Page:Sacred Books of the Buddhists Vol 1.djvu/371

 matted hair and a bark garment, thou art a Rishi, thou art a holy ascetic knowing the future! It is not the dress, truly, that makes the Muni, but he who is adorned by virtues is the real Muni here.'

After thus distinguishing him and honouring him, he disappeared on the spot.

In this manner, then, a virtuous person is incapable of betaking himself to wickedness, even though provoked, having never learnt to do so. [So is to be said when eulogising the virtuous. And when discoursing on forbearance, this is to be propounded: 'In this manner a man practising forbearance will rarely meet with enmity, rarely with reproach, and will be beloved and welcome to many people.' When praising adherence to tranquillity, this is to be said: 'In this manner the wise being great in preserving their tranquillity preserve their own lustre of virtues.' Likewise, when glorifying the Tathậgata and praising the cultivation of an excellent nature: 'In this manner a good nature being always striven after does not pass away, even when in the state of a beast.']