See chap. xii, note 9.  Instead of “Anna” the Chinese recensions have Vina; but Vina or Vinataka, and Ana for Sudarsana are names of one or other of the concentric circles of rocks surrounding mount Meru, the fabled home of the deva guardians of the bowl.

   (10) That is, those whose Karma in the past should be rewarded by such
   conversion in the present.

CHAPTER XL

AFTER TWO YEARS TAKES SHIP FOR CHINA.  DISASTROUS PASSAGE TO JAVA; AND THENCE TO CHINA; ARRIVES AT SHAN-TUNG; AND GOES TO NANKING.  CONCLUSION OR L’ENVOI BY ANOTHER WRITER.

Fa-hien abode in this country two years; and, in addition (to his acquisitions in Patna), succeeded in getting a copy of the Vinaya-pitaka of the Mahisasakah (school);(1) the Dirghagama and Samyuktagama(2) (Sutras); and also the Samyukta-sanchaya-pitaka;(3)—­all being works unknown in the land of Han.  Having obtained these Sanskrit works, he took passage in a large merchantman, on board of which there were more than 200 men, and to which was attached by a rope a smaller vessel, as a provision against damage or injury to the large one from the perils of the navigation.  With a favourable wind, they proceeded eastwards for three days, and then they encountered a great wind.  The vessel sprang a leak and the water came in.  The merchants wished to go to the small vessel; but the men on board it, fearing that too many would come, cut the connecting rope.  The merchants were greatly alarmed, feeling their risk of instant death.  Afraid that the vessel would fill, they took their bulky goods and threw them into the water.  Fa-hien also took his pitcher(4) and washing-basin, with some other articles, and cast them into the sea; but fearing that the merchants would cast overboard his books and images, he could only think with all his heart of Kwan-she-yin,(5) and commit his life to (the protection of) the church of the land of Han,(6) (saying in effect), “I have travelled far in search of our Law.  Let me, by your dread and supernatural (power), return from my wanderings, and reach my resting-place!”

In this way the tempest(7) continued day and night, till on the thirteenth day the ship was carried to the side of an island, where, on the ebbing of the tide, the place of the leak was discovered, and it was stopped, on which the voyage was resumed.  On the sea (hereabouts) there are many pirates, to meet with whom is speedy death.  The great ocean spreads out, a boundless expanse.  There is no knowing east or west; only by observing the sun, moon, and stars was it possible to go forward.  If the

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A Record of Buddhistic kingdoms: being an account by the Chinese monk Fa-hsien of travels in India and Ceylon (A.D. 399-414) in search of the Buddhist books of discipline from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.