Page:Buddhist Birth Stories, or, Jātaka Tales.djvu/252

136 his lotus mouth as if he were opening a jewel-casket scented with heavenly perfume, and full of sweet-smelling odours; and sending forth his pleasant tones, he asked them, saying, "Is it true, then, that you, my disciples, giving up the Three Refuges, have gone for refuge to another faith?"

And they could not conceal it, and said, "It is true, O Blessed One!"

And when they had thus spoken, the Teacher said, "Not in hell beneath, nor in heaven above, nor beyond in the countless world- systems of the universe, is there any one like to a Buddha in goodness and wisdom — much less, then, a greater." And he described to them the qualities of the Three Gems as they are laid down in the Scripture passages beginning, "Whatever creatures there may be, etc., the Successor of the Prophets is announced to be the Chief of all." And again, " Whatsoever treasure there be here or in other worlds," etc. And again, "From the chief of all pleasant things," etc.

And he said, "Whatever disciples, men or women, have taken as their refuge the Three Gems endowed with these glorious qualities, they will never be born in hell; but freed from birth in any place of punishment, they will be reborn in heaven, and enter into exceeding bliss. You, therefore, by leaving so safe a refuge, and placing your reliance on other teaching, have done wrong."

And here the following passages should be quoted to show that those who, for the sake of Perfection and Salvation, have taken refuge in the Three Gems, will not be reborn in places of punishment: —

Those who have put their trust in Buddha, They will not go to a world of pain: Having put off this mortal coil. They will enter some heavenly body!