THE FIRST DISCOURSE DELIVERED BY BUDDHA. 119 



are described in the most glowing terms. "The evening" says a 

 Singhalese author, " was like a lovely female; the stars were as 

 pearls upon her neck, the blue clouds were her braided hair, and 

 the expanse was her flowing robe. As a crown she had the hea- 

 vens; the three worlds were as her body; her eyes were like the 

 white lotus; and her voice was like the humming of the bee. To 

 worship Buddha, and listen to the first proclaiming of the bana, 

 this lovely female came." All the worlds in which there was 

 sentient existence were emptied of their inhabitants, so that the 

 congregation assembled was in number infinite; but when the god 

 Sekra blew his shell, " all became still, as a waveless sea." Each 

 of the countless listeners thought that the sage was looking towards 

 himself, and speaking to him in his own tongue, though the lan- 

 guage he used was Magadhi. Then Buddha opened his mouth, 

 and preached the Dhamma-Chakkappawattana-suttan. This ser- 

 mon is of importance, not only as being the first preached by Bud- 

 dha; but as containing the germ thoughts of his entire system. 



The following translation of this Discourse has been found 

 among the papers of the late Rev. D. J. Gogerly, both the Pali 

 original and the English translation being in his own handwriting. 



"Thus I heard. On a certain time Buddhu resided at Benares, 

 the delight of holy men and safe retreat of animals. At that time 

 Buddhu addressed himself to the 5 priests. O Priests., these two 

 extremes should be avoided by a Priest, an attachment to sensual 

 gratifications, which are mean, vile and contemptible, degrading 

 and profitless; or severe penances, which produce sorrow, and are 

 degrading and useless. 



"0 Priests, avoiding both these extremes, Buddhu has perceived a 

 middle path for the attainment of mental vision, true knowledge, 

 subdued passions, the perception of the paths leading to the Su- 

 preme good, the preparation necessary for attaining it, and the 

 entrance to Nirvana. 



"0 Priests, which is this middle path? 



"This path has 8 divisions: — namely, correct doctrines, correct 

 perceptions of those doctrines, speaking the truth, purity of conduct^ 



