- Points of Controversy
18.1 Of the Buddha and this World
Controverted Point: That it is not right to say āThe Exalted Buddha lived in the world of mankindā.
TheravÄdin: But are there not shrines, parks, settlements, villages, towns, kingdoms, countries mentioned by the Buddha? And was he not born at LumbinÄ«, super-enlightened under the Bodhi tree? Was not the Norm-wheel set rolling by him at Benares? Did he not renounce the will to live at the ChÄpÄla shrine? Did he not complete existence at KusinÄrÄ?
Moreover, was it not said by the Exalted One:
āBhikkhus, I was once staying at Ukkaį¹į¹hÄ in the Subhaga Wood by the King's-SÄl Tree ā¦ I was once staying at UruvelÄ by the Goatherds' Banyan before I was super-enlightened ā¦ I was once staying at RÄjagaha in the Bamboo Wood at the Squirrels' Feeding-ground ā¦ I was once staying at SÄvatthÄ« in Jeta's Wood, AnÄthapiį¹įøaka's Park ā¦ I was once staying at VesÄlÄ« in the Great Wood at the Gable House Hallā?
Surely then the Exalted Buddha lived among men.
Vetulyaka: But did not the Exalted One say,
āborn in the world, enlightened in the world, live, having overcome the world, undefiled by the worldā?
Hence it is surely not right to say āThe Exalted Buddha lived in the world of mankindā.