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CONVERSION OF THE FALLEN AND THE CRIMINALS
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his wonted pace, the robber, for all his efforts, could not catch him up.
Thought the robber: “This is a wonderful and marvellous thing. Heretofore, I could always overtake an elephant, or horse, or carriage, or deer, when going full speed; and yet here am I unable, despite all my efforts, to overtake this recluse while he proceeds at his wonted pace.” So he stopped and shouted to the Lord to stop.
When the two met the Lord said: “I have stopped, Angulimala, for your sake. Will you stop following your career of an evil doer? I have been pursuing you in order to win you over, to cover you to the path of righteousness. The good in you is not yet dead. If you will only give it a chance it will transform you.”
Angulimala felt overcome by the words of the Blessed One, saying, “At last this sage has tracked me down.”
“And now that thy hallowed words ask me to renounce evil deeds forever, I am prepared to give myself a trial,” replied Angulimala.
Angulimala threw into a deep abyss the string of his victims’ fingers which he wore round his neck and fell at the Master’s feet and craved admission to the Brotherhood.
The Lord, the guide of gods and men, said: “Almsman, follow me” ; and almsman since that summons Angulimala did become.
With Angulimala as his almsman in attendance, the Lord now proceeded on his way to the pleasance in Shravasti. At this very time the portals of King Pasenadi’s inner palace were beset by a huge crowd loudly shouting that in the realm he had conquered there was a robber named Angulimala, a ruffian who was committing ravages and was killing and wounding innocent people and who took pride in wearing a necklace made of fingers of victims whom he slew. “Suppress him, sire,” they cried. Pasenadi promised to run him down to earth. But he failed.
One morning King Pasenadi went to the
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