[Buddha-l] Fw: [RISA-L] Buddhist Story: Source?

[Ngawang Dorje]

Hi,
   
  I first encountered this story in, "What Buddhist Believe" by Ven Dr. K Sri Dhammananda.
  http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/dhammananda/
   
  In the chapter, Miraculous Power, Ven Dhammananda wrote:
   
  "The following story illustrates the Buddha's attitude towards miraculous powers. One day the Buddha met an ascetic who sat by the bank of a river. This ascetic had practised austerities for 25 years. The Buddha asked him what he had received for all his labour. The ascetic proudly replied that, now at last, he could cross the river by walking on the water. The Buddha pointed out that this gain was insignificant for all the years of labour, since he could cross the river using a ferry for one penny! "
  http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/dhammananda/31.htm
   
  Unfortunately, Ven Dhammananda did not provide any reference for the story.
   
  It also appears in, "BUDDHISM: It's Essence and Development" by Edward Conze (pp 104-5):
   
  "One day the Buddha met an ascetic who sat by the bank of a river. This ascetic had practised austerities for 25 years. The Buddha asked him what he had received for all his labor. The ascetic proudly replied that, now at last, he could cross the river by walking on the water. The Buddha pointed out that this gain was insignificant for all the years of labor, since he could cross the river using a ferry for one penny!"
   
  I am not sure whether Conze provided any reference.

  Best wishes,
  Rahula
  
jkirk <jkirk at spro.net> wrote:
  Jeffery Long asked me to post this on the list. Hopes someone here can solve 
the mystery.
He is also about to join I think.
Joanna
=================================
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeffery D Long" 
To: "RISA Academic Discussion List" 
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 5:34 PM
Subject: [RISA-L] Buddhist Story: Source?


> Dear RISA-jana,
>
> Do any of you know the source of the following story? An English lit.
> friend of mine is looking for it:
>
> The Buddha is walking along a river one day when he meets an aged yogi who
> is sitting on the bank. The yogi shows his respect and says, "Enlightened
> one, I have spent 25 years in fervent meditation and at last I have
> succeeded in walking upon water so that I can walk dry-shod across the
> river." The Buddha thinks about this for a few minutes, and finally
> commends the yogi, noting that his dedication is admirable, but that there
> is a perfectly serviceable bridge 100 yards downstream.
>
> I seem to recall that this is from the Pali canon, but I can't recall 
> where,
> and have not been able to locate it. It may not even be authentic. But 
> if
> anyone knows, I would be most grateful for the information.
>
> Jeff Long
>
> Dr. Jeffery D. Long
> Associate Professor of Religion and Asian Studies
> Chair, Department of Religious Studies
> Elizabethtown College
> Elizabethtown, PA 17022
>
> "One who makes a habit of meditation will easily overcome all difficulties
> and remain calm and unruffled in the midst of the trials of life." (Holy
> Mother Sharada Devi)
>
> _______________________________________________
> RISA-L mailing list
> RISA-L at lists.sandiego.edu
> http://lists.sandiego.edu/mailman/listinfo/risa-l
>
>

 
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