Buddha: His Life, his Doctrine, his Order c8.188

c8.188

Who should be the first to hear the new gospel? Legend makes Buddha think first of all of the two teachers, to whose guidance he had first confided himself as a disciple. If he were to preach his doctrine to them, they would understand him. A deity brings him the intelligence that they are both dead. Perhaps they were really so; in any case the meaning of this touch in the legend is clear. No one could have a higher claim than those two to be the first hearers of the gospel. It would have been ingratitude if Buddha had not made them before all others participators of his self-acquired treasure. But no one knew anything of his having done so: and others were known to be or said to be the first converts. These two were therefore represented as being no longer alive when Buddha began to preach his doctrine.