Four Sermons of Buddha- Paul Carus

The Sermon at Benares*

On seeing their old teacher approach, the five bhikkhus agreed among themselves not to salute him, nor to address him as a master, but by his name only. "For," so they said, "he has broken his vow and has abandoned holiness. He is no bhukkhu but Gotama, and Gotama has become a man who lives in abundance and indulges in the pleasures of worldliness."

But when the Blessed One approached in a dignified manner, they involuntarily rose from their seats and greeted him in spite of their resolution. Still they called him by his name and addressed him as "friend Gotama"

When they had thus received the Belssed One, he said: "Do not call the Tathagata by his name nor address him as `friend,’ for he is the Buddha, the Holy One. The Buddha looks with a kind heart equally on all living beings, and they therefore call him `Father.’ To disrespect a father is wrong; to despise him, is wicked.

"The Tathagata," the Buddha continued, "does not seek salvation in austerities, but neither does he for that reason indulge in worldly pleasures, nor live in abundance. The Tathagata has found the middle path.

© `Wisdom of India’ by Lin Yutang, published (1997) by Ashwin J Shah, Jaico Publishing House, 121 MG Road, Mumbai 400 023.
 Edited by Paul Carus.

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