The Light of Asia

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Nicholas Weeks
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The Light of Asia

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Sir Edwin Arnold published this poetic life of Buddha in 1879, an instant classic then and for many years thereafter. Whether folks under the age of 40 today, have even heard of it, I do not know.

http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/boo ... sia-hp.htm
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Light of Asia

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That night the wife of King Suddhôdana,
Maya the Queen, asleep beside her Lord,
Dreamed a strange dream; dreamed that a star from heaven --
Splendid, six-rayed, in color rosy-pearl,
Whereof the token was an Elephant
Six-tusked and whiter than Vahuka's milk --
Shot through the void and, shining into her,
Entered her womb upon the right. Awaked,
Bliss beyond mortal mother's filled her breast,
And over half the earth a lovely light
Forewent the morn. The strong hills shook; the waves
Sank lulled; all flowers that blow by day came forth
As 'twere high noon; down to the farthest hells
Passed the Queen's joy, as when warm sunshine thrills
Wood-glooms to gold, and into all the deeps
A tender whisper pierced. "Oh ye," it said,
"The dead that are to live, the live who die,
Uprise, and hear, and hope! Buddha is come!"
Whereat in Limbos numberless much peace
Spread, and the world's heart throbbed, and a wind blew
With unknown freshness over lands and seas.
From Book One
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Light of Asia

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Many versions still in print, here is an online one from Buddha Net:

http://buddhanet.net/pdf_file/lightasia.pdf

Another Buddhist group, BPS, makes Arnold's work available:

https://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh029_Arnold ... f-Asia.pdf
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Light of Asia

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Blavatsky in Oct. of 1879 Theosophist reviewed it with many quoted passages included. HPB & Olcott formally took refuge in May of 1880, although she considered herself a Buddhist for a long time before.

https://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/bcw/bt1b-light.htm
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
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Kusala
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Re: The Light of Asia

Post by Kusala »

The Light of Asia has a special place in my heart. My teacher, who left this earth several years ago, introduced me to this masterpiece...
"He, the Blessed One, is indeed the Noble Lord, the Perfectly Enlightened One;
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods and men; he is Awake and Holy. "

--------------------------------------------
"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise. "
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Light of Asia

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Kusala wrote: Tue Dec 19, 2023 1:33 pm The Light of Asia has a special place in my heart. My teacher, who left this earth several years ago, introduced me to this masterpiece...
Wonderful that you have not only heard of it, but admire Arnold's true masterpiece!
Good and evil have no fixed form. It's as easy to turn from doing bad to doing good as it is to flip over the hand from the back to the palm. It's simply up to us to do it. Master Hsuan Hua.
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