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THE CONVERSION OF THE PARIVRAJAKAS
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“The patit who has no standard does not know that he has fallen. Consequently he always remains fallen. On the other hand a patit who has a standard tries to rise from his fallen state. Why ? The answer is because he knows that he has fallen.
“This is the difference between having a standard and having no standard for regulating a man’s life. What matters is not so much the fall of the man but the absence of any standard.
“You may ask, ye Parivrajakas ! Why are these principles worthy of recognition as a standard of life.
“The answer to this question you will find for yourselves, if you ask : “Are these principles good for the individual ?” also if you ask : “Do they promote social good ?”
“If your answers to these questions are in the affirmative then it follows that the principles of my Path of Purity are worthy of recognition as forming a true standard of life.”
§ 4. The Buddha’s First Sermon— (contd.)
Ashtanga Marga or the Path of Righteousness
The Buddha next addressed the Parivrajakas on the Ashtangamarga. He said that there are eight constituents in the Ashtangamarga.
He began his discourse with the exposition of Samma Ditti (Right Views), the first and foremost element in the Ashtangmarga.
“To realize the importance of Samma Ditti, ” the Buddha said to the Parivrajakas:
“O, ye, Parivrajakas, you must realize that the world is a dungeon and man is a prisoner in the dungeon.
“This dungeon is full of darkness. So dark is it that scarce anything at all can rightly be seen by the prisoner. The prisoner cannot see that he is a prisoner.
“Indeed, man has not only become blind by living too long in the darkness, but he very much
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