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Asoka's son； Mahinda； went as the apostle of Buddhism to Ceylon。 By…
and…by he sent for his sister Sanghamitta； who had entered the order at the
same time as himself； and whose help was needed； some of the king's
female relations having signified their wish to become nuns。 On leaving
India； she took with her a branch of the sacred Bo tree at Buddha Gaya；
under which Sakyamuni had become Buddha。 Of how the tree has grown
and still lives we have an account in Davids' 〃Buddhism。〃 He quotes the
words of Sir Emerson Tennent； that it is 〃the oldest historical tree in the
world；〃 but this must be denied if it be true； as Eitel says； that the tree at
Buddha Gaya； from which the slip that grew to be this tree was taken more
than 2000 years ago； is itself still living in its place。 We must conclude that
Fa…hien； when in Ceylon； heard neither of Mahinda nor Sanghamitta。
＇7＇ Compare what is said in chap。 xvi； about the inquiries made at
monasteries as to the standing of visitors in the monkhood； and duration of
their ministry。
＇8＇ The phonetic values of the two Chinese characters here are in
Sanskrit sa； and va； bo or bha。 〃Sabaean〃 is Mr。 Beal's reading of them；
probably correct。 I suppose the merchants were Arabs； forerunners of the
so…called Moormen； who still form so important a part of the mercantile
community in Ceylon。
＇9＇ A Kalpa； we have seen； denotes a great period of time； a period
during which a physical universe is formed and destroyed。 Asankhyeya
denotes the highest sum for which a conventional term exists； according
to Chinese calculations equal to one followed by seventeen ciphers；
according to Thibetan and Singhalese； equal to one followed by ninety…
seven ciphers。 Every Maha…kalpa consists of four Asankhyeya… kalpas。
Eitel； p。 15。
＇10＇ See chapter ix。
＇11＇ See chapter xi。
＇12＇ He had been born in the Sakya house； to do for the world what the
character of all his past births required； and he had done it。
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＇13＇ They could no more see him； the World…honoured one。 Compare
the Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xi； Buddhist Suttas； pp。 89； 121； and
note on p。 89。
＇14＇ Sudana or Sudatta was the name of the Bodhisattva in the birth
which preceded his appearance as Sakyamuni or Gotama； when he became
the Supreme Buddha。 This period is known as the Vessantara Jataka； of
which Hardy； M。 B。； pp。 116…124； gives a long account； see also 〃Buddhist
Birth Stories；〃 the Nidana Katha； p。 158。 In it； as Sudana； he fulfilled 〃the
Perfections；〃 his distinguishing attribute being entire self…renunciation and
alms…giving； so that in the Nidana Katha is made to say （〃Buddhist Birth
Stories；〃 p。 159）：
〃This earth； unconscious though she be； and ignorant of joy or grief；
Even she by my free…giving's mighty power was shaken seven times。〃
Then； when he passed away； he appeared in the Tushita heaven； to
enter in due time the womb of Maha…maya； and be born as Sakyamuni。
＇15＇ I take the name Sama from Beal's revised version。 He says in a
note that the Sama Jataka； as well as the Vessantara； is represented in the
Sanchi sculptures。 But what the Sama Jataka was I do not yet know。 But
adopting this name； the two Chinese characters in the text should be
translated 〃the change into Sama。〃 Remusat gives for them； 〃la
transformation en eclair；〃 Beal； in his first version； 〃his appearance as a
bright flash of light；〃 Giles； 〃as a flash of lightning。〃 Julien's Methode
does not give the phonetic value in Sanskrit of ｛。｝。
＇16＇ In an analysis of the number of times and the different forms in
which Sakyamuni had appeared in his Jataka births； given by Hardy （M。
B。； p。 100）； it is said that he had appeared six times as an elephant； ten
times as a deer； and four times as a horse。
＇17＇ Chaitya is a general term designating all places and objects of
religious worship which have a reference to ancient Buddhas； and
including therefore Stupas and temples as well as sacred relics； pictures；
statues； &c。 It is defined as 〃a fane；〃 〃a place for worship and presenting
offerings。〃 Eitel； p。 141。 The hill referred to is the sacred hill of Mihintale；
about eight miles due east of the Bo tree； Davids' Buddhism； pp。 230；
231。
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＇18＇ Eitel says （p。 31）： 〃A famous ascetic； the founder of a school；
which flourished in Ceylon； A。D。 400。〃 But Fa…hien gives no intimation of
Dharma…gupta's founding a school。
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CHAPTER XXXIX
CREMATION OF AN ARHAT。 SERMON OF A DEVOTEE。
South of the city seven le there is a vihara； called the Maha…vihara；
where 3000 monks reside。 There had been among them a Sramana； of such
lofty virtue； and so holy and pure in his observance of the disciplinary
rules； that the people all surmised that he was an Arhat。 When he drew
near his end； the king came to examine into the point； and having
assembled the monks according to rule； asked whether the bhikshu had
attained to the full degree of Wisdom。＇1＇ They answered in the affirmative；
saying that he was an Arhat。 The king accordingly； when he died； buried
him after the fashion of an Arhat； as the regular rules prescribed。 Four of
five le east from the vihara there was reared a great pile of firewood；
which might be more than thirty cubits square； and the same in height。
Near the top were laid sandal； aloe； and other kinds of fragrant wood。
On the four sides （of the pile） they made steps by which to ascend it。
With clean white hair…cloth； almost like silk； they wrapped （the body）
round and round。＇2＇ They made a large carriage…frame； in form like our
funeral car； but without the dragons and fishes。＇3＇
At the time of the cremation； the king and the people； in multitudes
from all quarters； collected together； and presented offerings of flowers
and incense。 While they were following the car to the burial