REFORMERS AND THEIR FATE 223
and in the letter. The higher life doth he make known in all its fullness, and in all its purity. And good is it to pay visists to Arhats like that.’
Then Lohikka the Brahman said to Bhesika the barber, ‘Come now, good Bhesika, go where the Samana Gotama is staying, and on your arrival, ask in my name as to whether his sickness and indisposition as abated, as to his health and vigour and condition of ease; and speak thus: “May the venerable Gotama, and with him the brethren of the order, accept the tomorrow’s meal from Lohikka the Brahman.”
‘Very well. Sir.’ said Bhesika the barber, acquiescing in the word of Lohikka the Brahman, and did so even as he had been enjoined. And the Exalted One consented, by silence, to his request.
And when Bhesika the barber perceived that the Exalted One had consented, he rose from his seat, and passing the Exalted One with his right hand towards him, went to Lohikka the Brahman, and on his arrival spake to him thus :
‘We addressed that Exalted One, Sir, in your name, even as you commanded. And the Exalted One hath consented to come.’
- Then Lohikka the Brahman, when the night had passed made ready at his own dwelling place sweet food, both hard and soft, and said to Bhesika the barber: ‘Come now, good Bhesika, go where the Samana Gotama is staying, and on your arrival, announce the time to him, saying: “It is time, O Gotama. and the meal is ready.”
‘Very well. Sir’, said Bhesika the barber in assent to the words of Lohikka the Brahman; and did so even as he had been enjoined.
And the Exalted One, who had robed himself early in the morning, went robed, and carrying his bowl with him, with the brethren of the Order, towards Salavatika,
- Now, as he went, Bhesika the barber walked step by step, behind the Exalted One. And he said to him:
‘The following wicked opinion has occured to Lohikka the Brahman; “Suppose that a Samana or a Brahmana have reached up to some good state (of mind), then he should tell no one else about it. For what can one man do for another? To tell others would be like the man who, having broken through an old bond, should entangle himself in a new one. Like that, I say, is this (desire to declare to others); it is a form of lust”, Twere well. Sir, if the Exalted One would disabuse his mind thereof. For what can one man do for another?’ ‘That may well be, Bhesika, that may well be.’
- And the Exalted One went on to the dwelling-place of Lohikka the Brahman, and sat down on the seat prepared for him. And Lohikka the Brahman satisfied the Order, with the Buddha at its head.