No. 29. — 1884.] BUDDHISTIC AL CEREMONIES. 



213 



[The Hidden Treasure.* 

 A man buries a treasure iu a deep pit, reasoning thus within 

 himself : " When occasion arises this treasure will be of use to 

 me, — if I am accused by the king, or plundered by robbers, or for 

 release from debt, or in famine, or in misfortune. " Such are the 

 reasons for which men conceal what in this world is called 

 treasure. 



Meanwhile all this treasure, lying day after day concealed in a 

 deep pit, profits him nothing. 



Either the treasure vanishes from its resting place, or its 

 owner's sense becomes distracted with care, or Nagas remove it, 

 or malignant spirits convey it away, or his enemies or his kinsmen 

 dig it up in his absence. The treasure is gone when the merit 

 that produced it is exhausted. 



There is a treasure that man or woman may posssess, a treasure 

 laid up in the heart, a treasure of charity, piety, temperance, 

 soberness. 



It is found in the sacred shrine, in the priestly assembly, in the 

 individual man, in the stranger and sojourner, in the father, the 

 mother, the elder brother. 



A treasure secure, impregnable, that cannot pass away. When 

 a man leaves the fleeting riches of this world, this he takes with 

 him after death. 



A treasure unshared with others, a treasure that no thief can 

 steal. Let the wise man practise virtue : this is a treasure that 

 follows him after death. 



A treasure that gives every delight to gods and men ; for 

 whatsoever they desire with this treasure it may be bought. 



Bloom, a sweet voice, grace and beauty, power and pomp ; all 

 these this treasure can procure. 



Sovereignty and lordship, the loved bliss of universal empire, 

 yea, celestial rule among the gods ; all these this treasure can 

 procure. 



All human prosperity, every pleasure in celestial abodes, the 

 full attainment of Nirvana ; all these this treasure can procure. 



Wisdom, enlightenment, tranquillity, in one who lives wisely for 

 the sake of virtuous friends ; all these this treasure can procure. 



Universal science, the eight emancipations of the mind, all the 



* For this translation I am indebted to Mr. Childers' beautiful 

 rendering in his " Khuddaka Patha," pp. 13 and 14. 



