The Buddha Part 15

_St._ His Highness the Prince Jeta.

_A._ Show him in.

_JETA enters. A. rises to meet him with bows._

You are most welcome, my Prince.

_J._ I have come from my brother, the King, to express to you his thanks for having bought my pleasure grounds for the n.o.ble and great purpose of affording a worthy resthouse to the Buddha and his brotherhood.

_A._ Kindly tender my grat.i.tude to your royal brother for his gracious message.

_J._ I hear that King Bimbisara has sent an emba.s.sy to the Buddha to induce him to come back to Rajagaha. Has the Buddha received these men?

_A._ Not yet. He will see them this morning.

_J._ We ought to keep him here. He is a wonderful man, and I consider our city fortunate to have him reside with us. What astonishes me is his way of conquering the hearts of all men, even of his opponents, and he is so sensible.

_A._ What do you mean?

_J._ I am not a religious man; I am too worldly, but him I would follow.

_A._ Why?

_J._ He is perhaps the only religious reformer who does not go to extremes. He rejects on the one hand austerities, self-mortifications, penances, and severe fasts as useless, and on the other hand, he would not allow his followers to indulge in pleasures; but he insists most sensibly on keeping between the two extremes and proclaims the middle path of leading a righteous life. There is nothing absurd about him.

Think of Devadatta. He insists that the monks should dress in rags picked up in cemeteries. The Buddha appeals to common sense, and therefore I say, he is a wonderful man.

_A._ He is more than a man; he is enlightenment incarnate.

A stream of blessings goes out from him.

_J._ He has grown into an international power, and kings do well not to ignore his influence.

_A._ I think so myself, and I am so glad that his influence is always for good, never for evil, and his ways are so marvelously gentle.

_J._ Indeed that is a blessing. If he were not so absolutely indifferent to his own affairs he might become positively dangerous.

His lay disciples count in thousands of thousands. The farmers in the country, the merchants in the towns, the lawyers, the artisans, and even the soldiers believe in him. Lately General Siha became a lay member of the Buddha's brotherhood, and many other prominent officers followed his example.

_A._ He would never have gained this influence if he were not truly the Buddha.

_J._ I want to tell you that a war is threatening, but please do not speak of it, it is a deep secret. A spy in the secret service of my royal brother has found out that King Bimbisara intends to fall upon the Sakyas and deprive them of their independence. The Brahman Visakha, minister of state, has turned traitor and promises to deliver his country into the hands of King Bimbisara on the condition that he be made Raja in Suddhodana's place.

_A._ The country of the Sakyas is but small, and their independence will not last long; it is a mere question of time.

_J._ But consider that the Buddha hails from Kapilavatthu. He is the son of Suddhodana, the Sakya raja.

_A._ Indeed he is and may I be permitted to inform him of the danger that threatens his father's house?

_J._ I give you full liberty, for he will use discretion and not betray his informant. I deem Bimbisara's plan dangerous to himself. A war with the Sakyas may cost Bimbisara his throne, for the people of Rajagaha believe in the Buddha, and I learn that even now the war rumors have made them restless.

_Servant (St.) enters._

_St._ Here is a man with the name Kala Udayin, who has a message for the Blessed One.

_A._ Show him in.

_J._ I leave you now and hope that you will keep the Buddha as long as possible in Savatthi.

_Exit._

_KALA UDAYIN enters and bows to ANATHA PINDIKA._

_A._ You want to see the Blessed One? I will call him.

_ANATHA PINDIKA exit._

_K._ [_Alone_] This is the place where Prince Siddhattha lives! Indeed a most delightful spot and more pleasant than many a royal palace. And how the people speak of him! They call him the Blessed One, the Buddha, the Tathagata, the Sakyamuni, the great Sage. The wealthiest man of Kosala has bought these extensive and most beautiful grounds and presented them to the brotherhood of his disciples, so that the Buddha would stay here from time to time, and that the people of the city would have him for their guest.

_BUDDHA accompanied by ANATHA PINDIKA comes in. He is followed by two disciples. The BUDDHA sits down on the seat on the platform, having on either hand one of his disciples.

ANATHA PINDIKA stands below with clasped hands._

_KALA UDAYIN sinks to his knees with clasped hands._

_B._ My friend, what brings you here?

_K._ A message from your royal father: He bade me tell you that he is growing old, and before he dies, he wants to see his son once more.

Would you deign to accept his invitation?

_B._ Tell me, my friend, how is my father? Is old age truly telling on him?

_K._ Not yet so visibly, but he worries much.

_B._ And how is Rahula? He is now seven years old and must be quite a boy.

_K._ He is, my Lord; and how he talks of his father. He knows everything you are doing.

_B._ Who tells him?

_K._ His mother does.

_B._ And tell me how the princess fares?

_K._ She imposes upon herself the observances which the mendicant friars keep. She will have no preference over him who once was her husband. She sleeps on the floor, she does no longer use unguents or perfumes. She wears a simple yellow robe and observes the regulation of the brotherhood in taking food.

_The BUDDHA nods and with a distant look sits a few moments in silence._

_B._ And she is a good mother?

_K._ There could be no better.