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occasion； when devotees of various countries came to perform their
worship at it； the people of those villages said to them； 〃Why do you not
fly？ The devotees whom we have seen hereabouts all fly；〃 and the
strangers answered； on the spur of the moment； 〃Our wings are not yet
fully formed。〃
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The kingdom of Dakshina is out of the way； and perilous to traverse。
There are difficulties in connexion with the roads； but those who know
how to manage such difficulties and wish to proceed should bring with
them money and various articles； and give them to the king。 He will then
send men to escort them。 These will （at different stages） pass them over to
others； who will show them the shortest routes。 Fa…hien； however； was
after all unable to go there； but having received the （above） accounts from
men of the country； he has narrated them。
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NOTES
＇1＇ Said to be the ancient name of the Deccan。 As to the various
marvels in the chapter； it must be borne in mind that our author； as he tells
us at the end； only gives them from hearsay。 See 〃Buddhist Records of the
Western World；〃 vol。 ii； pp。 214； 215； where the description； however； is
very different。
＇2＇ Compare the account of Buddha's great stride of fifteen yojanas in
Ceylon； as related in chapter xxxviii。
＇3＇ See the same phrase in the Books of the Later Han dynasty； the
twenty…fourth Book of Biographies； p。 9b。
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CHAPTER XXXVI
IN PATNA。 FA…HIEN'S LABOURS IN TRANSCRIPTION OF
MANUSCRIPTS； AND INDIAN STUDIES FOR THREE YEARS。
From Varanasi （the travellers） went back east to Pataliputtra。 Fa…hien's
original object had been to search for （copies of） the Vinaya。 In the various
kingdoms of North India； however； he had found one master transmitting
orally （the rules） to another； but no written copies which he could
transcribe。 He had therefore travelled far and come on to Central India。
Here； in the mahayana monastery；＇1＇ he found a copy of the Vinaya；
containing the Mahasanghika＇2＇ rules；those which were observed in the
first Great Council； while Buddha was still in the world。 The original copy
was handed down in the Jetavana vihara。 As to the other eighteen
schools；＇3＇ each one has the views and decisions of its own masters。 Those
agree （with this） in the general meaning； but they have small and trivial
differences； as when one opens and another shuts。＇4＇ This copy （of the
rules）； however； is the most complete； with the fullest explanations。＇5＇
He further got a transcript of the rules in six or seven thousand
gathas；＇6＇ being the sarvastivadah＇7＇ rules；those which are observed by
the communities of monks in the land of Ts'in； which also have all been
handed down orally from master to master without being committed to
writing。 In the community here； moreover； we got the Samyuktabhi…
dharma…hridaya…（sastra）；＇8＇ containing about six or seven thousand gathas；
he also got a Sutra of 2500 gathas； one chapter of the Parinir…vana…
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