238 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
When Sakia grew up, he was deeply affected by 
the sight of human misery, and in spite of every 
remonstrance, resolved to lay aside the splendours of 
royalty and lead the life of a hermit. Several of the 
young nobles imitated his example and professed 
themselves his disciples. For many years, Sakia 
lived in the desert, absorbed in meditation, scarcely 
paying any attention to the common necessaries of 
life, and evincing his humility by refusing the services 
and homage of his disciples. From hence he re- 
moved to a still more solitary place, where he was 
assailed by several temptations, over all of which he 
triumphed. Being now persuaded that he had sub- 
dued all human lusts, he prepared to publish a new 
system of faith ; but before commencing the publi- 
cation he underwent a series of fasts and penances for 
forty-nine days. His first sermon to his disciples on 
the origin and necessity of faith, may be regarded as 
a brief summary of the principal doctrines of Bud- 
dhism. 
“ The universal state of misery, that is, the present 
world, is the first truth ; the path of salvation is the 
second truth ; the temptation to which we are ex- 
posed is the third truth ; and the mode of overcoming 
temptation is the fourth truth.” He then proceeds to 
explain the signification of these truths in the follow- 
ing terms. “ In the course of human life no moment 
of pleasure equals that in which we acquire cognizance 
of the truth ; thus I name this world, a true state of 
misery, and the practice of the precepts of faith the 
greatest happiness. Consider the fourfold condition 
of man ; the pains attending his birth ; the diseases 
