FIRST SCENE

[A room in the Jetavana. The wheel of the law pictured on one side and the wheel of becoming on the other. Otherwise swastikas and lotus flowers serve as ornaments. A large opening exhibits a view into a garden with running water. On the right side there is a platform with low seats, on the other there is a low table with a divan, on which Anatha Pindika is seated, looking over palmleaf manuscripts.]

Present: ANATHA PINDIKA (A); Servant (St.); PRINCE JETA (J);
later on KALA UDAYIN (K) and the BUDDHA (B).

A servant enters.

St. His Highness the Prince Jeta.

A. Show him in.

JETA enters. A. rises to meet him with bows.

You are most welcome, my Prince.

J. I have come from my brother, the King, to express to you his thanks for having bought my pleasure grounds for the noble and great purpose of affording a worthy resthouse to the Buddha and his brotherhood.

A. Kindly tender my gratitude to your royal brother for his gracious message.

J. I hear that King Bimbisara has sent an embassy to the Buddha to induce him to come back to Rajagaha. Has the Buddha received these men?

A. Not yet. He will see them this morning.

J. We ought to keep him here. He is a wonderful man, and I consider our city fortunate to have him reside with us. What astonishes me is his way of conquering the hearts of all men, even of his opponents, and he is so sensible.

A. What do you mean?

J. I am not a religious man; I am too worldly, but him I would follow.

A. Why?

J. He is perhaps the only religious reformer who does not go to extremes. He rejects on the one hand austerities, self-mortifications, penances, and severe fasts as useless, and on the other hand, he would not allow his followers to indulge in pleasures; but he insists most sensibly on keeping between the two extremes and proclaims the middle path of leading a righteous life. There is nothing absurd about him. Think of Devadatta. He insists that the monks should dress in rags picked up in cemeteries. The Buddha appeals to common sense, and therefore I say, he is a wonderful man.

A. He is more than a man; he is enlightenment incarnate.

A stream of blessings goes out from him.

J. He has grown into an international power, and kings do well not to ignore his influence.

A. I think so myself, and I am so glad that his influence is always for good, never for evil, and his ways are so marvelously gentle.

J. Indeed that is a blessing. If he were not so absolutely indifferent to his own affairs he might become positively dangerous. His lay disciples count in thousands of thousands. The farmers in the country, the merchants in the towns, the lawyers, the artisans, and even the soldiers believe in him. Lately General Siha became a lay member of the Buddha’s brotherhood, and many other prominent officers followed his example.

A. He would never have gained this influence if he were not truly the Buddha.

J. I want to tell you that a war is threatening, but please do not speak of it, it is a deep secret. A spy in the secret service of my royal brother has found out that King Bimbisara intends to fall upon the Sakyas and deprive them of their independence. The Brahman Visakha, minister of state, has turned traitor and promises to deliver his country into the hands of King Bimbisara on the condition that he be made Raja in Suddhodana’s place.

A. The country of the Sakyas is but small, and their independence will not last long; it is a mere question of time.

J. But consider that the Buddha hails from Kapilavatthu. He is the son of Suddhodana, the Sakya raja.

A. Indeed he is and may I be permitted to inform him of the danger that threatens his father’s house?

J. I give you full liberty, for he will use discretion and not betray his informant. I deem Bimbisara’s plan dangerous to himself. A war with the Sakyas may cost Bimbisara his throne, for the people of Rajagaha believe in the Buddha, and I learn that even now the war rumors have made them restless.

Servant (St.) enters.

St. Here is a man with the name Kala Udayin, who has a message for the Blessed One.

A. Show him in.

J. I leave you now and hope that you will keep the Buddha as long as possible in Savatthi.

Exit.

KALA UDAYIN enters and bows to ANATHA PINDIKA.

A. You want to see the Blessed One? I will call him.

ANATHA PINDIKA exit.

K. [Alone] This is the place where Prince Siddhattha lives! Indeed a most delightful spot and more pleasant than many a royal palace. And how the people speak of him! They call him the Blessed One, the Buddha, the Tathagata, the Sakyamuni, the great Sage. The wealthiest man of Kosala has bought these extensive and most beautiful grounds and presented them to the brotherhood of his disciples, so that the Buddha would stay here from time to time, and that the people of the city would have him for their guest.

BUDDHA accompanied by ANATHA PINDIKA comes in. He is followed by two disciples. The BUDDHA sits down on the seat on the platform, having on either hand one of his disciples. ANATHA PINDIKA stands below with clasped hands.

KALA UDAYIN sinks to his knees with clasped hands.

B. My friend, what brings you here?

K. A message from your royal father: He bade me tell you that he is growing old, and before he dies, he wants to see his son once more. Would you deign to accept his invitation?

B. Tell me, my friend, how is my father? Is old age truly telling on him?

K. Not yet so visibly, but he worries much.

B. And how is Rahula? He is now seven years old and must be quite a boy.

K. He is, my Lord; and how he talks of his father. He knows everything you are doing.

B. Who tells him?

K. His mother does.

B. And tell me how the princess fares?

K. She imposes upon herself the observances which the mendicant friars keep. She will have no preference over him who once was her husband. She sleeps on the floor, she does no longer use unguents or perfumes. She wears a simple yellow robe and observes the regulation of the brotherhood in taking food.

The BUDDHA nods and with a distant look sits a few moments
in silence.

B. And she is a good mother?

K. There could be no better.

St. [announces] An embassy of the most potent King of Magadha, the great Bimbisara.

B. [Addressing himself to the servant] Let them come in, [turning to K.] Kala Udayin, bring my father greetings, and say that I shall come.

KALA UDAYIN exit.

A number of men, the embassy of King BIMBISARA, led by NAGADEVA, most gorgeously dressed, file in. They let themselves down on one knee, clasp their hands and rise again.

N. Most gracious Lord, all-wise and blessed Buddha,
Our noble sov’reign bids me tender you
His most respectful greetings, and he hopes
That you return and visit Rajagaha,
For he is very anxious to be honored
By your auspicious presence in his kingdom.

B. My Lords, express to your most mighty King
That the Tathagata can not accept
This friendly invitation, for he will
Start for his home, the country of the Sakyas,
To see his aged father and his kin.
If war or other ills befall his people,
He wants to live, if need be, die with them.

N. Lord Buddha, speak a word of truth to us,
For I’m aware thou art omniscient.
Our royal master wants to hear from thee.

B. All bodily existence passeth by
For it is compound and will be dissolved;
But there is Law; it is the Uncreate,
It is th’ Etern, which is without beginning
And without end. That must our refuge be.
He who relies on the Impermanent,
And, being strong, attempts to crush the weak,
Will soon break down. This is the law of deeds,
For as we sow, such will our harvest be.
Rely on Truth, the Uncreate, th’ Etern,
Be guided by the rule of Righteousness.
This is my message to the King, your Lord,
And may he be advised to rule his country
With love of peace, with goodness, and with wisdom.
My blessing be on him and on his people.

They kneel, clasp their hands, circumambulate the BUDDHA and
file out.

JETA returns in excitement.

J. The war is on! King Bimbisara’s army Is building bridges to attack the Sakyas.

[CURTAIN. Trumpet signals, military music.]

FOURTH INTERLUDE.

Living Pictures Accompanied by Appropriate Music.

1. KING BIMBISARA ON THE ROYAL ELEPHANT.

The king is seated under a canopy, together with his minister and field marshal. On the head of the elephant, the driver; and retinue on either side.

2. THE WANDERER.

The Buddha was in the habit of wandering through the country from place to place.

The picture shows him with a staff in his right hand and a bowl in his left in an Indian landscape.

3. KING BIMBISARA IN CAMP.

Standing before the royal tent he addresses his generals.