~Srataparna Cave, or Cave of the First Council~
Out from the old city, after walking over three hundred paces, on the
west of the road, the travellers found the Karanda Bamboo garden, where
the old vihâra is still in existence, with a company of monks, who keep
the ground about it swept and watered.
North of the vihâra two or three li there was the Smasânam, which name
means in Chinese "the field of graves into which the dead are thrown."
As they kept along the mountain on the south, and went west for three
hundred paces, they found a dwelling among the rocks, named the Pippala
cave, in which Buddha regularly sat in meditation after taking his
mid-day meal.
Going on still to the west for five or six li, on the north of the hill,
in the shade, they found the cavern called Srataparna, [1] the place
where, after the nirvâna of Buddha, five hundred Arhats collected the
Sûtras. When they brought the Sûtras forth, three lofty seats had been
prepared and grandly ornamented. Sâriputtra occupied the one on the
left, and Maudgalyâyana that on the right. Of the number of five hundred
one was wanting. Mahâkasyapa was president on the middle seat. Ânanda
was then outside the door, and could not get in. At the place there was
subsequently raised a tope, which is still existing.
Along the sides of the hill, there are also a very great many cells
among the rocks, where the various Arhans sat and meditated. As you
leave the old city on the north, and go down east for three li, there is
the rock dwelling of Devadatta, and at a distance of fifty paces from it
there is a large, square, black rock. Formerly there was a bhikshu, who,
as he walked backwards and forwards upon it, thought with
himself:--"This body is impermanent, a thing of bitterness and vanity,
and which cannot be looked on as pure. I am weary of this body, and
troubled by it as an evil." With this he grasped a knife, and was about
to kill himself. But he thought again:--"The World-honored one laid down
a prohibition against one's killing himself." [2] Further it occurred to
him:--"Yes, he did; but I now only wish to kill three poisonous
thieves." Immediately with the knife he cut his throat. With the first
gash into the flesh he attained the state of a Srotâpanna; when he had
gone half through, he attained to be an Anâgâmin; and when he had cut
right through, he was an Arhat, and attained to pari-nirvâna, and died.
[Footnote 1: A very great place in the annals of Buddhism. The Council
in the Srataparna cave did not come together fortuitously, but appears
to have been convoked by the older members to settle the rules and
doctrines of the order. The cave was prepared for the occasion by king
Ajâtasatru.]
[Footnote 2: Buddha made a law forbidding the monks to commit suicide.
He prohibited any one from discoursing on the miseries of life in such a
manner as to cause desperation.]