486 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



At this time the Teacher was in residence at Jetavana monastery. 

 (He spent one rainy season at Banyan-tree monastery, erected by his 

 relatives ; nineteen at Jetavana, erected by Anathapindika ; six at 

 Eastern-grove, erected by Visakha.) Anathapindika and Visakha went 

 to the monastery twice each day with the usual offerings. One day 

 the former refrained from asking questions for fear of wearying the 

 Teacher. Knowing this, Buddha preached with such vehemence that 

 fifty of the seventy million inhabitants of Savatthi became noble dis- 

 ciples. The noble disciples performed two duties daily: before break- 

 fast, they dispensed alms ; after breakfast, bearing the usual offerings, 

 they went to hear the Law. (4-5) 



Mahapala followed them one day and was so affected by the dis- 

 course that he asked Buddha to make him a monk. Taking leave of 

 his brother, who did his utmost to dissuade him, he was admitted and 

 professed. After five years had passed, he came to Buddha and asked 

 him how many were the Burdens of the Religious Life. On being told 

 that there were two, namely, the Burden of memorizing and preaching 

 the Scriptures, and the Burden of the development of Spiritual Insight 

 by ascetic practices and meditation, he chose the latter as being better 

 suited to his advanced years. The Teacher instructed him in the 

 ascetic practices leading to Arahatship, and he set out with sixty dis- 

 ciples. (5-8) 



The inhabitants of a village 120 leagues distant received them hos- 

 pitably, obtained the privilege of entertaining them during the rainy 

 season, and built them a monastery. A physician also offered his 

 services. Mahapala, on learning that the monks purposed to avail 

 themselves of the four postures (walking, standing, sitting, and reclin- 

 ing), announced that he should content himself with the first three, 

 and vowed not to stretch his back in repose. After encouraging each 

 other to be vigilant, they entered upon the observance of the rainy 

 season. C 8-9 ) 



At the end of the first month Mahapala's eyes began to trouble him. 

 The physician treated him, but as he never lay down to rest, the treat- 

 ment did him no good. However, he resolutely kept his vow, until 

 finally, one night at the end of the middle watch, he lost simultane- 

 ously his eyesight and the Depravities, and became an Arahat. The 

 monks and villagers, learning that he had lost his eyesight, expressed 

 their sympathy, and assured him that they would take care of him. 

 At the end of the rainy season, the monks also attained Arahatship. 

 (9-13) 



When the monks expressed a desire to see the Teacher, Mahapala, 

 knowing that there was a forest on the way haunted by evil spirits, and 



