"8. Reverence and humility, contentment and gratefulness, the
hearing of the law in the right time: this is the greatest
blessing.

"9. Patience and mild speech, the association with those
who have subdued their passions, the holding of religious
discourse in the right time: this is the greatest blessing.

"10. Temperance and charity, the discernment of holy truth, the
perception of Nibbana: this is the greatest blessing.

"11. The mind of any one unshaken by the ways of the world,
exemption from sorrow, freedom from passion, and security:
this is the greatest blessing.

"12. Those who having done these things become invincible on
all sides, attain happiness on all sides: this is the greatest
blessing."

"At another time also Gotama Buddha was discoursing on caste. You know
that the Hindus are divided into the Brahmans, or the priestly
caste, which is the highest; next the Kshatriyas, or the warrior and
statesman caste; next the Vaishyas, or the herdsman and farmer caste;
lastly, the Sudras, or the menial caste. Now, once upon a time the two
youths Vasettha and Bharadvaja had a discussion as to what constitutes
a Brahman. Thus, Vasettha and Bharadvaja went to the place where
Bhagava was, and having approached him were well pleased with him; and
having finished a pleasing and complimentary conversation, they sat
down on one side. Vasettha, who sat down on one side, addressed Buddha
in verse: ...

"3. O Gotama! we have a controversy regarding [the distinctions
of] birth. Thus know, O wise one! the point of difference
between us: Bharadvaja says that a Brahman is such by reason
of his birth.

"4. But I affirm that he is such by reason of his conduct....

"7. Bhagava replied: ...

"53. I call him alone a Brahman who is fearless, eminent,
heroic, a great sage, a conqueror, freed from attachments--one
who has bathed in the waters of wisdom, and is a Buddha.

"54. I call him alone a Brahman who knows his former abode, who
sees both heaven and hell, and has reached the extinction of
births.

"55. What is called 'name' or 'tribe' in the world arises from
usage only. It is adopted here and there by common consent.

"56. It comes from long and uninterrupted usage, and from the
false belief of the ignorant. Hence the ignorant assert that a
Brahman is such from birth.

"57. One is not a