The Religions of India c19.173

c19.173

Thus in the *Mahāparinibbāna* casual allusion is made to assemblies of men and of angels (divine beings), of the great thirty-three gods, Death the Evil One and Brahmā (iii. 21). Buddha, as we have said, does not deny the existence of spiritual beings; he denies only their power to affect the perfect man and their controlling part in the universe. In the same sermon the refuge of the disciple is declared to be truth and himself (ii. 33) : “Be ye lamps unto yourselves. Betake yourselves to no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as to a lamp.”