[Buddha-l] Fw: [RISA-L] Buddhist Story: Source?

[Bradley Clough]

I'm afraid this may well remain an "unsolved mystery". I have been 
trying to track down the original source of this for years with no 
luck. It seems it appears in many secondary sources like Dhammanada and 
Conze, as Ngawang Dorje alerted us to, but nowhere is the primary 
source given. Recent posts to the experts on both Buddha-L and 
H-Buddhism have also turned up nothing.

Brad Clough
The American University in Cairo
bclough at aucegypt.edu


On Dec 3, 2006, at 7:15 AM, jkirk wrote:

> Jeffery Long asked me to post this on the list. Hopes someone here can 
> solve the mystery.
> He is also about to join I think.
> Joanna
> =================================
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeffery D Long" <longjd at etown.edu>
> To: "RISA Academic Discussion List" <risa-l at lists.sandiego.edu>
> Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 5:34 PM
> Subject: [RISA-L] Buddhist Story: Source?
>
>
>> Dear RISA-jana,
>>
>> Do any of you know the source of the following story?  An English lit.
>> friend of mine is looking for it:
>>
>> The Buddha is walking along a river one day when he meets an aged 
>> yogi who
>> is sitting on the bank.  The yogi shows his respect and says, 
>> "Enlightened
>> one, I have spent 25 years in fervent meditation and at last I have
>> succeeded in walking upon water so that I can walk dry-shod across the
>> river."  The Buddha thinks about this for a few minutes, and finally
>> commends the yogi, noting that his dedication is admirable, but that 
>> there
>> is a perfectly serviceable bridge 100 yards downstream.
>>
>> I seem to recall that this is from the Pali canon, but I can't recall 
>> where,
>> and have not been able to locate it.  It may not even be authentic.  
>> But if
>> anyone knows, I would be most grateful for the information.
>>
>> Jeff Long
>>
>> Dr. Jeffery D. Long
>> Associate Professor of Religion and Asian Studies
>> Chair, Department of Religious Studies
>> Elizabethtown College
>> Elizabethtown, PA  17022
>>
>> "One who makes a habit of meditation will easily overcome all 
>> difficulties
>> and remain calm and unruffled in the midst of the trials of life." 
>> (Holy
>> Mother Sharada Devi)
>>
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>>
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