62 



ON MIRACLES. 



When conveniently all the 500 Jatilas were, as is stated 1 * 

 enjoying a plunge in the Neranjara. 



There is then no difficulty in ascribing both tht se Mira- 

 cles, as Buddha himself has suggested, to the art of Magic, 

 There is indeed another view as regards Miracle No. 11. 

 We have no clear evidence to prov.j that Magnetism was 

 known as a science in ancient India but we are inclined to< 

 the belief that many a marvellous feat of the Indian Juggler 

 is ascribahle to a knowledge of its power. 



Mii\icle No. I3. The Legend concludes the relation? 

 of these Miracles by stating that at this period there was 

 unseasonable rain, that the whole country was inundated* 

 including the place in which Got.un t had kis lodgings, and 

 that hf his miraculous power the spot on which he sat was not 

 covered by the water, and was consequently dry. Kassapa,- 

 who went in a boat to fetch his friend, was again amazed, not 

 only at the phenomenon just described, but at his friend- 

 coming over the water to meet him. 



It does not appear whether the spot on which Gotama- 

 was seated was either high or low. Nor do we find that the 

 waters which flooded the country, stood in a wall around the 

 sage. But it is not improbable that the place was a hillock,, and 

 the waters had not risen so high as to cover its brow. As to 

 his going over the water, we can only regard this as a myth, 

 or an optical delusion. At all events Kassapa did not re- 

 gard it as a Miracle. 



We have thus reviewed some of the most important of 

 the Miracles ascribed to Gotama Buddha, We have ex- 

 amined them with a view to ascertain if they are not simple 

 exaggerations. We have shewn how some of them, at least, 

 are inconsistent with the undoubted principleo of Buddhism, 



