1837.] Examination of the Pall Buddhistical Annah. 5 1 3 



concourse of five hundred bhikkhus, I reached the high road at Kasindra (the 

 capital of) Pdva." For the particulars (of this discourse) the section regarding 

 Subhaddo must be referred to. The import of that section we can discuss at the 

 conclusion of the Parinibbdnan Suttan. 



In a subsequent part (of his address) he (Kassapo) said — " Well then, beloved, 

 let us have a rehearsal of (or convocation on) both the Dhammo and the Winayo. 

 In aforetime (during the dispensation of former Buddhos) also (whenever) 

 Adfiarnmo shone forth, Dhammo ceased to possess the ascendancy ; (whenever) 

 Awinayo shone forth, Winayo lost ground ; also in aforetime (whenever) the 

 professors of Adhammo attained power, the professors of Dhammo became insig- 

 nificant ; whenever the professors of Awinayo attained power, Winayo lost ground." 



The bhikkhus replied, " In that case, lord! select the theros and bhikkhus" 

 (who should form the convocation). 



The th6ro (Maha'kassapo) setting aside the hundreds and thousands of 

 bhikkhus who although having acquired a knowledge of all the nine angas of the 

 religion of the divine teacher, were still only puthujjand*, and had only attained 

 the Sotdpatti, Sakaddgdmi, Andgdmi and the Sukkhawipassand, selected five 

 hundred, minus one, sanctified bhikkhus who had achieved the knowledge of the 

 Tdpit&han, with the whole of its text and subdivisions ; had arrived at the 

 condition of Patisambhidd ; were gifted with supernatural power ; who had 

 been, on many occasions, selected by Bhagawa' himself for important minis- 

 tries, and who were masters of the component parts of the Tewijjd. 



In a certain passage, it is thus recorded, " thereafter the venerable Maha'- 

 kassapo, selected five hundred, minus one, arahantd." 



On what account was it that the thero made this reservation of one ? 



It was for the purpose of reserving a vacancy for A'nando. 



It is also said on this subject: "Whether with or without that venerable 

 personage the rehearsal of Dhammo could not be effected.'' 



That venerable individual having yet to fulfil his destiny, and to perfect his 

 works of sanctification : for that reason " with him, it is impracticable." 



It having (on the other hand) been also said " there was not a single suttan 

 ffdthd, &c. propounded by the being gifted with the ten powers (Buddho) of 

 which he (A'nando) was not a personal witness, for he (A'nando) himself has 

 declared, ' I have derived from Buddho himself eighty-two thousand, (Dhammd) 

 from the priesthood two thousand : these are the eighty-four thousand Dhammd, 

 which are to be propagated by me.' On this account, without him (the con- 

 vocation) could not have been held. Hence, though he was a personage who 

 had not yet fulfilled his destiny (by the attainment of arahat sanctification) being 

 nevertheless of the greatest utility in the convocation on Dhammo, he was 

 considered worthy of being selected by the th£ro (Maha'kassapo)." 



From what cause was it then that he was not selected ? 



That A'nando might escape the reproaches of other (priests, that though they 

 had attained the arahat sanctification they were excluded from the convoca- 

 tion). 



The the'ro (Maha'kassapo) bore the most confiding affection for the revered 

 A'nando : for instance, even when his hair had grown grey, addressing him as a 

 lad would be caressed he would say, " this child has yet to learn his destiny." 



* Uninspired mortals. 



