(2) The exceeding folly of deeming that "I myself

am I";

(3) The inherent corruption of our nature;

(4) The deadly peril of all sinfulness;

(5) Yea, true sanctification;

(6) And shining purity of heart;

(7) And Nirvana, which is heaven, even the calm, large freedom of the spirit;

So long may the holy Brotherhood hope not to decline, but to wax the rather in goodly prosperity,

so long as these seven conditions shall obtain continually among the assembly of the Brethren,

so long as they are duly exercised in these conditions,

So long may the Brethren hope that their sacred Order decline not, but their welfare endure forever.

VI. In six conditions of welfare will I instruct you, O my Brethren. Hearken ye, and attend the while I speak.

And upon their agreeing expressly thereto, he spake the blessed words which do follow:

(Fruition, Individual and Social)

(1) So long as the Brethren shall persevere in kindliness of deed, and word, and inmost thought among the saints, both in the sight of the people and in secret;

(2) So long as they shall distribute without partiality, and have all things in common with the upright and the holy, whatsoever they do receive by the righteous provisions of the sacred Order, yea, even to that which their bowl containeth, wherewith they do beg their daily bread;

(3) So long as the Brethren shall dwell peaceably among the saints, in the diligent exercise, both before men and in secret, of those virtues, which unbroken and perfect, yea, unspotted and without blemish, do flower and fruit in freedom, and are everywhere lauded of the wise;

(4) Yea, and continue without the least soil which cometh of a longing after a life to come;—

(5) Or of the vain belief in the power of outward deeds to help, but foster and command whatsoever leadeth to high and noble thought;

(6) So long as the Brethren shall dwell peaceably among the saints, cherishing, both before men and in secret, that noble and saving faith which leadeth unto the bringing utterly

to nought the whole sorrow of him that doeth in accordance therewith;

So long may the holy Brotherhood hope not to decline, but to wax the rather in goodly prosperity,

so long as these seven conditions shall obtain continually

among the assembly of the Brethren,

so long as they are duly exercised in these conditions,

So long may the Brethren hope that their sacred Order decline not, but their welfare endure forever.

[Here endeth the most profitable instruction of the Enlightened Lord of Light unto the sacred fellowship of his disciples, that did dwell nigh unto Rajagaha, which is, being interpreted, the palace of the king; even the two score and one blessed conditions of the most holy life. And the greatest thereof, the fruition unspeakable, of all fellowship and all meditation and all attainment, he did leave unspoken at the last,

The admission into, and passing beyond the calm, large freedom of the spirit,-the gift which Nirvana, the heaven of the Enlightened One, doth bestow upon him that verily hath passed on.]

V

BEATITUDES FROM

A BUDDHIST HERMIT'S "LION'S ROAR"

(OR CONFESSION OF PERSONAL RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE)

I.

What time a man, in wisdom-old age close scanneth and deathHow all that this world fast cleaveth to-Pain it is gendereth; Well wotting how at last whence pain forever afresh upwelleth, He dwelleth apart, with mind and heart upcaught

Ah, how might a God be indued with more perfect beatitude?

II.

What time the base mingler of bane he banneth who wrought the pain,

The Monster Greed, who unmanneth man, as again and again He doth drive him to writhe in the web of possessions that would fain enmesh all flesh,

The haunting anguish of fear, for aye to be free, he expelleth, And dwelleth apart, with mind and heart upcaught

In rapture of holy thought:

Ah, how might a God be indued with more perfect beatitude?

What time in clear vision afar, fair and happy, he beholdeth the Path

Fourfold for the corners four of two worlds-which never end

hath

Save in th' soul's purity only, that the whiteness of light excelleth, He dwelleth apart, with mind and heart upcaught

In rapture of holy thought:

Ah, how might a God be indued with more perfect beatitude?

IV.

What time with brave labor the illumining fixed Mind hath the path of peace

Shown plain, true, cleared of sorrow, where importunate troublers cease,

The outcasting of whatso defileth, the knapping all bonds in sunder, that under

About and above would withhold and ensnare, till release he com

pelleth

And dwelleth apart, with mind and heart upcaught

In rapture of holy thought:

Ah, how might a God be indued with more perfect beatitude?

V.

What time in the lowering heav'n th' fierce storm-rack's drums roll thunder,

And th' straight flights of birds go astray in thick darkness and rain, yet no wonder

Nor awe the Saint in the hollow heart of the hill impelleth,
Who dwelleth apart, with mind and heart upcaught

In rapture of holy thought:

Ah, how might a God be indued with more perfect beatitude?

VI.

What time by the brimming river, on whose marges there mass a gay crowd

Wild forest festoons of blossom, of their many-hued splendor proud,

Long and long, serene, the incense of their pure souls he enhaleth Who dwelleth apart, with mind and heart upcaught

In rapture of holy thought:

Ah, how might a God be indued with more perfect beatitude?

What time at the grim dead of night, in the jungle's gruesome

gloom

God poureth his wrath, and beasts prowl ravening and roar out his doom,

The Saint in the still heart of the hill to his spirit his calm joys telleth,

And dwelleth apart, with mind and heart upcaught

In rapture of holy thought:

Ah, how might a God be indued with more perfect beatitude?

VIII.

What time by Restraint he straitly bridleth the headlong course Of the will, and betaketh him forth to the mountain's bosom

perforce,

Where composed, at large, in a cool cave sheltered, all doubt he dispelleth

And dwelleth apart, with mind and heart upcaught

In rapture of holy thought:

Ah, how might a God be indued with more perfect beatitude?

IX.

What time made whole in soul, at ease he abideth so,

When Attainment hath wrought out stain, the rock of offence,

and woe,

Wide-opening to peace the gates, unscathed of the furtive thrust of lust,

Unwooed by maddening draught, foe and fiend undismayed he quelleth

And dwelleth apart, with mind and heart upcaught

In rapture of holy thought:

Ah, how might a God be indued with more perfect beatitude?

JEWISH APOCRYPHAL BEATITUDES

SEVEN BEATITUDES

FROM THE BOOK OF THE SECRETS OF ENOCH

(1) Blessèd is the man who openeth his lips to praise the God of the heavenly Hosts, and praiseth the Lord with his heart.

Cursed is every man who openeth his lips, speaking ill to the hurt and shame of his neighbor.

(2) Blessèd is he who openeth his lips to the blessing and laud of God.

Cursed is he who openeth his lips to foreswear and blaspheme before the face of the Lord all his days.

(3) Blessed is he who blesseth alway all the works of the Lord. Cursed is he who dishonoreth the manifold works of the Lord.

(4) Blessed is he who looketh to set his own hand to his labour. Cursed is he who looketh to thrive by the unjust use of another man's labour.

(5) Blessèd is he who preserveth unmoved the foundations of his fathers from of old.

Cursed is he who breaketh the commandments of his fathers.

(6) Blessed is he who establisheth peace and love on earth. Cursed is he who troubleth them that be at peace.

(7) Blessed is he who speaketh not peace with his tongue, but in his heart there is peace toward all!

Cursed is he who with his tongue doth speak peace, but there dwelleth not peace in his heart.

For such things, meted with measures and recorded in books, shall all be made manifest in the day of the great Judgment.