The Essence of Buddhism | Page 2

that there are many cases in which to take life, provided it is taken painlessly, not only is not on the whole an unkindness, but is an act of beneficence. If we sometimes give to this injunction the sense of extending our sympathy to the lowest sentient being, and not causing pain to living creatures while they live, we shall perhaps not be doing violence to the spirit of mercy by which it was prompted. There are many passages in Buddhist works which advocate preference for the spirit over the letter, or the exercise of judgment in accepting what we are taught.
A few passages, though not many, have been included more because they are striking or poetical than for the sake of their moral teaching.
As the references given are mostly to the Oriental origins, it is only fair to insert here a list of the English and French translations which have been principally used in compiling this book. The following works comprise most of those which have proved directly of service for the purpose--"Sacred Books of the East," namely:
Vol. 10. Dhammapada, by F. Max Muller; and Sutta-Nipata, by V. Fausboll.
Vol. 11. Buddhist Suttas, by T. W. Rhys Davids.
Vol. 13. Vinaya Texts, part 1, by T. W. Rhys Davids and H. Oldenberg.
Vol. 17. Vinaya Texts, part 2, by T. W. Rhys Davids and H. Oldenberg.
Vol. 19. Fo-sho-hing-tsan-king, by Rev. S. Beal.
Vol. 20. Vinaya Texts, part 3, by T. W. Rhys Davids and H. Oldenberg.
Vol. 21. Saddharma-pundarika, by H. Kern.
Vol. 35. Questions of King Milinda, part 1, by T. W. Rhys Davids.
Vol. 36. Questions of King Milinda, part 2, by T. W. Rhys Davids.
Vol. 49. Buddhist Mahayana Texts, by E. B. Cowell, F. Max Muller, and J. Takakusu.
"Sacred Books of the Buddhists," namely: Vol. 1. Jatakamala, by J. S. Speyer. Vol. 2. Dialogues of the Buddha, by T. W. Rhys Davids.
The Jataka, or Stories of the Buddha's Former Births, translated under the editorship of Professor E. B. Cowell.
Buddhism of Tibet, by L. A. Waddell.
Buddhism in Translations, by H. C. Warren.
Travels of Fa-hien, by James Legge.
Selected Essays, by F. Max Muller.
Buddhist Birth Stories, or Jataka Tales, by T. W. Rhys Davids.
Hibbert Lectures for 1881, by T. W. Rhys Davids.
Buddhism, by T. W. Rhys Davids.
Catena of Buddhist Scriptures from the Chinese, by Rev. S. Beal.
Abstract of Four Lectures on Buddhist Literature in China, by Rev. S. Beal.
Romantic Legend of Sakya Buddha, by Rev. S. Beal.
Texts from the Buddhist Canon known as Dhammapada, by Rev. S. Beal.
Udanavarga, by W. W. Rockhill.
Lalita Vistara, by Rajendralala Mitra.
Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal, by Rajendralala Mitra.
Mahavamsa, by L. C. Wijesinha.
Attanagalu-vansa, by James D'Alwis.
Archaeological Survey of Southern India (new series of reports), vol. 1, by James Burgess, with translations by Georg Buhler.
Archaeological Survey of Western India, vol. 4, by James Burgess.
Sutta-Nipata, by Sir M. Coomara Swamy.
Katha Sarit Sagara, by C. H. Tawney.
Grammar of the Tibetan Language, by A. Csoma de Koros.
Nagananda: a Buddhist Drama, by Palmer Boyd.
Buddhaghosa's Parables, by Capt. T. Rogers.
Light of Asia, by Sir Edwin Arnold.
Ancient Proverbs and Maxims from Burmese Sources, by James Gray.
Jinalankara, or Embellishments of Buddha, by James Gray.
We-than-da-ya: a Buddhist Legend, by L. Allan Goss.
The English Governess at the Siamese Court, by Mrs. A. H. Leonowens.
The Catechism of the Shamans, by C. F. Neumann.
View of the History, Literature, and Religion of the Hindoos, by Rev. W. Ward.
Horace Sinicae: Translations from the Popular Literature of the Chinese, by Rev. Robert Morrison.
Contemporary Review for February, 1876.
Cornhill Magazine for August, 1876.
The Buddhist, vol. 1.
Journal of Pali Text Society for 1886.
Journal of Buddhist Text Society of India, vols. 1, 3, 4 and 5.
Journal of Royal Asiatic Society, new series, vol. 2; also vol. for 1894.
Journal of Ceylon Branch of Royal Asiatic Society, No. 2.
Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. 36.
Transactions of Asiatic Society of Japan, vol. 22.
Journal of American Oriental Society, vol. 4.
Journal Asiatique, septieme serie, vols. 17, 19 and 20.
Lalita Vistara, by P. E. Foucaux.
La Guirlande Pricieuse des Demandes et des Responses, by P. E. Foucaux.
Sept Suttas Palis, tires du Dighanikaya, by P. Grimblot.
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THE ESSENCE OF BUDDHISM.
All beings desire happiness; therefore to all extend your benevolence.--Mahavamsa.
Because he has pity upon every living creature, therefore is a man called "holy."--Dhammapada.
Like as a mother at the risk of her life watches over her only child, so also let every one cultivate towards all beings a boundless (friendly) mind.--Metta-sutta.
Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.--Udanavarga.
I cannot have pleasure while another grieves and I have power to help him.--Jatakamala.
With pure thoughts and fulness of love, I will do towards others what I do for myself.--Lalita Vistara.
If you desire to do something pleasing to me, then desist from hunting forever! The poor poor beasts of the forest, being ... dull of intellect, are worthy of pity for this very reason.--Jatakamala.
You will generously follow the impulse of