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NOTICES ON THE LIFE OF SHAKYA, 



Do class, titled Mahdparinirvanam (Tib. Yongs-su — M.nya-nan-las-'H.das- 

 pa-cJihen-po) the " great final deliverance from pain." 



All animal beings, admonished by a mighty voice of the approaching 

 death of ShXkya, haste to present him their last offerings, to ask him about 

 the doubts they had on some articles of his doctrine, and to hear his 

 instructions thereupon. The substance of his doctrine is repeated in these 

 volumes, with respect to some metaphysical subtleties. There are many 

 discussions on the nature or essence and the qualities of Tathagata or 

 Huddlia (God), as also on that of the human soul. On the state of being 

 under bondage and liberated. On the means of obtaining final emancipa- 

 tion. On the six transcendental virtues, especially on charity. On casual 

 concatenation, and on several other articles. 



Previous to his death, Shakya tells how anciently the universal 

 monarchs were used to be burnt, and orders his disciples to do the same 

 with his body. Accordingly, after having washed the corpse several times 

 with all sorts of scented or perfumed water, they put it into an iron chest, 

 fill it with sweet scented seed-oil, and keep it so for seven days, then taking 

 out the body, they envelope it first with soft cotton, and wrap it up after- 

 wards in several (five hundred) whole pieces of cotton cloth ; then they 

 replace the body again in the chest, fill it with sweet scented seed-oil, 

 and after having kept so for seven days, they burn it with sandal and other 

 precious sweet-scented woods. 



XII. — His relics were deposited. 



The corpse being burnt in the above manner, they gather together the 

 ashes. There are found 8 measures (of Vre or Sans. D/majof them. They 

 are put in 8 urns. These 8 precious vessels being placed upon 8 richly 

 adorned stately seats or thrones, sacrifices and adorations are offered up 

 to them during several days, after which they are deposited in a magnificent 

 pyramidical building (S. Chaitya; Tib. McJihod-iten ; vulg. Chorten) in 

 the City of Kusha or Kama Rupa, 



