SUMEDHA, the wise man inherited a vast fortune from his parents
who left them upon their deaths. Realizing the unsatisfactoriness
he gave away his fortune and became an ascetic in the forest. He
soon gained mastery in meditation and was well known for his
supernormal powers.
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When ascetic Sumedha knew of the coming of Dipankara Buddha to the
city of Rammavati, he took part in preparing the road for the
Buddha. He was still repairing it when the Buddha arrived but he
was determined to complete it by prostrating himself into the muddy
hollow, in fulfillment of his vow to become a Buddha. Beside him
was a young lady named Sumitta bearing eight stalks of lotus
flowers. She gave the Ascetic five stalks and kept for herself
three stalks for her own aspiration. When the Buddha Dipankara saw
this, He omnisciently declared the Ascetic Sumedha a future Buddha,
while He stated that the aspiring young lady Sumitta would be his
constant companion and helpmate.
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The Devas (Gods) imploring the Bodhisatta Santussita Deva (whose
real name was Setaketu) in Tusita heaven to be reborn on earth to
become a Buddha. He accepted their request after viewing the Five
Great Considerations (Panca Maha Vilokana); which are appropriate
time, Island-continent, country, clan and life-span of
mother.
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At Lumbini Park in Nepal, on Vesakha Full Moon Day, the newly born
Prince walked seven steps on the lotus flowers and pointing to the
North said, “AGGOHAM ASMI LOKASSA” meaning “Chief Am I in this
world”. The birth of this baby Prince brought great joy to his
royal parents, King Suddhodana and Queen Maha Maya as well as all
beings!
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The marriage of Prince Siddhattha and Princess Yasodhara (whose
real name was BaddaCancana ) took place at the Golden Palace which
was presented by his father, King Suddhodana. It was a luxurious
palace full of comforts of life . The celebration lasted many
days.
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During his visit to the Royal park, Prince Siddhattha saw the Four
Great Signs, namely — an old man, a sick man, a corpse and a serene
mendicant. These made the Prince to realize the unsatisfactoriness
of life and urged him to ponder deeply about renunciation.
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Mara (the Evil One), with his host tried without success to prevent
Prince Siddhattha from his Great Renunciation at midnight . Prince
Siddhattha was riding on Kanthaka his favourite stallion and
followed by Channa his loyal charioteer. Mara said that if the
prince did not proceed on his renunciation, he would become a
Universal Monarch on the seventh day.
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Prince Siddhattha cut off his hair to renounce the worldly life at
the bank of the Anoma River. Ghatikara Maha Brahma presented the
Monk’s Eight Requisites to Ascetic Siddhattha, who commanded his
charioteer Channa to take his royal chattels back to the
palace.
His hair was received by Sakka, King of Gods and enshirned in
CULAMANI CETI (pagoda) in his celestial abode in TAVATIMSA.
Similarly, Ghatikara Maha Brahma bore his princely clothes to his
higher celestial abode, Akanittha and enshrined them in the pagoda
known as DUSSA CETI.
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The ascetic Bodhisatta spent six years practising austerity and
meditation with steadfastness as well as earnestness, prior to his
attainment. Even though he was reduced to a mere skeleton, he did
not give up practising.
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The Bodhisatta was sitting on a Golden Throne under a Bodhi tree
and being challenged by Mara (the Evil One) riding on the ferocious
elephant Girimekhala. Mara with host tried to capture the Golen
Throne just before the Bodhistta’s Enlightenment.
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On Vesakha Full Moon day, Bodhisatta Siddhattha seated under a
Bodhi tree at Gaya, attained Supreme Enlightement. On the first
watch of the night he gained knowledge by which He remembered past
lives. On the second watch of the night he was able to see into the
future including the birth and death of other beings. On the third
watch of the night, He destroyed all defilements and became a Fully
Enlightened One (Samma-Sambuddha).
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It was in the final week (7th week) after his Enlightenment, when
the two merchant brothers Tapussa and Bhallika from Ukkalapa passed
by the spot and saw the Buddha. They offered the Buddha their own
provision; then the Buddha gave eight strands of hairs from His
head for them to worship as sacred objects of veneration.The hair
relics are now enshrined in the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon,
Myanmar.
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At the Deer Park at Varanasi, the Buddha met the five ascetics,
Kondanna, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama and Assaji all of whom He had
known before .He delivered His first sermon to them. It is called
the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta which sets the wheel of the Dhamma
in motion. The ascetic Kondanna who was at His childhood
Name-giving Ceremony became the first to see light in the Dhamma
and attained Sotapanna, the first stage of Sainhood.
Later, all attained Arahantship after hearing the Anatalakkhana
Sutta (the Discourse which deals with No-Self)
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The Buddha exhorted His first sixty Arahant disciples to go forth
in different directions to preach the Doctrine, using these famous
words: – “Go ye, 0 bhikkhus and wander forth for the gain of many,
for the welfare of the many, in compassion for the world, for the
good, for the gain, for the welfare of the Devas (Gods) and men .
Proclaim ye, 0 Bhikkhus! The Doctrine that is glorious and preach
ye a life of holiness, perfect and pure!”
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When the Bodhisatta visited Rajagaha, the capital of Magadha, King
Bimbisara offered his Kingdom to the Bodhisatta. But He did not
accept it because of the worldly pleasures. After listening to the
preaching of Buddha, the King attained the first stage of Sainthood
(Sotapanna). He then dedicated his Royal park known as Veluvana
(Bamboo Grove) to the Buddha and His disciples.
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The Buddha performed the Twin Miracles of emitting fire and water
simultaneously from His body, to subdue the pride of his older
relatives who had erroneously thought that the Buddha being the
younger would have to show respects to them.
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On the seventh day after his arrival in Kapilavatthu, Princess
Yasodhara dressed up Prince Rahula and pointing to the Buddha said,
“Behold, son, the great Ascetic of majestic appearance is your
father. Go up to him and ask for your inheritance!”
As advised by his mother, young Rahula came to His presence and
asked for his inheritance. Instead, the Buddha told Venerable
Sariputta to ordain Prince Rahula , giving him a spiritual
inheritance better than the one he asked for.
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During a subsequent visit to Rajagaha City, the Buddha went for
alms-round in the company of His Chief Disciples and other monks.
Along the way King Bimbisara and his royal family paid repects to
the Buddha and His disciples.
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The Buddha delivering a sermon of peace to two powerful warning
armies of Kapilavatthu and Koliya at the opposite banks of the
Rohini river before the two countries started fighting for the
water supply of the river, for pastoral use.
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The Order of Nuns (Bhikkhuni Sasana) was founded in the fifth year
of the Buddha’s Enlightenment. After the death of King Suddhodana,
Maha Pajapati Gotami , who was His former foster mother desirous of
joining the Order, approached the Buddha who was then, residing at
Kapilavathu and begged permission for women to be admitted into the
Order. After hearing and turning down their pleas, Buddha returned
to Vesali for the Rains Retreat . Undaunted by the rebuff, Maha
Pajapati Gotami cut off her hair and wearing yellow garments went
on foot to Vesali, accompanied by many other Sakyan ladies. They
stood outside the porch of the Pinnacled Great Hall in Mahayana
where the Buddha was residing. Interceded by Venerable Ananda , the
Buddha finally consented to establish the Bhikkhuni Sasana when
Maha Pajapati Gotami and other Sakyan ladies agreed to observe the
Eight Disciplinary Rules for nuns. Henceforth Maha Pajapati Gotami
and other Sakyan ladies were admitted into the Order.
Later, the Nuns Khema and Uppalavanna were appointed the two Chief
female Disciples; as were Sariputta and Moggalana the two Chief
Male Disciples.
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After losing in lively debate, the haughty hermit Saccaka refused
to answer accordingly when the Buddha asked a question. Only when
he was threatened to be beaten up by a celestial demon for
arrogance, only then did he finally realize his own folly and
listened to the Buddha’s preaching meekly. This wholesome action of
his would augur well for his future.
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On the seventh year after His Enlightenment, the Buddha preached
the Abhidhamma (higher Doctrine) in Tavatimsa Heaven. As a
fulfillment of gratitude to his former mother, now a Santussita
deva, the Buddha then delivered a sermon on the Higher Doctrine to
thousands of Devas (Gods) and Brahmas (higher celestial beings) who
attained the various stages of Noble Sainthood.
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The non Buddhist sectarians grudgingly wanted to ruin the Buddha’s
reputation. They told Cinca Manvika , a beautiful girl to falsely
accuse the Buddha for her shamed, pregnancy in a big and august
assembly. King of Devas (Gods) dispatched some Deities disguised as
mice to gnaw through the strings holding a block of wood under her
garment. Her plot was exposed when the wood fell on her feet. When
the people saw that, they threw stones and chased her away. As she
was walking away, the earth spilt open and a flame sprang up to
envelop and drag her down to Avici (deepest and worst) Hell.
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On the sixteenth year of His Enlightment, the Buddha tamed the
carnivorous Demon King , Alavaka who feasted on human flesh, to
give up his habit on devouring at least one human being everyday.
After hearing the Buddha’s Teaching, he henceforth gave up his
habit, thus sparing the small child offered to him as food on that
day.
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There was a young harmless student at TAKKASILA University called
Ahimsa. His jealous fellow students poisoned the mind of their
teacher against him. As a result the teacher asked Ahimsa for a
garland of one thousand right index fingers as tuition fee. Eager
to discharge his obligation, he went into the Jalini forest in
Kosala and started to waylay the passing travellers to collect an
index finger from the right hand of each victim. The garland was
almost completed except for one more single finger. Ahimsa decided
to kill even his own mother for the sake of completing the one
thousandth finger in the garland. However, Ahimsa was intercepted
by the Compassionate Buddha who came to his aid. After listening to
His preaching and being convinced, Ahimsa now known as Angulimala
(garland of fingers ) joined the Sangha and became a Bhikkhu (monk)
. The Angulimala Sutta, a discourse ascribed to this Thera
(elder/monk) and connected to this event, is well-known in Buddhist
countries and often used by pregnant ladies in travail for easy and
safe delivery.
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Once the Buddha and His Disciples went to Lake Anotatta passing by
the mansion of Nandopananda the dragon king who was enjoying
himself with his retinue. Angry at the apparent trespassing,
Nandopananda coiled itself seven times round Mount Meru, covered
the summit with its hood and spewing hot poisonous smoke to prevent
the Buddha and his disciples from reaching lake Anotatta. Thereupon
Maha Moggalana, (the second Chief Disciple) at once transformed
himself into a dragon and likewise coiled round the mountain,
crushing Nandopananda. Watched by the Buddha and His disciples,
Maha Moggalana too began spewing hot poisonous smoke which greatly
distressed Nandopananda who soon lost the challenge and upon
realization of his folly, sought refuge in the Triple Gem of
Buddhism.
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The Buddha taking care of a sick monk, named Tissa who had been
neglected by his unthoughtful fellow monks. By so doing, the Buddha
wanted to foster mutual care and welfare amongst the Bhikkhus as
well as others.
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Baka Brahma, who was bitten by the snake of tenacious heresay (in
believing that the Brahma Loka is the best and everlasting world in
existence) , was duly defeated by the Buddha in a mutual contest to
show power. On hearing the Buddha’s profound expounding of the
Dhamma (Buddhist Doctrine), he became enlightened along with many
other Brahmas (higher celestial beings)
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When the Buddha was on his way to the city of Rajagaha, Devadatta
ordered the release of the fierce elephant, Nalagiri, to harm Him.
As the elephant charged towards the Buddha, everyone ran away
leaving a mother and her baby on the ground. The Buddha radiated
His infinite Compassion to calm and subdued the elephant before it
could trample the helpless baby.
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1. The Buddha at Kusinara laid himself between two Sal trees with
his head to the North, determined not to rise again. He them
delivered his last admonition, “Behold, 0 Disciples! I exhort you !
Subject to change are all component things! Strive on with
Diligence !” before He entered Maha parinibbana (attainment of
Final Emancipation).
2. Dona , the Brahman divided the Buddha’s relics into eight equal
portions and distributed each of them to the Rulers of the eight
countries. Then Dona decided that the golden container be kept for
himself as an object of respectful veneration.
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* Courtesy of Dhammikarama
Burmese Buddhist Temple, Penang, Malaysia