ON MIRACLES. 



45 



which he describes the different kinds of iddhipatihariya. 

 They are not such as may be pronounced to be altogether 

 impossible, nor such as may not be explained by the pres- 

 ence of other causes than an inherent power of iddhi in 

 the worker. But this at least is certain, that the possess- 

 ion of such a power cannot be reconciled with the doc- 

 trine of Buddhism, which declares a man to be a free 

 •agent, uncontrolled by any power except that of his own 

 ftamina. According to this doctrine, we find Gotama quite 

 incapable of doing aught directly, and of his own power, 

 for the temporal or spiritual benefit of his fellow beings. 

 It is indeed expressly admitted, that Buddha could not 

 save a being who was destined to hell. He could not 

 vivify the body from which the spark of life had fled. * 

 We read of no miraculous healing of the sick. In the 

 age of Gotama, the people, including his disciples, suffered 

 more from sickness than from other causes. The Vinaya 

 exhibits the precautions taken by the priests in cases 

 of sickness, and the attentions paid to the sick priests 

 even by the Sovereign. The four paccaya included ' medi- 

 cines.' Nearly every rule was relaxed in favor of the 

 sick. But there is not a single instance on record 

 where disease was healed by Gctama by any superhuman 

 power. True it is that he visited the sick, e. g. Kassapa, 

 who was greviously ill in his cave. But he did not bid 

 Mm, " Rise, take up thy bowl, and walk." The patient was 

 not healed by touching " the hem of his garment." He 

 preached to him on the Sattabhojjanga ; — Contemplation, 

 Ascertainment of the truth, Perseverance, Contentment, 



* See Attanagaluvansa, p. clxiv. 



