z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 09.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 578
578 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
One coming while he was yet far off, and on seeing him he stirred upon his bed.
VIII
Then said the Exalted One to the venerable Vakkali: “Enough, Vakkali ! Stir not on your bed ! There are these seats made ready. I will sit there.” And he sat down on a seat made ready. So the Exalted One sat down and said to the venerable Vakkali :
“Well, Vakkali, I hope you are bearing up. I hope you are enduring. Do your pains abate and not increase ? Are there signs of their abating and not increasing?”
“No, Lord, I am not bearing up. I am not enduring. Strong pains come upon me. They do not abate. There is no sign of their abating but of their increasing.”
“Have you any doubt, Vakkali ? Have you any remorse.”
“Indeed, Lord, I have no doubt. I have no remorse.”
“Have you not anything, Vakkali, wherein you reproach yourself as to morals ?”
“Nay, Lord, there is nothing wherein I reproach myself as to morals.”
“Then, Vakkali, if that is so, you must have some worry, you must have something you regret.”
“For a long time, Lord, I have been longing to set eyes on the Exalted One, but I had not strength enough in this body to come to see the Exalted One.”
“Hush, Vakkali; what is there in seeing this vile body of mine ? He who seeth the Norm, he seeth me: he who seeth, Vakkali, seeth the Norm. Verily, seeing the Norm, Vakkali, one seeth me : seeing me, one seeth the Norm.”
(iii)
- Thus have I heard: The Exalted One was once staying among the Bhaggi, at crocodile haunt in Bhesakala grove in the deer-park. Then the housefather, Nakulapita, came to the Exalted One, saluted Him, and sat down at one side.