[Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms by Fa-Hsien]@TWC D-Link bookRecord of Buddhistic Kingdoms CHAPTER VI 3/5
30.
I am myself in more than doubt on the point. Cunningham ("Ancient Geography of India," p.
82) says "Darel is a valley on the right or western bank of the Indus, now occupied by Dardus or Dards, from whom it received its name." But as I read our narrative, Fa-Hsien is here on the eastern bank of the Indus, and only crosses to the western bank as described in the next chapter. (2) Lo-han, Arhat, Arahat, are all designations of the perfected Arya, the disciple who has passed the different stages of the Noble Path, or eightfold excellent way, who has conquered all passions, and is not to be reborn again.
Arhatship implies possession of certain supernatural powers, and is not to be succeeded by Buddhaship, but implies the fact of the saint having already attained nirvana.
Popularly, the Chinese designate by this name the wider circle of Buddha's disciples, as well as the smaller ones of 500 and 18.
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