A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t1.150
A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t1.150
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v2.c19.s3.t1.150
To the question of a village elder as to why the Buddha, though said to be benevolent and compassionate towards all beings, yet preaches his religion thoroughly to some, but less thoroughly to others, he answers with the parable: As the peasant first cultivates the good field, then the moderately good one, and finally the bad one, so the Buddha preaches his doctrine first to the monks and nuns, then to the lay-adherents and only last of all to the non-adherents.¹