Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 21.djvu/49

SADDHARMA-PUNDARÎKA
OR
THE LOTUS OF THE TRUE LAW.

 

 

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HOMAGE TO
ALL THE BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS.

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C⁠H⁠A⁠P⁠T⁠E⁠R ⁠I.
INTRODUCTORY.

Thus have I heard. Once upon a time the Lord was staying at Râgagriha, on the Gridhrakûta^[1] mountain, with a numerous assemblage of monks, twelve hundred monks, all of them Arhats, stainless, free from depravity, self-controlled^[2], thoroughly emancipated in thought and knowledge, of noble breed, (like unto) great elephants, having done their task, done their duty, acquitted their charge, reached the goal; in whom the ties which bound them to existence were wholly destroyed, whose minds were thoroughly emancipated by perfect knowledge, who had reached the utmost perfection in subduing all their thoughts; who were possessed of the transcendent faculties^[3];

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1. I. e. Vulture Peak.
2. Vasîbhûta. Like vasin, it likewise means, 'having subdued others or the world.'
3. The five Abhigñâs, viz. the magical powers, the divine ear,