The Voice of the Silence and Other Chosen Fragments from the Book of the Golden Precpts (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1889 Excerpt: ... FRAGMENT HI. THE SEVEN PORTALS. "UPADHYAYA,1 the choice is made, I thirst for Wisdom. Now hast thou rent the veil before the secret Path and taught the greater Yana.3 Thy servant here is ready for thy guidance." Tis well, Shravaka.3 Prepare thyself, for thou wilt have to travel on alone. The Teacher can but point the way. The Path is one for all, the means to reach the goal must vary with the Pilgrims. 1 Upadbyaya is a spiritual preceptor, a Guru. The Northern Buddhists choose these generally among the OCarjot, saintly men, learned in gotrabbu-jnyana and jnyana-darsbana-sbuddbi, teachers of the Secret Wisdom. a Yana--vehicle: thus ZMabayana is the "Great Vehicle," and Hinayana, the " Lesser Vehicle," the names for two Schools of religious and philosophical learning in Northern Buddhism. 3 Sbravaka--a listener, or student who attends to the religious instructions. From the root Sbru. When from theory he goes into practice or performance of asceticism, he becomes a Sbramanas, " exerciser," from Sbrama, action. As Hardy shows, the two appellations answer to the words akoustikoi and asketai of the Greeks. Which wilt thou choose, O thou of dauntless heart? The Samtan' of "Eye Doctrine," fourfold Dhyana, or thread thy way through Paramitas," six in number, noble gates of virtue leading to Bodhi and to Prajna, seventh step of Wisdom? The rugged Path of four-fold Dhyana winds on uphill. Thrice great is he who climbs the lofty top. The Paramita heights are crossed by a still steeper path. Thou hast to fight thy way through portals seven, seven strongholds held by cruel crafty Powers--passions incarnate. Be of good cheer, Disciple; bear in mind the golden rule. Once thou hast passed the gate Srotapatti,3 "he who the stream hath entered"; once thy foot hath pressed t...