Amitabha, A Story of Buddhist Theology, by Paul Carus, [1906], at sacred-texts.com
Amitabha, A Story of Buddhist Theology, by Paul Carus, [1906], at sacred-texts.com
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1 For details of the pabbajja (or initiation) and the upasampada (or ordination) see Mahâvagga, first khandaka (S.B.E., Vol. XIII).
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2 The time of our story is the fifth century after the Buddha's enlightenment, which corresponds to the first century of the Christian era.
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3 Cf. 'Buddhist Chants and Processions," Journal of the Buddhist Text Society of India, Vol. III, Part II.
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4 Dhammapada, 21.
5 Dhammapada, 223.
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6 Dhammapada, 134.
7 Dhammapada, 313.
8 Dhammapada, 258; 240.
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9 Dhammapada, 254.
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10 Kevaddha's story is an abbreviated account of an ancient Buddhist Pali text. The verses as well as other details are almost literally translated. Cf. Henry Warren's Buddhism in Translations, pp. 308-313.
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11 Uposatha, or confession, was held regularly on the days of the full and the new moon. For a detailed account of the ceremony see Mahâvagga, second Khandhaka (S.B.E., Vol. XIII).
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12 The Greeks.
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13 Padhâna sutta, 16. S.B.E., X, p. 71.
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14 Dhammapada, 151.
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15 Cf. T. Suzuki's translation of Açvaghosha's Discourse on the Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana, pp. 101, 142 et seq. The term "highest truth" is called by Açvaghosha in Sanskrit paramârthasatya.
16 Compare Samuel Beal's Abstract of Form Lectures on Buddhist literature in China, p. 177, where we read: "He who is possessed of the highest self, he is able to see Buddha. Buddha, although he dwell in the world, can be seen by none but those possessed of this highest self. Mahârâja! Most true it is that though Buddha has attained Nirvâna, yet may you behold him."
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17 Dhammapada 5.
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18 For full accounts of Prince Long-life see Mahâvagga, X, 3-20. (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. XVII.)
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19 The Saddharmapundarîka, chapter 7.
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20 Amitâbha (and with him Buddha) is never called Creator, but he is frequently addressed as "Father." See the Saddharmapundarîka, III, 97, 104, and the Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king, III, 15, 1231.
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21 The simile of the blind leader of the blind occurs in the same connection in the Tevijja Sutta, 15.
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22 For the details of Açvaghosha's doctrine of the triple aspect of the highest truth (so similar to the Christian trinity) as the Kâya (i.e., body or personality) of (1) the good law, (2) transformation, (3) bliss, see T. Suzuki's translation of Açvaghosha's Discourse on the Awakening of Faith, Chicago, 1900, pp. 99-101.
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23 The Udâna, VI.
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24 Dhammapada, 183
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25 Dhammapada, 332-333.