🧚 Opening, part 15 · page 2

As for the Future Buddha, he waited for a month and a half from the day when the foolish caravan-leader set out, and then set out from the city with five hundred carts.71 In due course he reached the mouth of the wilderness.72 There he had the water-chatties filled, putting in an abundant supply of water.73 Then, sending a drum around the camp, he assembled his men and spoke as follows: “Without first obtaining my permission, you must not use so much as a dribble of water.74 In the wilderness there are poison-trees: any leaf or flower or fruit which you have not previously eaten, you must not eat without first obtaining my permission.”75 Having thus admonished his men, he struck into the wilderness with his five hundred carts.76

When he reached the middle of the wilderness, that ogre showed himself in the path of the Future Buddha in precisely the same way as before.77 When the Future Buddha saw him, he knew: “In this wilderness is no water; that is what is called a waterless wilderness.78 Moreover this fellow is fearless, red-eyed, casts no shadow.79 Without a doubt this fellow caused the foolish caravan-leader who went first to throw away all his water, and having thus brought weariness upon him and his company, devoured them.80 But, unless I am mistaken, he does not know how wise and resourceful I am.”81

Accordingly the Future Buddha said to the ogre: “You go your way.82 We are traders.83 Unless we see water farther on, we shall not throw away the water we have brought.84 But wherever we do see water, there we shall throw away the water we have brought, and having thus lightened our carts, shall continue our journey.”85 The ogre went a little way, and when he was out of sight, went back again to his own city of ogres.86

Now when the ogre had gone, the men asked the Future Buddha: “Noble sir, these men said: ‘Do you see that dark green streak of woods?87 Beyond that point it rains all the time.’88 And the men who said it approached garlanded with garlands of water-lilies both blue and white, carrying clusters of lotus-flowers both red and white, chewing the fibrous stalks of water-lilies, heads wet, garments wet, with drops of water streaming from them.89 Let us throw away the water and go quickly with lightened carts.”90

The Future Buddha, hearing their words, caused the carts to halt, assembled all of his men, and asked: “Has any one of you heard that there is either a lake or a pool in this wilderness?”91 “Noble sir, we have not so heard.92 This is what is called a waterless wilderness.”93 “Just now some men said: ‘Beyond that dark green streak of woods it is raining.’94 Now how far does a rain-wind blow?”95 “A matter of a league, noble sir.”96 “But has a rain-wind touched the body of even a single one of you?”97 “It has not, noble sir.”98 “How far off is a cloud-head visible?”99 “A matter of a league, noble sir.”100 “But has any one of you seen even a single cloud-head?”101 “We have not, noble sir.”102 “How far off is lightning visible?”103 “Four or five leagues, noble sir.”104 “But has any one of you seen a flash of lightning?”105 “We have not, noble sir.”106 “How far off can the sound of a cloud be heard?”107 “A matter of one or two leagues, noble sir.”108 “But has any one of you heard the sound of a cloud?”109 “We have not, noble sir.”110

“Those are not human beings; those are ogres.111 They must have come with the thought in their minds: ‘We will make these men throw away their water, weaken them, and devour them.’112 The foolish caravan-leader who went first was not resourceful.113 Undoubtedly he must have thrown away the water at their behest, grown weary, and been devoured; the five hundred carts must stand as full as ever.114 To-day we shall see them.115 Do not throw away even so much as a dribble of water, but drive ahead as fast as ever you can.”116 With these words he bade them drive forward.117

Proceeding, he saw the five hundred carts as full as ever, and the bones of the men’s hands and all their other bones scattered in all directions.118 He had the carts unharnessed and a stockade built by drawing them into a contracted circle.119 He had both men and oxen given their supper betimes, and the oxen lie down in the centre of the circle formed by the men.120 He himself, assisted by the leaders of the force, kept watch during the three watches of the night, sword in hand, and allowed the dawn to rise upon him standing there.121

On the following day, very early in the morning, he had his men do all their chores, feed the oxen, discard the weak carts, substitute strong ones, throw away goods of little value, substitute those of great value.122 And going to the place where he would be, he sold his goods for twice or thrice the price, and together with his entire company went back again to his own city.123

When the Teacher had related this parable, he said: “Thus, householder, in times past those who grasped with the grasp of speculation came to a sorry end, but those who grasped Absolute Truth escaped from the hands of demons, went in safety to the place where they would be, and went back again to their own place.”124 And having thus joined the two parts of this Parable of Absolute Truth, he, the Supremely Enlightened, uttered the following stanza:125

Some adhered to Absolute Truth, sophists to less than this.126 Knowing this, a wise man should lay hold on Absolute Truth.127

Said the Teacher in conclusion: “At that time the wise caravan-leader was I myself.”128

_25.129 Boar and Lion.130

“_Eat me, O lion!131

Adapted from C. H. Tawney, Ocean of the Streams of Story (Kathāsaritsāgara), Chapter 72.132

In times past there dwelt in a cave in the Vindhya mountains a wise boar, who was none other than the Buddha in a previous state of existence, and with him his friend a monkey.133 He was compassionate towards all living beings.134 One day there came to his cave a lion and a lioness and their cub.135 And the lion said to his mate: “Since the rains have hindered the movements of all living beings, we shall of a certainty perish for lack of some animal to eat.”136 And the lioness said: “Of a certainty one or another of us is destined to die of hunger.137 Therefore do you and the cub eat me, for thus you will save your lives!138 Are you not my lord and master?139 Can you not get another mate like me?140 Therefore do you and the cub eat me, for thus you will save your lives!”141