24 
[No. 1, 
Q. 0. Das— Note on the Buddhist Golden Book. 
Benares, in the deer-park, called Rsipatana. He proceeded to Benares. 
Now Upaka, a man belonging to the Ajivaka sect (t.e., the sect of 
naked ascetics) saw the Blessed One travelling on the road, between the 
Bodhi tree (Bodli Gaya T ) and Gaya (city), and addressed him saying: 
“ Your countenance, friend, is serene; your complexion is pure and 
bright. In whose name, friend, have you retired from the world ? Who 
is your teacher ? Whose doctrine do you profess P ” To this the Buddha 
replied: “I have overcome all foes, I am all wise ; I am free from stains 
in every way ; I have left everything, and have obtained emancipation 
by the destruction of desire. Having myself gained knowledge, whom 
should I call my master ? I have no teacher, no one is equal to me; in the 
world of men and of gods no being is like me. I am the Holy One in this 
world, I am the highest teacher. I alone am the absolute Sambuddha ; I 
have gained coolness (by the extinction of all passions) and have obtained 
Nirvana. To found the Kingdom of Truth I go to the City of the Ka^l 
(Benares). I will beat the drum of the Immortal in the darkness of 
this world.” Upaka replied : “You profess then, friend, to be the Holy, 
Absolute Jina, the Victorious One.” Buddha said: “ Like me are all Jina 
who have reached extinction of sensuality, individuality, delusion and 
ignorance. I have overcome all states of sinfulness, therefore, Upaka 
am I the Jina, the Victorious.” When he had spoken thus, Upaka 
replied: “It may be so, friend; ” shook his head, took another road and 
went away. 
And the Blessed One, wandering from place to place came to Bena¬ 
res, to the deer-park Rsipatana, to the place where the five Bhikklius 
were. When he gradually approached near them, they went forth to 
meet him; one took his bowl and his robe, another prepared a seat, a 
third one brought water for the washing of the feet, a foot-stool, and a 
towel. Thus reverentially received, the Buddha addressed the five Bhik- 
khus :—“ There are two extremes, O Bhikkhus which he who has given 
up the world ought to avoid. What are these two extremes ? A life 
given to pleasures, devoted to pleasures and lusts; this is degrading, 
sensual, vulgar, ignoble and profitless : and a life given to mortifications ; 
this is painful, ignoble and profitless. By avoiding these two extremes 
the Buddha has gained the knowledge of the Middle Path which leads 
to insight and to wisdom; which conduces to calm, to knowledge, to Sam- 
bodhi (true enlightenment), and to Nirvana . This is the Middle Path, 
the Holy Eightfold Path, which consists of Right Belief, Right Aspira¬ 
tion, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Means of Livelihood, Right 
Endeavour, Right Memory, Right Meditation. 
1 I may take this opportunity of pointing out that the correct spelling of this 
name is Bodh Gaya, not Buddha Gaya. Ed. 
