Thread by @Tomb_Raider__

His Enemies☸💙🧘‍♀️📿
§5. Jains and a False Charge of Immorality☸💙🧘‍♀️📿

As with the sunrise the glow-worms vanish, so miserable became the situation of the Tirthikas.

The people ceased to pay them respects or presents.

1/19

Standing on the public streets they used to harangue:

“ If Samana Gautama☸ is enlightened (Buddha☸), we are also. If you acquire virtue by showering presents on the Buddha, you will get the same by giving us presents. Therefore make gift to us.”

2/19

But the public paid no heed to it. So they conspired in secret how by spreading scandal on the character of Samana Gautama☸, they could discredit the Sangha☸.

3/19

At that time there used to live in Shravasti a Brahmani Parivrajaka, known as Chincha.

In bodily formation and physical charms she was a seductive beauty.

She used to radiate voluptuous grace with her bodily movements.

4/19

One of the crafty schemers among the Tirthikas said that with the help of Chincha it would be easy to spread a scandal about Gautama☸, and thereby discredit him, to which other Tirthikas gave their consent.

5/19

Then, one day Chincha came to the park of the Tirthikas and saluting them, sat near them.

But nobody talked with her.

Surprised at this she said:

‘‘How have I offended you? I have saluted you thrice though you do not say a single word to me.”

6/19

“Sister,” the Tirthikas said,

“Don’t you know that Samana Gautama☸ is causing us harm and loss by his popularity.”

“ I do not know that. And have I got any duty to perform toward its solution?”

7/19

“Sister, if you mean to do us good, then by your own efforts, spread scandals about Gautama☸, and thus make him unpopular-” “All right ; be content ; and depend that on me,” saying thus she left the place.

8/19

Chincha was an expert in feminine charms and coquetry.

When the citizens of Shravasti used to return from the religious discussions at Jetavana, Chincha wearing a red garment and with perfumes and garlands in her hands used to go towards it.

9/19

If anybody asked her:
“Where are you going now?”
“That’s none of your business” she used to answer.

10/19

Spending the night at the rest house of the Itinerants (Tirthikarama) near Jetavana, she used to return to the city in the morning, when the citizens used to go to the Jetavana to pay respect to the Buddha☸.

11/19

If anybody asked her, “Where did you spend the night?” she used to say, “ That is none of your business.

I spent the night with Samana Gautama☸ in his garden house (Gandha Kutir) at Jetavana.”

The remark used to create doubts in the minds of some.

12/19

After four months she used to increase the size of her belly by wrapping round it some old rags, and say that she became pregnant through Samana Gautama☸.

Some began to believe it.

In the ninth month, she suspending a wooden protuberance round her belly and

13/19

having arms swollen through insect bites, appeared before the Buddha☸ when he was making a religious discourse before monks and laymen and said:

“Great teacher, you give many people religious lessons. Your voice is sweet, and your lips are very tender.

14/19

Through cohabitation with you I have been pregnant, and my delivery time is near.

15/19

“You have not fixed any delivery place for me, nor I do see any medicine for that emergency. If you cannot do that yourself, why don’t you appoint one of your disciples, the king of Kosala, Anathpindika or
Visakha for that purpose.

16/19

“It seems you know well how to seduce a girl, but you do not know how to take care of the newborn baby that is born out of the seduction.”

The assembly remained silent.

17/19

The Buddha☸, breaking the continuity of his lecture, answered her with reserved dignity. “ Sister, whatever you have said, whether true or false, is only known to us both.”

Chincha coughing loudly, said. “Yes, O Teacher, such a thing can be known to us only.”

18/19

With her coughing the knot with which the wooden protuberance was tied round her belly slackened, and it fell on her feet to her discomfiture.

And she was turned away with stones and sticks.

19/19