The Pilgrim Kamanita · Chapter
Night and Morning in the Spheres explained
Kamanita, alone in the universal night, reflects on the Buddha's teachings and chooses the path to the eternal over becoming the hundred-thousandfold Brahma.
What happens
Kamanita, alone in the universal night, reflects on the Buddha's teachings and chooses the path to the eternal over becoming the hundred-thousandfold Brahma. As a new Brahma world dawns, he pities the gods who rejoice in ignorance, and his light fades until he extinguishes completely, attaining nirvana.
Themes in this chapter
The Nature of Nirvana
Kamanita chooses the eternal path to the untraversed land, rejecting the temporal Brahma existence, and extinguishes like a lamp, symbolizing the attainment of nirvana.
Compassion and Mercy
Kamanita feels deep pity for the gods and Brahma who rejoice in ignorance, and hopes his departure will aid their future salvation, showing compassion for all beings.
Illusion and Reality
The Brahma world and its glory are portrayed as transient and illusory, while the eternal path Kamanita follows is the true reality beyond the cycle of creation.
Characters to notice
- Kamanita
Alone in the universal night, Kamanita recalls the Master's discourse, rejects the Brahma existence, and resolves to tread the path to the eternal, ultimately going out like a lamp.
- The Master
The conversation with the Master in the potter's house at Rajagriha is recalled by Kamanita, guiding his thoughts toward nirvana.
- Vasitthi
Kamanita reflects that Vasitthi has passed away without leaving seed of existence, and that life without her is meaningless, motivating his choice of the eternal.
- Brahma
The hundred-thousandfold Brahma appears, summons the new universe, and tries to illuminate Kamanita, but fails, leading to his own anxiety and doubt about omnipotence.
Key passages
“And this pity of his with the world, with the gods, and with the supreme god, vanquished in Kamanita the last remnant of his self-love.”
His compassion for all beings, including the gods and Brahma, overcame the final trace of selfishness within him.
Highlights Kamanita's selfless compassion as a key step toward nirvana.
“But one thing I could not do—I could never again call Vasitthi into being. Vasitthi has gone, in that passing away which leaves no seed of existence behind; neither god nor Brahma can find her.”
He realized that even as Brahma he could not recreate Vasitthi, who had attained a final liberation beyond all rebirth.
Shows Kamanita's motivation to seek the eternal rather than temporal power.
“And while in immeasurable space, worlds upon worlds flashed and shouted as they pressed forward into the new Brahma day, the pilgrim Kamanita went out quite, as a lamp goes out when it has consumed the last drop of oil in its wick.”
As the new universe blazed into existence, Kamanita's light faded completely, like a lamp that has used up all its fuel.
Symbolizes Kamanita's final attainment of nirvana, the extinguishing of all desire and suffering.