ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



CEYLON BRANCH. 



BUDDHISM CHARIYA PITAKA* 



By The Eev D. J. Gogerly. 



[The discourses of Buddha are contained in five large 

 divisions called in Pali " Nikayo," and in Sinhalese u Sangi :" 

 the fifth of these, called " Kudogot Sangi," comprises 15 books, 

 one of which is the Chariya Pitaka, or a collection of preceding 

 states of existence. The book is composed in Pali verse, and 

 the legends it contains are brief accounts of events more largely 

 developed in the book called Jataka, which latter book is also 

 contained in the Kudugot Sangi. The tales in this small 

 volume have all a reference to the desire supposed to have 

 been felt by Gautama, in previous states of existence, to 

 become a Buddha, and some of the means he used to accomplish 

 his object. These means are divided into ten sections called 

 Paramita, and each of these, being subdivided into three other 

 sections, makes the whole number thirty. Only a part of 

 these means are contained in this work. The portion now 

 presented to the Society contains the Paramita of Almsgiving; 

 the remainder will be given on a future occasion, with such 

 observations as may be necessary for its elucidation. The 

 book is also called Buddhapadana, or sections of Buddha's 

 previous existences.] 



The whole of my proceedings during four asankhya and one 

 hundred thousand kalpas has been for the purpose of becoming 

 a Buddha. 



Omitting my conduct in various births during past kalpas, 

 I will declare my proceedings during the present kalpa: listen 

 to me ! 



At one time I was a hermit named Akitti, and having entered 

 a large forest, a wilderness without inhabitants, I dwelt there. 



A 



