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and incense。 While they were following the car to the burial… ground；＇4＇
the king himself presented flowers and incense。 When this was finished；
the car was lifted on the pile； all over which oil of sweet basil was poured；
and then a light was applied。 While the fire was blazing； every one； with a
reverent heart； pulled off his upper garment； and threw it； with his feather…
fan and umbrella； from a distance into the midst of the flames； to assist the
burning。 When the cremation was over； they collected and preserved the
bones； and proceeded to erect a tope。 Fa…hien had not arrived in time （to
see the distinguished Shaman） alive； and only saw his burial。
At that time the king；＇5＇ who was a sincere believer in the Law of
Buddha and wished to build a new vihara for the monks； first convoked a
great assembly。 After giving the monks a meal of rice； and presenting his
offerings （on the occasion）； he selected a pair of first…rate oxen； the horns
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of which were grandly decorated with gold； silver； and the precious
substances。 A golden plough had been provided； and the king himself
turned up a furrow on the four sides of the ground within which the
building was supposed to be。 He then endowed the community of the
monks with the population； fields； and houses； writing the grant on plates
of metal； （to the effect） that from that time onwards； from generation to
generation； no one should venture to annul or alter it。
In this country Fa…hien heard an Indian devotee； who was reciting a
Sutra from the pulpit； say：〃Buddha's alms…bowl was at first in Vaisali；
and now it is in Gandhara。＇6＇ After so many hundred years' （he gave；
when Fa…hien heard him； the exact number of years； but he has forgotten
it）； 〃it will go to Western Tukhara；＇7＇ after so many hundred years； to
Khoten； after so many hundred years； to Kharachar；＇8＇ after so many
hundred years； to the land of Han； after so many hundred years； it will
come to Sinhala； and after so many hundred years； it will return to Central
India。 After that； it will ascend to the Tushita heaven； and when the
Bodhisattva Maitreya sees it； he will say with a sigh； 'The alms…bowl of
Sakyamuni Buddha is come；' and with all the devas he will present to it
flowers and incense for seven days。 When these have expired； it will
return to Jambudvipa； where it will be received by the king of the sea
nagas； and taken into his naga palace。 When Maitreya shall be about to
attain to perfect Wisdom （and become Buddha）； it will again separate into
four bowls；＇9＇ which will return to the top of mount Anna；＇9＇ whence they
came。 After Maitreya has become Buddha； the four deva kings will again
think of the Buddha （with their bowls as they did in the case of the
previous Buddha）。 The thousand Buddhas of this Bhadra…kalpa； indeed；
will all use the same alms…bowl； and when the bowl has disappeared； the
Law of Buddha will go on gradually to be extinguished。 After that
extinction has taken place； the life of man will be shortened； till it is only a
period of five years。 During this period of a five years' life； rice； butter；
and oil will all vanish away； and men will become exceedingly wicked。
The grass and trees which they lay hold of will change into swords and
clubs； with which they will hurt； cut； and kill one another。 Those among
them on whom there is blessing will withdraw from society among the
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hills； and when the wicked have exterminated one another； they will again
come forth； and say among themselves； 'The men of former times enjoyed
a very great longevity； but through becoming exceedingly wicked； and
doing all lawless things； the length of our life has been shortened and
reduced even to five years。 Let us now unite together in the practice of
what is good； cherishing a gentle and sympathising heart； and carefully
cultivating good faith and righteousness。 When each one in this way
practises that faith and righteousness； life will go on to double its length
till it reaches 80；000 years。 When Maitreya appears in the world； and
begins to turn the wheel of his Law； he will in the first place save those
among the disciples of the Law left by the Sakya who have quitted their
families； and those who have accepted the three Refuges； undertaken the
five Prohibitions and the eight Abstinences； and given offerings to the
three Precious Ones； secondly and thirdly； he will save those between
whom and conversion there is a connexion transmitted from the past。'〃＇10＇
（Such was the discourse）； and Fa…hien wished to write it down as a
portion of doctrine； but the man said； 〃This is taken from no Sutra； it is
only the utterance of my own mind。〃
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NOTES
＇1＇ Possibly； 〃and asked the bhikshu；〃 &c。 I prefer the other way of
construing； however。
＇2＇ It seems strange that this should have been understood as a
wrapping of the immense pyre with the cloth。 There is nothing in the text
to necessitate such a version； but the contrary。 Compare 〃Buddhist Suttas；〃
pp。 92； 93。
＇3＇ See the description of a funeral car and its decorations in the
Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xxviii； the Li Ki； Book XIX。 Fa…hien's ｛。｝
｛。｝； 〃in this （country）；〃 which I have expressed by 〃our；〃 shows that
whatever notes of this cremation he had taken at the time； the account in
the text was composed after his return to China； and when he had the
usages there in his mind and perhaps before his eyes。 This disposes of all
difficulty occasioned by the 〃dragons〃 and 〃fishes。〃 The ｛。｝ at the end is
merely the concluding particle。
＇4＇ The pyre served the purpose of a burial…ground or grave； and hence
our author writes of it as such。
＇5＇ This king must have be