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vaipulya Sutra；＇9＇ of about 5000 gathas； and the Mahasan… ghikah
Abhidharma。
In consequence （of this success in his quest） Fa…hien stayed here for
three years； learning Sanskrit books and the Sanskrit speech； and writing
out the Vinaya rules。 When Tao…ching arrived in the Central Kingdom； and
saw the rules observed by the Sramanas； and the dignified demeanour in
their societies which he remarked under all occurring circumstances； he
sadly called to mind in what a mutilated and imperfect condition the rules
were among the monkish communities in the land of Ts'in； and made the
following aspiration：〃From this time forth till I come to the state of
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Buddha； let me not be born in a frontier land。〃＇10＇ He remained
accordingly （in India）； and did not return （to the land of Han）。 Fa…hien；
however； whose original purpose had been to secure the introduction of
the complete Vinaya rules into the land of Han； returned there alone。
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NOTES
＇1＇ Mentioned before in chapter xxvii。
＇2＇ Mahasanghikah simply means 〃the Great Assembly；〃 that is； of
monks。 When was this first assembly in the time of Sakyamuni held？ It
does not appear that the rules observed at it were written down at the time。
The document found by Fa…hien would be a record of those rules； or rather
a copy of that record。 We must suppose that the original record had
disappeared from the Jetavana vihara； or Fa…hien would probably have
spoken of it when he was there； and copied it； if he had been allowed to do
so。
＇3＇ The eighteen pu ｛。｝。 Four times in this chapter the character called
pu occurs； and in the first and two last instances it can only have the
meaning； often belonging to it； of 〃copy。〃 The second instance； however；
is different。 How should there be eighteen copies； all different from the
original； and from one another； in minor matters？ We are compelled to
translate〃the eighteen schools；〃 an expression well known in all
Buddhist writings。 See Rhys Davids' Manual； p。 218； and the authorities
there quoted。
＇4＇ This is equivalent to the 〃binding〃 and 〃loosing；〃 〃opening〃 and
〃shutting；〃 which found their way into the New Testament； and the
Christian Church； from the schools of the Jewish Rabbins。
＇5＇ It was afterwards translated by Fa…hien into Chinese。 See Nanjio's
Catalogue of the Chinese Tripitaka； columns 400 and 401； and Nos。 1119
and 1150； columns 247 and 253。
＇6＇ A gatha is a stanza； generally consisting； it has seemed to me； of a
few； commonly of two； lines somewhat metrically arranged； but I do not
know that its length is strictly defined。
＇7＇ 〃A branch；〃 says Eitel； 〃of the great vaibhashika school； asserting
the reality of all visible phenomena； and claiming the authority of Rahula。〃
＇8＇ See Nanjio's Catalogue； No。 1287。 He does not mention it in his
account of Fa…hien； who； he says； translated the Samyukta…pitaka Sutra。
＇9＇ Probably Nanjio's Catalogue； No。 120； at any rate； connected with
it。
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＇10＇ This then would be the consummation of the Sramana's being；to
get to be Buddha； the Buddha of his time in his Kalpa； and Tao…ching
thought that he could attain to this consummation by a succession of births；
and was likely to attain to it sooner by living only in India。 If all this was
not in his mind； he yet felt that each of his successive lives would be
happier； if lived in India。
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CHAPTER XXXVII
TO CHAMPA AND TAMALIPTI。 STAY AND LABOURS THERE
FOR THREE YEARS。 TAKES SHIP TO SINGHALA； OR CEYLON。
Following the course of the Ganges； and descending eastwards for
eighteen yojanas； he found on the southern bank the great kingdom of
Champa；＇1＇ with topes reared at the places where Buddha walked in
meditation by his vihara； and where he and the three Buddhas； his
predecessors； sat。 There were monks residing at them all。 Continuing his
journey east for nearly fifty yojanas； he came to the country of
Tamalipti；＇2＇ （the capital of which is） a seaport。 In the country there are
twenty…two monasteries； at all of which there are monks residing。 The
Law of Buddha is also flourishing in it。 Here Fa…hien stayed two years；
writing out his Sutras；＇3＇ and drawing pictures of images。
After this he embarked in a large merchant…vessel； and went floating
over the sea to the south…west。 It was the beginning of winter； and the
wind was favourable； and； after fourteen days； sailing day and night； they
came to the country of Singhala。＇4＇ The people said that it was distant
（from Tamalipti） about 700 yojanas。
The kingdom is on a large island； extending from east to west fifty
yojanas； and from north to south thirty。 Left and right from it there are as
many as 100 small islands； distant from one another ten； twenty； or even
200 le； but all subject to the large island。 Most of them produce pearls and
precious stones of various kinds； there is one which produces the pure and
brilliant pearl；＇5＇an island which would form a square of about ten le。
The king employs men to watch and protect it； and requires three out of
every ten such pearls； which the collectors find。
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NOTES
＇1＇ Probably the modern Champanagur； three miles west of Baglipoor；
lat。 25d 14s N。； lon。 56d 55s E。
＇2＇ Then the principal emporium for the trade with Ceylon and China；
the modern Tam…look； lat。 22d 17s N。； lon。 88d 2s E。； near the mouth of
the Hoogly。
＇3＇ Perhaps Ching ｛。｝ is used here for any portions of the