Buddhaflowers inspirational tales

Post sayings or stories from Buddhist traditions which you find interesting, inspiring or useful. (Your own stories are welcome on DW, but in the Creative Writing or Personal Experience forums rather than here.)
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buddhaflower
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Angel Khallatiya

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear Members,

I watched this cute story @ YouTube. I like it very much and I would like to share with you all.

********
Angel Khallatiya,

Once upon a time, a merchant and his crews was sailing his cargo-ship across the ocean. Suddenly they saw a beautiful celestial castle, they anchored the ship near the castle. Inside the castle they saw a pretty angel with beautiful long black hair sitting there all alone.

The angel told the merchant and his crews not to come close because she had no clothes on. The merchant wanted to offer her precious Kasi-clothes; but she denied the offer, saying that it was because of her past evil deeds, she only had to cover her body with her long black hair. However, she suggested that the merchant give the clothes to a Buddhist devotee upasaka and ask him to donate merits to her; only then she could receive the merits.

It happened that there was a crew on board who truly devoted to the Buddha, so the merchant did what the naked angel had advised. Then, like a miracle, the angel appeared to them with devine clothes, so stunningly beautiful! The angel then entrusted the merchant to pay homage to the Buddha, and to give some of her merit-devine-clothes, water, jewel and rice to the Buddha when they sailed back to Savatthi.

After the long voyage, the merchant and his crews went to pay homage to the Buddha at Jetavanaram. They told him the strange event about the naked angel and her celestial castle in the middle of the ocean. The merchant gave the angel's devine gifts to the Buddha and asked him about her past evil deeds.

Khallitiya's past life:

Once she was born in Benares. Her beauty and pretty long black hair made her famous throughout the land. People made her a beauty queen with duty of carrying big bouquet of flowers in special ceremony events. One day, her best friend who secretly envied her so much, put poison herbs on her hair that caused her baldness. She was so ashamed of her look and ran away to a new town where she sold sesame-oil for a living. She was so poor that she did anything she could to make money. For example, she sold alcohol beverages to townsmen and stole their money, jewelry and clothes (left them naked) while they were drunk. She became richer. Then one day an old bhikkhu came for alms-food near her place. She was so happy to do merits; she gave delicious foods to the bhikkhu and made a wish that she had long beautiful black hair again. After her long life, she was now reborn as this naked angel.

*********** :heart:
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buddhaflower
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The Kind Brahmin

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The Kind Brahmin
[Translated from the Pali by Daw Mya Tin]

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (239) of this book, with reference to a Brahmin.

Once, a Brahmin saw a group of bhikkhus rearranging their robes as they were preparing to enter the city for alms-food. While he was looking, he found that the robes of some of the bhikkhus touched the ground and got wet because of dew on the grass. So he cleared that patch of ground. The next day, he found that as the robes of the bhikkhus touched bare ground, the robes got dirty. So he covered that patch of ground with sand. Then again, he observed that the bhikkhus would sweat when the sun was shining and that they got wet when it was raining. So finally, he built a rest house for the bhikkhus at the place where they gathered before entering the city for alms-food.

When the building was finished, he invited the Buddha and the bhikkhus for alms-food. The Brahmin explained to the Buddha how he had performed this meritorious deed step by step. To him the Buddha replied, "O Brahmin! The wise perform their acts of merit little by little and gradually and constantly they remove the impurities of moral defilements."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse. Little by little, ever and anon, the wise man should remove his moral impurities as a smith blows away the dross of silver.

At the end of the discourse the Brahmin attained Sotapatti Fruition.

********* :heart:
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viniketa
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Re: Angel Khallatiya

Post by viniketa »

Thank you for this beautiful story!

:namaste:
If they can sever like and dislike, along with greed, anger, and delusion, regardless of their difference in nature, they will all accomplish the Buddha Path.. ~ Sutra of Complete Enlightenment
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buddhaflower
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AMBA JATAKA: The Mango Mantra

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AMBA JATAKA: The Mango Mantra
[by NIKHIL at sacred-texts.com]

This story the Buddha told while dwelling in Jetavana, about Devadatta.
Devadatta repudiated his teacher, saying, "I will be Buddha myself, and Gotama
the ascetic is no teacher or monitor of mine!" So, aroused from his mystic
meditation, he made a breach in the Order. Then step by step he proceeded to
Sâvatthi, and outside Jetavana, the earth yawned, and he went down into the hell
Avîci.

Then they were all talking of it in the Hall of Truth:—"Brother, Devadatta
deserted his Teacher, and came to dire destruction, being born to another life
in the deep hell Avîci!" The Master, entering, asked what they spoke of, and
they told him. Said he,—"Not now only, but in former days, as now, Devadatta
deserted his teacher, and came to dire destruction." So saying, he told a story
of the past.

-------

Long ago when Brahmadatta was King of Benares, there was an outbreak of malaria
which claimed thousands of lives. All the members in the family of the King's
chaplain died with the exception of one young son who ran away. The young man
stayed for some years in Takkasila and learned many subjects under the guidance
of a great scholar. Not satisfied with what he learnt, he began travelling all
over the country. He soon came to a small village occupied by so-called low born
people(Candalas). Sage Bodhisatta was living in a hut in the centre of the
village.

The young brahmin watched Bodhisatta selling ripe mangos when it was not the
season for mango fruits. He began spying on him and soon discovered that
Bodhisatta made solitary visits to the forest and standing seven feet away from
a mango tree, recited some mantra and sprinkled water on the tree. As soon as

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the water drops fell on its branches, all the dry leaves fell off from the
branches, fresh green leaves covered the tree and within minutes flowers
appeared too, miraculously grew into ripe mango fruits sweet and luscious, like
fruit divine and gently fell to the ground. After eating a few of those fruits
Bodhisatta carried the rest of the fruits to the village, sold them, and
supported his wife and child from the money he got by selling the mango-fruits.

The young brahmin resolved to learn the mantra from Bodhisatta and joined his
household as a humble servant. As soon as he set eyes on the young brahmin,
Bodhisatta knew that he came to ferret out the mantra from him. He told his wife
that the young man was a cheat and so no mantra would stay with him for long.
But the young man wormed his way into the good wife's heart by helping her in
all the household chores like sweeping the floors and washing the vessels and
clothes. She felt particularly touched by his loyal service when she gave birth
to a baby and was confined to her bed for nearly a month.

She went to Bodhisatta and pleaded with him "This young lad may be a cheat. But
for the loyal service he is rendering us, he deserves to be rewarded. Please
teach him the mantra that can make ripe mangoes appear on mango trees at any
time of the year." Bodhisatta promised to do so. One night Bodhisatta asked for
a foot stool to rest his tired feet. The young man placed Bodhisatta's feet on
his own lap and sat still the entire night so as not to disturb him. Bodhisatta
felt pleased and taught him the mantra. But before the young man left, he gave
him the following warning: "This mantra will earn you great riches and fame. But
if anyone asks you about who taught the mantra to you, you must proudly declare
that a so-called untouchable man was your Guru. But if you give way to the
inexcusable prejudice against chandalas prevalent in our society and do not
acknowledge that I was your Guru, then the mantra will vanish from your mind.
You cannot recall it however hard you may try". The young brahmin said that he
would never be such an ungrateful wretch as to feel ashamed of his Guru's caste
and left the village.

He soon became very rich and famous. He once went to the King's park in Benares
and made ripe mangos appear on a tree. The keeper of the park presented some of
the fruits to the King. The King sent for the young man gave him many gifts and
offered him a post in his own court. Whenever the King wished to eat mangoes,
the young man used to give them to him. One day the King asked him how he was
able to do that. The young man replied that he knew a mantra that could create
mangoes at any time of the year. Surprised, the King asked him who taught that
mantra to him. The King was surrounded by renowned scholars and the young man
thought that they will all look down on him if he tells them that his Guru was a
low born man. So he replied that a great Sanskrit scholar taught him the mantra.

The King ordered him to create some mangos and he took them all to the park. As
usual standing seven feet away from the tree he tried to recite the mantra, but
he could not remember even one syllable. The King waited for half an hour. When
asked what was wrong, the young man tried to bluff his way out by saying that
the planetary positions were not right for the mantra to be effective. Guessing
from the young man's guilty expression that he was not telling the truth, the
King asked him how it was that till then he never said anything about planetary
positions and was supplying him with mango fruits whenever he wished to eat
them. Falling on his knees the young man confessed the truth and told him about
how his Guru warned him that the mantra would vanish the minute he tried to
conceal who his Guru was. The King rebuked the young man for subordinating merit
to caste and banished him from his Kingdom saying he will allow him to come back
only if he seeks his Guru's forgiveness, learns from him the forgotten mantra.

Watching the young man walking towards his hut, Bodhisatta turned to his wife
and said "See, I told you, that scoundrel has no gratitude. He lost the mantra
and is coming back to beg me to teach it to him again. A man who thinks that to
be born in a particular caste is a stigma deserves no kindness" . His wife
agreed with him and Bodhisatta sent away the young man saying that he had only
himself to blame for forgetting the mantra.

The desolate young man aimlessly wandered in the forest for some days and died
wishing that he had been loyal and truthful to his Guru.
------
The Buddha having made an end of this discourse, said, "Not now only, Brother,
has Devadatta denied his teacher, and come to dire destruction;" and so saying,
he identified the Birth: "At that time Devadatta was the ungrateful man, Ânanda
was the king, and I was the low caste man."

******************* :heart:
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buddhaflower
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The Great Mahaa Kaccaayana Thera

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear Friends,

Theragathaas are delightful verses uttered by Theras through sheer exultation
and joy that arise out of their religious devotion and inspiration. These
inspiring verses gush forth from their hearts after their attainment of
Arahantship as an announcement of their achievement and also as a statement of
their effort which has led to their final enlightenment.

The following verses were uttered by Mahaa Kaccaayana Thera. One of the most
eminent disciples of the Buddha, considered chief among expounders in full of
the brief saying of the Buddha, (sankhittena bhaasitassa vitthaarena attham
vibhajantaanam) (A.i.23).

The Great Mahaa Kaccaayana Thera
[Translated from the pali by Daw Mya tin]

He was born at Ujjenii in the family of the chaplain
of King Candappajjota, and was called Kaccaana both because of his golden colour
and because Kaccaana was the name of his gotta. He studied the Vedas, and, on
the death of his father, succeeded him as chaplain. With seven others he visited
the Buddha, at the request of Candappajjota, to invite him to come to Ujjenii.
Kaccaana and his friends listened to the Buddha's sermon, and having attained
arahantship, joined the order. He then conveyed the king's invitation to the
Buddha, who pointed out that it would now suffice if Kaccaana himself returned
to Ujjenii.

Kaccaana accordingly set out for Ujjenii with his seven companions, accepting
alms on the way at the house of a very poor girl of Telappanaali, who later
became Candappajjota's queen. Arrived in Ujjenii, Kaccaana lived in the royal
park, where the king showed him all honour. He preached constantly to the
people, and, attracted by his discourses, numerous persons joined the Order, so
that the whole city was one blaze of orange robes. It is said that after having
duly established the saasanaaa in Avantí, Kaccaana returned once more to the
Buddha. Candappajjota consulted him on various occasions, and among the verses
attributed to him in the Theragaathaa (Thag.vss.494-501), are several addressed
to the king himself.
------------
His Past Life:
It was in the time of Padumuttara Buddha that Kaccaana had made his resolve to
win the eminence he did, after listening to Padumuttara's praise of a monk, also
named Kaccaana, for similar proficiency. Kaccaana was then a vijjaadhara, and
offered the Buddha three kanikaara flowers. In the time of Kassapa Buddha he was
a householder of Benares, and offered a golden brick, worth one hundred
thousand, to the cetiya which was being built over the Buddha's remains, and
then made a vow that in future births his body should be golden (ThagA.i.483f.;
AA.i.117f).
-----------
It is said (DhA.ii.176) that even when Kaccaana was living at Avanti, a long
distance away, he went regularly to hear the Buddha preach, and when the chief
theras took their places in the assembly, they always left room for him. On one
such occasion Sakka showed him great honour, falling at his feet, and the Buddha
explained that this was because Mahaa Kaccaana kept his senses well guarded.

According to tradition, Kaccaana was the author of the Nettippakarana, the
Paa.li grammar bearing his name, and of the Petakopadesa. It is probable that
these works were the compilations of a school, which traced its descent to Maha
Kaccaana.

---------------

Theragaathaapaa.li, 8. A.t.thakanipaata, 1. Mahaakaccaayanattheragaathaa
Thag 8.1 Maha-Kaccana, translated from the Pali by Ven Bhikkhu Bodhi

494. "One should not do much work
One should avoid people,
One should not bustle (to obtain gifts).
One who is eager and greedy for flavors
Misses the goal that entails happiness.

---------------

495. "They knew as a bog this homage and veneration
Obtained among devoted families.
A subtle dart, difficult to extract,
Honor is hard for a vile man to discard.

---------------

496. "It is not on account of another
That a mortal's kamma is evil.
On one's own accord one should not resort to evil,
For mortals have kamma as their kinsmen.

---------------

497. "One is not a thief by another's word,
One is not a sage by another's word;
It is as one knows oneself
That the devas also know one.

---------------

498. "Others do not understand
That we all come to an end here.
But those wise ones who understand this
Thereby settle their quarrels.

---------------

499. "The wise man lives indeed
Even despite the loss of his wealth.
But if one does not obtain wisdom,
Then even though rich one is not alive.

--------------

500. "One hears all with the ear,
One sees all with the eye,
The wise man should not reject
Everything that is seen and heard.

---------------

501. "One with eyes should be as if blind,
One with ears as if deaf,
One with wisdom as if mute,
One with strength as if feeble.
Then, when the goal has been attained,
One may lie upon one's death bed."

*********** :heart:
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buddhaflower
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Deadly Love At First Sight!!

Post by buddhaflower »

Hi All,

This is an amazing story of Theri Bhadda who was ordained by the Buddha himself, and was praised
as an etadagga who attained arahantship fastest among the bhikkhunis.

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Bhadda Kundalakesa: Deadly Love At First Sight!!!
[Translated from Thai Dhammapada, Thai Version by Dr.Sirikanya Sastri]

Bhadda was born into a weathy family in Rajagaha. Her parents loved and
protected her. One day, Bhadda was looking out her window and saw a thief being
led to the place of execution. She fell in love with the thief at first sight.
She begged her parents to help save the thief from his punishment. Although they
did not agree with her request, they loved her so much and feared that she might
hurt herself if they did not save her love. The parents bribed the guards to let
the thief escape and brought the thief home at night.

Shortly after this meeting, a wedding united Bhadda with the thief. Later on,
The thief convinced his wife that he needed to give an offering to the mountain
deva for sparing his life. She agreed to the plan and accompanied her husband to
the mountain. She had no idea of the true intention of the thief, but when he
revealed his plan of killing her for her money and jewelry, she was very angry.
So, she deceived the thief into believing she was naive and madly in love with
him. She hugged him tightly and when he did not suspect it, she pushed him off
the side of the mountain to his death.

She was immediately ashamed of her actions and could not face her parents, so
she wandered from town to town. She felt helpless and lost until she met a
Jain ascetic who asked her to join his order. In order to complete the ordainment,
she had to pluck out all of her hair. Oddly enough, her hair grew back curly. So,
the people called her Kundalakesa(curly hair).

Within a short period, she grew tired of the order's philosophy. She longed for
more, so she traveled throughout India searching for profound and inspiring
teachings. In the process of searching, she became very skilled at debating and
challenging all the spiritual leaders she came across. Each place she traveled,
she would build a sandpile marked with a rose-apple branch to display her desire
to debate anyone who was willing to challenge her knowledge of religions and
spiritual philosophy. She knew her challengers when they trampled on her
sandpile. For a long period of time, she earned great status since she won all
debates despite who challenged her.

One day, Bhadda arrived in Savatti and created a sandpile to spark a debate.
Sariputta Thera, a famous Buddha disciple, heard of her arrival and her
intention while he was staying at Jetavan-Vanaram. He told children to trample
on her sandpile to initiate a debate with her. This debate brought great
attention from all over and many crowds of people traveled for the debate.
Bhadda spent several hours throwing questions at Sariputta, but he never tired
and he always gave perfect answers. She was shocked and ran out of questions. So
for the first time ever, Bhadda had to answer questions from her challenger. His
questions were too profound for her and she failed to answer them. This was the
first debate she lost. Instead of feeling sad, she was inspired and for the
first time in fifty years, she knew she had found the teacher she had been
searching for all these years.
She asked to be his novice, Sariputta thera
declined and told her she should see the Buddha.

She immediately went to see the Buddha and listened to his dhamma preaching. At
once, she attained arahantship which was very shocking to the Buddha's disciples
that she reached this status so quickly. She was ordained by the Buddha himself
and was known as Kundalakesa Theri.

Note: Just as the wanderer Bahiya was the bhikkhu who attained arahantship faster
than anyone else, Bhadda was the fastest among the bhikkhunis.

------------------------------
Sattuka, The thief Who Married Bhadda

Sattuka was a son of a king's religious advisor. He was born with bad
sign(astrology sign)that he would bring trouble to people. His father asked the
king to kill his babyboy, but the king denied and even named the boy'Sattuka'.

This boy grew up to be a very handsome man but 'bad to the bone', who had long
history of theft. Finally the king ordered his guards to capture him and made
him walked around town for people to see before taking him to the place of execution.

********************** :heart:
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buddhaflower
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King Milinda And Thera Nagasena

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear All.

The Questions Of King Milinda/The Answers Of Thera Nagasena
[Translated ted by T.W.Rhys Davids]

#1. “What is the root, “Are the five sense
bases produced from various kammas, or
all from one?”

“From various kammas, O
king.”

“Give me an illustration.”

“If you were to sow five kinds of seeds in a
field the produce would be of five kinds.”

-----------

#2. “Why is it, Nàgasena, that all men are not alike; some
are short-lived and some long-lived, some sickly and some
healthy, some ugly and some handsome, some powerful
and some powerless, some poor and some rich, some lowborn
and some noble, some foolish and some wise?”

“Why is it that all plants are not alike?”

“Because they come from different seeds.”

“Just so, O king, it is because of the variety of kammas
that beings are not all the same. For this was said by the
Blessed One, ‘All beings have kamma as their own property,
are heirs to it, born from it, are relatives of their kamma and
have kamma as their refuge; whatever kamma they do
divides them into high and low states’.”

******************* :heart:
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buddhaflower
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Jivaka Kumarabhacca: The Buddha's Doctor

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear All,

I learned about :heart: Doctor Jivaka, the Buddha's doctor :heart: , when I was young. His achievement truly impressed me so much that I wanted my only daughter to also become a doctor. I would like to dedicate this story to my dear daughter :heart: Dr. Sirikanya Sastri, MD :heart: .....a surgeon working for the US Air Force.

*********************
Jivaka Kumarabhacca: The Buddha's Doctor
[by Fotopoulu Sophia ,Archived in Religion section 08/05/2005]

At the time of the Buddha, among the lay physicians, the most renowned was Jivaka Kumarabhacca, who is described as providing free medical care to the Buddha and other monks and donating his mango grove at Rajagaha for use as a monastic community, named Jivakarama. Jivaka's fame as a healer was widely known and tales about his life and medical feats can be found in almost all versions of Buddhist scriptures.

Versions about Jivaka’s birth and infancy:

The Pali version began with Salavati, a courtesan of Rajagaha, giving birth to a son whom was then given to a slave woman, who placed him in a winnowing basket, which was left at a rubbish heap on the roadside.

In the Sanskrit-Tibetan account, a promiscuous wife of a merchant from Rajagaha gave birth to a son of King Bimbisara, placed the infant in a chest, and ordered maidservants to set the chest at the gate of the king’s palace.

In the Chinese narrative, a divine virgin named Arampali, who was raised by a Brahman, gave birth to a son of King Bimbisara. The boy was born with a bag of acupuncture needles in his hand and therefore was predestined to become a doctor and a royal physician. His mother wrapped him in white clothes and ordered a slave to take him to the king.

In all versions, the infant is taken and raised by the king’s son 'Prince Abhaya'.

In the Pali account, the boy is given the name Jivaka because he was alive (from root jiv, to live), and because a prince cared for him he is called Kumarabhacca (nourished by a prince).

Jivaka's Medical training

Concerning his interest in medicine and his medical education, in the Pali account, Jivaka, as he approached the age at which he must seek his own livelihood, decided to learn the medical craft. Hearing about a world-famous physician in Taxila, he travelled to that city, famous for education, to apprentice with the eminent doctor. After seven years of medical study, he took a practical examination that tested his knowledge of medical herbs, passed with extraordinary success, and, with the blessings of mentor, went off to practice medicine.

In the Sanskrit-Tibetan version, Jivaka desired to learn a craft. Seeing white-clad physicians, he decided to become a doctor and studied the art of healing. After acquiring the basics of medicine, he wished to increase his understanding by learning the art of opening skulls from Atreya , the king of physicians, who lived in the city of Taxila. So Jivaka went there, took the practical examination on medical herbs and performed other healings, and so deepened his knowledge of medicine that he could even advise his master on therapeutic procedures, thereby earning the latter’s respect. Pleased with Jivaka depth of understanding, Atreya communicated to him the special technique of opening the skull. Jivaka eventually left the company of Atreya and journeyed to the city Bhadrankata in Vidarbha, where he studied the textbook called “The Sounds of All Beings” (most probably a textbook related with the practice of dharanis and mantras). During his travels, he purchased a load of wood from a thin and feeble man and discovered in the woodpile a gem called “the soothing remedy of all beings"(The Bodhisattvas of Healing). This gem, when placed before a patient, illuminated his inside as a lamp light up a house, revealing the nature of illness.

In the Chinese version Jivaka relinquished all claims to the throne and studied medicine. He found that the education he acquired from local physicians was inadequate and showed their deficiencies in the knowledge presented in the textbooks on plants, medical recipes, acupuncture, and pulse lore, which he had successfully mastered. He therefore instructed them in the essential principles of medicine and gained their respect. Hearing of a famous physician, Atreya, who lived in Taxila, he traveled to the city to learn medicine from him. After studying medicine for seven years, he took the practical examination on medical herbs and passed it with great success. When Jivaka departed, his master told him that, although he himself was first among the Indian physicians, after his death, Jivaka would become his successor. On his travels, Jivaka encountered a young boy carrying firewood and found he was able to see the inside of the boy’s body. Immediately realizing that the bundle of wood must contain a piece of the tree of the King of Healing, who, according to early Mahayana scriptures, is a Bodhisattva of healing, he bought the wood, discovered a twig of the auspicious tree, and used it to diagnose illnesses in the course of his famous medical practice.

Jivaka is regarded as the Father of Medicine, a source of knowledge about the healing powers of plant, mineral, massage and so forth. His teachings travel to Thailand at the same time as Buddhism. Definitively a central figure in the Buddhist medical system, he is legitimately regarded as the aspiration for all practitioners of Ancient Massage.

Jivaka became a disciple of the Buddha and would treat him and any monks or nuns when they became sick. He had a beautiful mango garden just outside the east gate of Rajagaha which he donated to the Buddha and which later developed into a large monastery. The remains of this monastery were discovered in 1954 and excavated by archaeologists. The Buddha delivered two discourses to Jivaka. In the first he gave the conditions under which monks and nuns can eat meat and in the second he defined a lay disciple as one who has taken the Three Refuges and who observes the five Precepts. After the discourses, Jivaka attained sotapatti fruition. Because of the dedicated attentive care with which he ministered to his patients, the Buddha praised Jivaka as an etadagga amongst his disciples who were "loved by the people".
-------
Burmese version posted by myanmarpedia on September 27, 2007

Jivaka led a privileged life in the palace. His friends, however, often teased him as he had no mother. Jivaka, who was embarrassed by the teasing, questioned his father about his origin. When he heard about his origins and his will to live he decided that he would one day grow up to be a preserver of life. He felt that he had no real heritage or family as he was only the adopted son of the prince. Physicians, however, were treated with great respect. Determined to earn the respect he felt he lacked due to his birth, Jivaka decided to go to the University of Taxila to become a physician.

Jivaka approached Disapamok, a well-known scholar, for his training. At this time Sakka, the King of the Heavens, was observing the world. He realized that it was time for Jivaka, who had in past births aspired to be the physician of the Buddha, to begin his training. Sakka, however, wanted to ensure that Jivaka had more than just the best training available in India. This was the young man who would have the privilege to be the physician of the Buddha. Sakka decided to take a hand in the training of young Jivaka so that he would have celestial knowledge in the art of medicine. With this in view, He entered the body of Disapamok. Jivaka excelled in his studies. Disapamok, however, soon realized that the training that he was providing was being influenced by celestial beings. The knowledge that was being imparted through him far excelled his knowledge of medicine. Jivaka quickly learned medicines and cures of which Disapamok himself had no knowledge. Jivaka completed in seven years the physicians training which usually took eleven years.

Realizing that Jivaka’s education was complete, Disapamok asked him to go forth and bring back a plant, herb or root that could not be used for medicinal purposes for the preservation of life. After travelling far and wide Jivaka returned to his teacher to inform him that no such plant, herb, or root existed. All of nature’s treasures were beneficial for the preservation of life. The joyous teacher then praised his pupil by informing him that his education was complete. Jivaka had surpassed his teacher in knowledge.

Jivaka decided to go back to Rajagaha to his adoptive father. On the way he stopped to rest in a city named Saletha. He soon heard that the young daughter of the city’s wealthiest nobleman was sick. Despite the ministering of many well-known physicians, she had suffered from severe headaches for seven years. Jivaka approached the nobleman, as he was confident that he could cure the maiden. The maiden, however, was not impressed by the very young man who claimed he could cure her when older, well-known physicians had failed. Offering his services for free, Jivaka continued to declare boldly that he could cure her.

Gathering herbs and roots, Jivaka prepared the medicine which he then administered to her through her nostrils. Before long the maiden’s headaches disappeared. The grateful nobleman showered Jivaka with gifts and gold and provided him with a golden chariot. Jivaka approached Prince Abhaya’s palace in great style.

Handing over his newly earned wealth to his adoptive father, Jivaka thanked him for his love, compassion, and caring. Prince Abhaya, however, returned all the wealth to Jivaka and informed him that he owed him naught as he was his true son and heir. He then told him that during his absence he had found out the full story of his origin. His mother, Salawathi, was the sought-after courtesan of the kings and nobility. Wanting to retain her freedom, she had discarded the baby whom she felt would be a burden to her. Prince Abhaya had unknowingly adopted his own child as he had loved his son dearly even prior to knowing that he was in fact his own child. Prince Abhaya built a palace to serve as Jivaka’s residence and provided him with many servants.

Jivaka’s second patient was none other than his own grandfather, King Bimbisara. The king had a huge growth in his stomach that bled from time to time on his royal robe. So prominent was the growth that his consorts had started to tease the king by saying that he was with child. The king had been treated by all the great physicians of the country to no avail. Prince Abhaya informed Jivaka of his grandfather’s plight.

Diagnosing the disease sight unseen, Jivaka immediately prepared the suitable medicine. Then hiding it on his person, he visited the king. After examining the king he administered the medicine that he had brought with him. Before long the king’s growth shrank and his wound healed. The grateful king called his entourage of five hundred consorts who had teased him unmercifully by asking if his first-born was to be a boy or a girl, and commanded them to give all their jewellery as a gift to Jivaka. Before long a mound of precious jewellery higher than Jivaka himself was placed at his feet. However, Jivaka refused this payment and requested permission from the king to return the ornaments back to his consorts. Even more impressed by Jivaka’s deportment, the king showered him with wealth, gifted him with the royal mango grove and made him the royal physician.

Jivaka’s reputation as a great physician grew quickly. He was the physician of kings, noblemen and the Buddha. The text mentions that he operated and successfully removed two tumours from the brain of a rich merchant who was a good friend of King Bimbisara. He also operated successfully to remove a blockage in the intestines of a nobleman. In one instance when the Buddha was afflicted with stomach problems, Jivaka prepared the medicine, and applying it on a blue lotus flower, offered it to the Buddha. Jivaka then asked the Buddha to inhale the essence emanating from the flower. The medicine which Jivaka had prepared with devotion and presented so beautifully, cured the Buddha’s stomach ailment.

Jivaka had in one instance risked his life to attend a very cruel and vicious king named Chanda Pradyotha. One of the King Pradyotha’s subjects had offered him a shawl that had been dropped by a Deva in the forest. Admiring the very beautiful shawl, the king had reflected that he should gift it to Jivaka who had risked his life to save him. Jivaka, however, felt that there was only one person worthy of such a shawl. He in turn offered it to the Buddha. The Buddha accepted the celestial shawl and, as requested by Jivaka, dispensed a sermon on the giving of robes. After listening to the discourse, Jivaka attained the first stage of enlightenment, Sotapanna. The Buddha felt that keeping such a valuable shawl in the monastery would attract thieves, which would endanger His monks. Addressing ananda, he requested that the shawl be cut into strips and resewn so that it would be of little value to thieves. This custom of wearing patched garments still remains among the Sangha. Even their new robes are made of strips of material that are sewn together so that even the robe they wear would help them in the practice of non-attachment.

Jivaka built a monastery in his mango grove so that he could be close to the Buddha when attending to His needs. It was Jivaka who attended to the Buddha’s foot when it was cut by the sliver of rock that Devadatta rolled down the hill at Gijjhakuta. It was also Jivaka who treated the Buddha in His last days, when He was overcome by stomach pains.

******************** :heart:
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Huifeng
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Re: Jivaka Kumarabhacca: The Buddha's Doctor

Post by Huifeng »

May your daughter become a physician as kind and wise as Jivaka!
May she bring care, love and solace to many living beings!

~~ Huifeng
plwk
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Re: Jivaka Kumarabhacca: The Buddha's Doctor

Post by plwk »

And this memorable Discourse given to the good doctor himself...
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buddhaflower
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The Questions : Causes of Earthquakes

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear members,

The Questions Of King Milinda
[Translated ted by T.W.Rhys Davids]

#4. Causes of Earthquakes

“The Buddha said, Nàgasena, that there are eight causes of
a great earthquake.68 Yet we find that there is a ninth cause
also mentioned in the texts. When the Bodhisatta Vessantara
fulfilled the perfection of generosity by giving
away his wife and children as servants then, too, did the
great earth shake. If the former statement of the Buddha is
true then the latter is false.”

“Both statements, O king, are correct. The gift of Vessantara
was not mentioned as a ninth cause of a great earthquake
because it is an extremely rare occurrence. Just as the
dried up creek that does not usually hold water is not called
a river, but in times of exceptional rainfall it becomes a
river, so too the largesse of Vessantara was an isolated and
extraordinary occurrence, and for that reason one distinct
from the eight usual causes of a great earthquake.
“Have you ever heard, O king, in the history of our
religion of any act of devotion that gave its result in this
very life?”

“Yes, venerable Nàgasena, there are seven such cases:
Sumana the garland maker,69 Ekasàñaka the brahman,70

Puõõa the farm worker,71 Mallikà the queen,72 the queen
known as the mother of Gopàla,73 Suppiyà the devoted
woman74 and Puõõà the slave-girl.”75

“But have you ever heard, O king, of the earth shaking
even once or twice when a gift had been given?”

“No, venerable sir, I have never heard of that.”

“I too, O king, have never heard of such a thing,
though I have been devoted to study and ready to learn,
except for this case of the splendid gift of Vessantara. It is
by no common effort, O king, that the great earth is moved.
It is when overburdened by the weight of righteousness,
overpowered by the burden of the goodness of acts that
testify to absolute purity; that, unable to support it, the
broad earth quakes and trembles. When Vessantara gave
his gift, O king, he was giving things away not for the sake
of a glorious rebirth, nor for future wealth, nor to receive
gifts in return, nor for flattery, nor for any other personal
gain, but only for the sake of supreme wisdom.”

Vessantara-Maddi-Kanha-Jali
Image

NOTE:
68. D. ii. 107; A iv. 312.
69. DhA. ii. 40f, Dhp. v 68.
70. DhA. iii. 1, Dhp. v 116.

*********** :heart:
Simon E.
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Re: The Questions : Causes of Earthquakes

Post by Simon E. »

Oh boy....
“You don’t know it. You just know about it. That is not the same thing.”

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
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buddhaflower
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The Greatest Love Story:Vessantara And Maddi

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear Members,

This beautiful Tuesday I proudly present the great love jataka of Vessantara And Maddi.

The Twelfth Of Never: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNuB9h-63xg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

********************
:heart: Vessantara And Maddi :heart:
[Translated from the Pali by Dr.C.B.Varma,D. Litt]

The lineage of the Sivis is best known for its charity and sacrifices in the Indian traditions since time immemorial. Once, the Bodhisatta was born as Vessantara (Sanskrit: Vishvantara) in the dynasty of the Sivi in the kingdom of Jetuttara. King Sanjaya was his father; and Queen Phusati was his mother. He appeared to be a child prodigy because he spoke on the very day when he was born. Interestingly, on the same day a white elephant was also born. This elephant, who was given the name Pacchaya, was gifted with the supernatural power to make the rain fall.

Vessantara’s passion for charity was so intense that the earth trembled when he pledged to make a great gift at the young age of eight. At sixteen he married Maddi (Sanskrit: Madri). He had two children: Jali and Kanhajina.

At that time there was a great draught in Kalinga. So, eight Brahmins from Kalinga came to Vessantara to beg for his white elephant to make the rain fall in their country. Vessantara acceded to their request and donated the elephant. When the people of Jetuttara heard of this news they were terribly disturbed. Agitatingly, they went to the king and asked him to punish the prince by banishing him to the forest of Vankagiri. The will of the people eventually prevailed and Vessantara had to go on exile much to the unwillingness of the king. Before setting out he obtained the king’s consent to hold an alms-giving ceremony called the “Gifts of Seven Hundreds (Sattasataka). On the occasion he gave away seven hundred pieces of seven hundred kinds of things to the needy people.

When Vessantara took leave of his parents and was preparing to depart, his wife Maddi insisted to accompany him with her children Jali and Kanhajina.

They left the palace in a royal chariot drawn by four horses. On the way four brahmins met him and begged for his four horses. After giving the four horses to the brahmins when he began to fasten the girth tightly round his waist to put himself under the yoke and to drag the carriage there appeared four yakkhas in the form of red deer. They put their shoulders under the yoke like well-trained excellent horses and drew his carriage. When Maddi was staring at them with joy and surprise the Bodhisatta said,

"Lo! the influence

of the benevolent forest

Of the hermitage

That the best of the deer

Extend hospitability

To the forest-guests

So ardently."

The queen, however, remarked,

"You may conceal your merits, and say so

I call this to be your influence.

Like the laughing lotuses,

which surpass the beauty of the stars mirrored in the water,

Exposing so fully

To the curious gaze of the radiant Moon

With its groping rays

For the delightful titillation."

When they were thus involved in the pleasant conversation they encountered one more brahmin beggar, who begged for the carriage. So, Vessantara had to part with his carriage, too. He then lifted his son Jali in his arms, and Maddi lifted Kanhanjana; and thus they continued their jouney on foot. The sun was scorching. So, The cloud overspread overhead to act as a canopy. The trees extended their branches to offer them delicious fruits as an offering to their virtue of charity. When they longed for water the lotus ponds appeared before them to quench their thirst. Further, the yakkhas shortened their path to protect them from exertion. Thus, treading through Suvannagiritala, Kantimara, Mount Aranjagiri, Dunnivittha, the capital of Cheta (where his uncle ruled), Gandhamadana, the foot of Mount Vipula to the river Ketumati (where a forester offered them food) and then by crossing the river Nalika along the bank of lake Muchalinda and further crossing a dense forest they finally reached Vankagiri.

Vissakamma, the Engineer of Sakka had already built two hermitages for them in the forest. One was for Vessantara and the other was for the rest of the family. The power of Vessantara was so strong that no wild animal came near their hermitages. Happily, they spent four months.

One day, one old Brahmin named Jujaka came to the hermitage when Maddi had gone to the forest to bring some fruits for the family. Accosting Vessantara he begged for his two children because Amittatapana, his wife had demanded for two slaves for herself. As Vessantara was widely known for his dana-paramita (perfection of charitability) the greedy Brahmin was intent on exploiting the situation. Vessantara tried to convince the Brahmin to change his mind in several ways. Yet, he insisted on accepting nothing but the two children. Knowing Jujaka’s mind the children were extremely terrified and ran away to a nearby pond and hid themselves. They, however, re-appeared when their father called them. And by then Vessantara had finally agreed to the shrew demand of Jujaka. The brahmin, then chanting some phrases of benediction to the donour ordered the children to accompany him. The children, who did not want to leave glued to the feet of their father to ask Jujaka to wait at least until the arrival of their mother. But shrewd and mean Jujaka without wasting time fastened the hands of the two delicate children with a creeper and forcibly dragged them to his destination. The bleeding and bewailing children, however, screamed,

"Oh! the mother will certainly cry like the chataka (bird) upon return

Whose little ones are killed.

How would she act

When she comes back with many roots and fruits

Gathered from the forest

But finds the hermitage empty.

Oh father! I have many toys –

Horses, elephants and chariots –

Give half to mother to assuage her grief."

When Maddi returned late in the evening and did not find her children around, she asked Vessantara of their whereabouts. But Vessantara kept silence. She then repeated the same question several times, yet Vessantara did not utter a single word. So, she again went inside the forest and looked for the children for whole night. Next morning, when she returned she fainted. Vessentara then helped her regain consciousness. That was the time he apprised her of the whereabouts of the children and narrated the story. By then Maddi had mustered up the courage to endure the trauma. Surprisingly, she praised Vessantara’s great act of dana-sila (Conduct of charity).

Their sacrifice trembled the earth. And so did mount Sineru with all its resplendent gems. Surprised, Sakka, the lord of the devas inquired into the cause. When he learnt the cause of the quakes owing to the sacrifice of Vessantara he visited the hermitage next morning to test the firmity of his vow in the guise of a mendicant and begged him for his wife. Even then Vessantara did not lose the firmness of his mind and nodded to donate Maddi as well. Besides, no anger sprang even in the heart of Maddi. She did not wail. She rather looked stupefied and stood like a statue with her eyes fixed on her husband with a fresh load of suffering.

Admiringly, Sakka then said,

"Though a house-holder

Yet giving up the most beloved children and wife in charity

With such detachment;

Can there be a greater exemplification of magnanimity?"

Now, it was the time for Sakka to reveal his identity. He gave Maddi back to Vessantara. Furthermore, he offered eight boons to the great donor, which included the reunion of his family; his recall to the father’s kingdom; and his ability to benefaction.

In the meanwhile, Jujaka had traveled sixty leagues and having lost his way he reached Jetuttara, though he intended to reach Kalinga. His rugged appearance and harsh behaviour with the two delicate children attracted the royal guards, who brought him before the king. King Sanjaya, when saw his grand-children and learnt their story he bought them back from the cruel brahmin in lieu of handsome gifts and seven-storeyed palace. But Jujaka could hardly enjoy those riches as he died of over-eating in a few days. The king along with Phusati, Jali and his army then marched to Vankagiri to bring back his son and the daughter-in-law.

The white elephant Pacchaya also joined the procession as he had just returned from Kalinga as no one could subdue him there.

Finally, after a month of merry-making in the forest they all returned to the kingdom, happily.

(Devadatta is identified with Jujaka and his wife Amittapana as Chincha; Sanjaya as Suddhodhana and Phusati as Mahamaya; Rahula with Jali, Uppalavanna as Kanhajina, Rahulamata as Maddi; and Vessantara as the Bodhisatta).

*************** :heart:
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buddhaflower
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Yasodhara: The Most Beautiful Bride

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear Members,

This beautiful Wednesday, I proudly present the most impressive, almost eternal love story
of princess Yasodhara and prince Siddhattha. This long and deep-rooted episode began in the
time of the Buddha Dipankara. I love this story very, very much.

Much Beyond Compare : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0TsYdlIuYs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

********************
:heart: Yasodhara: The Most Beautiful Bride :heart:
[From Relatives and Disciples of the Buddha by Radhika Abeysekera (excerpts)]

Yasodhara was the daughter of King Suppabuddha and Queen Pamita. As King
Suppabuddha was one of King Suddhodana's younger brothers, she was one of Prince
Siddhattha's cousins. Yasodhara was born on the same day as Prince Siddhattha.
She was exquisitely beautiful, with golden skin and blue-back hair that cascaded
down to her feet.

Prince Siddhattha was sixteen when his parents decided that it was a suitable
time for him to marry. As was the custom at that time, a great celebration was
held and princesses from all over the country were brought in procession for the
Prince to choose from. None of them attracted his attention. The Prince treated
them with gifts but refused them all. The procession was almost finished when
Yasodhara came rushing in, to inquire if there were any gifts left for her. The
Prince then arose from His throne, and taking the pearl necklace that adorned
his person, gently placed it around her neck. Prince Siddhattha chose His
cousin, Yasodhara, to be His bride. :heart:

Can't help Falling in Love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnhamPnvXuQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

At first King Suppabuddha was against the marriage. He knew that the wise men
had foretold that Siddhattha would leave the palace and His crown to become a
Buddha. He also felt that the gentle, compassionate Prince might not be skilled
in warfare, and as such, not be suitable for his daughter. The princess,
however, wanted to marry no one else but Siddhattha.

King Suppabuddha, wishing to test Prince Siddhattha, arranged a tournament for
Him to display His skills in archery, riding and swordsmanship. Sportsmen from
all over the country gathered to challenge the Prince. Siddhattha, however, was
an excellent sportsman. He excelled in all the events and ousted the best men in
the country. King Suppabuddha therefore relented and gave his daughter in
marriage to Prince Siddhattha.

The relationship between princess Yasodhara and prince Siddhattha was long and
deep-rooted. It had started long, long time ago at the time of the Dipankara
Buddha. At that time, the Prince (Bodhisatta) was born as an ascetic by the name
of Sumedha. After an exceedingly long period of practising the ten virtues, the
Bodhisatta Sumedha had finally completed the eight requirements to receive the
definite proclamation of Buddhahood from the Dipankara Buddha. Yasodhara, at
that time, was born as a noble lady by the name of Sumitra. She saw Sumedha give
eight handfuls of white jasmine flowers to the Buddha Dipankara , and the Buddha Dipankara
proclaimed that Sumedha would be a Buddha by the name of Gotama, of the
Sakyan caste, in the distant future. Cutting off her hair, she aspired to be His
consort and helpmate and to support Him actively in His quest for Buddhahood.
This strong aspiration and the meritorious deeds that she performed over a long
period of time resulted in her being the Bodhisatta's consort and supporter
throughout many births. During this very long period in which the Bodhisatta completed
the virtues she actively supported His quest for perfection.

In fact, her dying words reflected this devotion. She referred to the fact that
she had been the wife of no other but Him during the entire period and had
helped Him to achieve in 100,000 world cycles and four infinite periods what
other Buddhas take eight and sixteen infinite periods to achieve.

When the Buddha visited the palace in Kapilavatthu for the first time, all but
Princess Yasodhara came to pay homage to Him. She held back, thinking,
"Certainly if there is any virtue in me, the Noble Lord Himself will come to my
presence." After the meal the Buddha, accompanied by His two male chief
disciples, entered her chamber and sat down on the seat prepared for Him. He
then said, "Let the king's daughter reverence me as she likes." On seeing the
Buddha, Yasodhara came forward quickly, and clasping His ankles, placed her head
on His feet and paid reverence to Him as she wished.

Yasodhara's devotion to the Buddha was heralded by her father-in-law, King
Suddhodana. He informed the Buddha of her devotion by saying, "When my daughter
heard that you had taken to wearing simple yellow robes, she too gave up her
jewels and wore yellow robes. When she heard that you had only one meal a day,
she too had only one meal a day. When she heard that you slept on low, hard
beds, she too gave up the luxurious palace couches and beds. And when she heard
that you had given up garlands and perfume, she too gave up garlands and
perfume. When her relatives sent messages of young men who wanted to support her
she did not even look at a single one."

The Buddha acknowledged this devotion by saying that it was not only in this
birth that she had been devoted to him. And the Blessed One spoke kindly to Yasodhara,
telling of her great merits inherited from former lives. She had indeed been again and
again of great assistance to him. Her purity, her gentleness, her devotion had been invaluable
to the Bodhisattva when he aspired to attain enlightenment, the highest aim of mankind.
And so holy had she been that she desired to become the wife of a Buddha. This, then, was her karma,
and it was the result of great merits. Her grief had been unspeakable, but the consciousness of
the glory that surrounded her spiritual inheritance increased by her noble attitude during her life,
would be a balm that will miraculously transform all sorrows into heavenly joy.

Yasodhara gave up the household life and entered the order of bhikkhunis at the
same time as Maha Pajapati Gotami .She attained Arahanthship and was declared
the chief disciple among the theris who attained supernormal powers(mahaa-abhi~n~naa)
to recall infinite eras of the past (mahaabhi~n~naappattaana.m). She was one of the four
disciples of the Buddha who possessed such attainment, the others being Sáriputta, Moggallána
and Bakkula. She expressed her desire for this achievement in the time of Padumuttara Buddha.
-----------------------
NOTE: In general, the Buddha's disciples could only recall up to 100,000 world
cycles. Yasodara, the Buddha's two chief male disciples and the Elder Bakkula,
however, had supernormal powers and could recall incalculable eras. The
Yasodhara Theri passed away at the age of 78, prior to the Lord Buddha.
-------------
She joined the Order under Pajápatí Gotamí in the company of Janapadakalyání (Nandá), and in the Order she was known as Bhaddakaccáná Therí. Later, she developed insight and became an arahant. She could, with one effort, recall one asankheyya and one hundred thousand kappas (AA.i.205).
-----------
The Apadána account mentions how, just before her death, at the age of seventy eight(two years before Buddha's Parinibbāna), she took leave of the Buddha and performed various miracles. It also states that eighteen thousand arahants bhikkhunis, companions of Yasodhará, also died on the same day.
------
Yasodhara was once, after becoming a bhikkhuni, ill from flatulence. When Ráhula, as was his custom, came to visit her, he was told that he could not see her, but that, when she had suffered from the same trouble at home, she had been cured by mango juice with sugar. Ráhula reported the matter to his preceptor, Sáriputta, who obtained the mango juice from Pasenadi. When Pasenadi discovered why the mango juice had been needed, he arranged that from that day it should be regularly supplied. The Játaka relates how, in a past birth too, Sáriputta had come to Ráhulamátá's rescue.

*The Supatta Játaka, where Sáriputta, at Ráhula's request, obtained for her from Pasenadi rice with ghee, flavoured with red fish. This was for abdominal pain.
----------
[edit] Legends [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

In many legends of the Buddha's life, Yashodharā met Siddhārtha Gautama for the first time in a previous life,
in the time of Dípankara Buddha, when the Bodhisatta was born as Sumedha, she was a brahmin maiden, Sumittá by name.

One day, while waiting in the city of Paduma for the Buddha Dipankara, Sumedha tried to buy flowers as an offering to the Enlightened One, but soon learned that the king already bought all the flowers for his own offering. Yet, as Dipankara was approaching, Sumedha spotted a girl named Sumitta holding eight lotuses in her hands. He spoke to her with the intention of buying one of her flowers, but she gave him all of the lotuses, which he, in turn, offered to the Buddha. Dípankara, in declaring that Sumedha would ultimately become the future Buddha Gautama, added that Sumittá would be his companion in several lives.
-----
Names:
The meaning of the name Yasodhara (Sanskrit) [from yasas "glory, splendor" + dhara "bearing" from the verbal root dhri "to bear, support"] is Bearer of glory. The names she has been called besides Yashodhara are: Yashodhara Theri (doyenne Yashodhara), Bimbadevi, Bhaddakaccana and Rahulamata (mother of Rahula). In the Pali Canon, the name Yasodharā is not found; there are two references to Bhaddakaccānā.


******************* :anjali: :heart:
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buddhaflower
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The Question : Perfection of the Buddha?

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear members,

Today is Uposatha day.

******
The Questions Of King Milinda
[Translated ted by T.W.Rhys Davids]

#9. Perfection of the Buddha

“If the Tathàgata had accomplished everything under the
bodhi tree why did he spend a further three months in
solitude?86 If a man has eaten and is satisfied, what is the
use of further food; if a man is healthy, what is the use of
him taking medicine?”

“O king, solitary meditation has many benefits. All
the Tathàgatas attained to Buddhahood thereby and practised
it in appreciation of its benefits to mankind. There are
twenty-eight benefits of solitude: it guards him, increases
his life expectancy, gives him vigour, conceals his failings,
removes any bad reputation and brings fame, destroys discontent
and brings satisfaction, banishes fear and endows
him with confidence, removes sloth and fills him with zeal,
takes away desire, hatred and delusion, subdues pride, disrupts
discursive thought and makes the mind one-pointed,
softens his mind and makes him light-hearted, makes him
serious, brings him material gain, makes him worthy of
reverence, brings him joy, fills him with delight, shows him
the true nature of all formations, puts an end to rebirth, and
gains for him all the fruits of a life of renunciation. It is be-
cause the Tathàgata has in mind these manifold benefits
that he follows the practice of seclusion.
“There are altogether four reasons why the Tathàgatas
devote themselves to solitude. For the sake of dwelling
at ease, because of its blameless qualities, because it is
the way to all noble things without exception, and because
it has been praised and exalted by all the Buddhas. It is not
because they have anything left to achieve or anything to
add to what they have already accomplished but only
because of these excellent advantages that they practice
seclusion.”
----
Note
86. Between the enlightenment (Vesàkha) and the first sermon (Asàëha) there are only two
months, but there was an occasion when the Buddha spent three months in solitude.
cf. Commentary to Dhp. v 6.

***********
buddhaflower :heart: :anjali:
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buddhaflower
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Padumuttara Buddha

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear Members,

This Uposatha Day, as a person who loves lotus flowers very much, I proudly present the beautiful story of Padumuttara Buddha.

Lotus Buddha song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY9ZyjZBCz8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

*********************

:heart: Padumuttara Buddha :heart:
[ From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]

After the age of Narada Buddha about one eon and one hundred thousand millions years, there was a Buddha named Padumuttara. There was no other religious in his age, so all humans and all gods respected in Padummuttara Buddha.

Padumuttara Buddha is the thirteenth in the List of the 28 Buddhas.

Padumuttara was born in Hamsavatī, of the khattiya Ananda and his wife Sujātā. At the moments of his birth and his Enlightenment, a shower of lotuses fell in the ten thousand worlds, hence his name. He lived as a householder for ten thousand years in three palaces: Naravāhana, Yassa (or Yasavatī) and Vasavatti. His wife was Vasudattā, by whom he had a son, Uttara (according to SNA.i.341, his son was Uparevata).

He left home in his palace (Vasavatti), and practised austerities only for seven days. A maiden of Ujjeni, called Rucinandā, gave him milk rice, and the ājīvaka Sumitta gave him grass for his seat. His bodhi tree was a salala, under which he spent a week, and when he touched the ground with his foot, huge lotus flowers sprang out of the earth, covering his body completely with their pollen. (The Samyuttabhānakas give this as the reason for his name.) His first sermon was preached to his cousins Devala and Sujāta, who later became his chief disciples. The spot where the sermon was preached was Mithiluyyāna. Sumana was Padumuttara's personal attendant, Amitā and Asamā his chief women disciples, Vitinna and Tissa his chief patrons among men, and Hatthā and Vicittā among women. His body was fifty eight cubits high, and his aura spread for twelve yojanas. He died in Nandārāma at the age of one hundred thousand, and a thūpa twelve leagues in height was erected over his relics.

Our most recent Buddha, Gautama Buddha, was a hermit named Maharattiya. He offered robes to Padumuttara Buddha and monks and was fortold that he would be Gautama Buddha in the future.

Many of the eminent disciples of Gotama Buddha are said to have first conceived their desire for their respective positions in the time of Padumuttara Buddha, after seeing similar rank conferred on Padumuttara's various disciples in acknowledgment of their special attainments:

Aññākondañña,
Mahā Kassapa,
Anuruddha, Bhaddiya,
Pindola Bhāradvāja,
Punna Mantānīputta,
Mahā Kaccāna,
Culla Panthaka,
Subhūti,
Khadiravaniya Revata,
Kankhā Revata,
Sona-Kolivisa,
Sona Kutikanna,
Sīvalī,
Vakkalī,
Rāhula,
Ratthapāla,
Kundadhāna,
Vangīsa,
Upasena,
Vangantaputta,
Dabba Mallaputta,
Pilinda Vaccha,
Bāhiya Dārucīriya,
Kumāra Kassapa,
Mahā Kotthita,
ānanda,
Uruvela-Kassapa,
Kāludāyī,
Sobhita,
Upāli,
Nanda,
Mahā Kappina,
Sāgata,
Rādha,
Mogharājā,
Vappa,
Upavāna,
Mahāpajāpatī,
Gotamī,
Khemā,
Uppalavannā,
Patācārā,
Dhammadinnā,
Sundari Nandā,
Sonā,
Sakulā,
Bhaddā Kundalakesā,
Bhaddā Kapilānī,
Bhaddā Kaccānā,
Kisāgotamī and
Sigālakamātā.

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Rahula:The Son From Heaven

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Dear Member,

I truly love this supercute Rahula story...just imagine a little 7 yrs old prince followed his father"The Buddha" everywhere and was ordained by Sariputta Thera himself... cute samanera Rahula ...how wonderful !!

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Rahula:The Son From Heaven

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The only son of Gotama Buddha. Rahula was born on the day on which his father left
the household life. When the Buddha visited Kapilavatthu for the first time
after his Enlightenment and accepted Suddhodana's invitation, Rahula's mother
(Yasodhara) sent the boy to the Buddha to ask for his inheritance (dayajja).
The Buddha gave him no answer, and, at the conclusion of the meal,left the palace.
Rahula followed him, reiterating his request until at last the Buddha asked Sariputta
to ordain him. When Suddhodana heard of this he protested to the Buddha, and asked as
a boon that, in future, no child should be ordained without the consent of his parents,
and to this the Buddha agreed.

It is said that immediately after Rahula's ordination the Buddha preached to
him constantly (abhinhovaadavasena) many suttas for his guidance. Rahula
himself was eager to receive instruction from the Buddha and his teachers and
would rise early in the morning and take a handful of sand, saying: "May I have
today as many words of counsel from my teachers as there are here grains of
sand!"
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When Rahula was seven years old, the Buddha preached to him the
Ambalatthika Rahulovada Sutta as a warning that he should never lie, even in
fun. Rahula noticed that he harboured carnal thoughts fascinated by his own
physical beauty and that of his father, the Buddha preached to him, at the age
of eighteen, the Maha Rahulovada Sutta. Two other suttas, also called
Rahulovada, one included in the Samyutta and the other in the Anguttara,
formed the topics for Rahula's meditation (Vipassana). Later, the Buddha,
knowing that Rahula's mind was ripe for final attainment, went with him alone
to Andhavana, and preached to him the Cula Rahulovada Sutta. At the end of the
discourse, Rahula became an arahant,together with one hundred thousand crores of
listening devas.

Afterwards, in the assembly of monks, the Buddha declared Rahula foremost among
those of his disciples who were anxious for training (sikkhaakaamaanam).

According to the Digha and Samyutta Commentaries, Rahula predeceased the
Buddha and even Sariputta, and the place of his death is given as Tavatimsa.
For twelve years he never lay on a bed. (DA.iii.736).

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The Amazing Questions/Answers!!

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear Members.

The Questions Of King Milinda
[Translated ted by T.W.Rhys Davids]

#1. “Have you or your teachers seen the
Buddha?”

“No, great king.”

“Then, Nàgasena, there is no Buddha!”

“Have you or your father seen the River
æhà40 in the Himalayas?”

“No venerable sir.”

“Then would it be right to say there is no river æhà?”

“You are dexterous, Nàgasena, in reply.”

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#2. “Is the Buddha incomparable?”

“Yes he is.”

“But how can you know if you have never seen him?”

“Just as those who have never seen the ocean can
know how great it is because the five great rivers flow into
it but thereby it does not rise; so do I know that the Buddha
is incomparable when I think of those great teachers, whom
I have seen, who are only his disciples.”

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Q/A: Going Forth/Purgatory

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear Members.

The Questions Of King Milinda
[Translated ted by T.W.Rhys Davids]

#3. “You said that your going forth was so that this
suffering might be extinguished and no further suffering
arise. Is it brought about by previous effort, or to be striven
after now, in the present?”

“Effort now is concerned with what remains to be
done, former effort has accomplished what it had to do.”

“Give me an illustration.”

“Is it when the enemy is arrayed against you that you
set to work to have a moat dug, a rampart raised, a watchtower
built, a stronghold constructed and stores collected?”
“Certainly not your reverence.”

“Just so, effort now is concerned with what remains to
be done, former effort has accomplished what it had to do.”
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#4. “You say that the fire of purgatory would instantly
destroy a boulder the size of a house; but you also say that
whatever beings are reborn in hell, though they burn for
hundreds of thousands of years they are not destroyed.
How can I believe this?”

“Although the food, bones and even stones eaten by
various female beings are destroyed inside their abdomens
yet their embryos are not destroyed. Just so those beings in
hell avoid destruction by the influence of their kamma. “

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The Famous Case Of A Pregnant Bhikkhuni

Post by buddhaflower »

Dear Members,

This foggy Saturday with tears in my eyes, I proudly present a very touching story that might make you all cry too. But please have a happy day!

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:heart: Thera Kumara-Kassapa And His Mother :heart:
[ Translated from Thai Dhammapada, Thai Version, by Dr. Tep Sastri ]

Once upon a time, there was a young daughter of a rich family who lived in Rajagaha City. She admired Buddha's teachings and loved to listen to his dhamma talks. Her heart was committed to joining the Buddha's Sangha Order, but her parents wanted a different life for her. They chose to marry her to a rich young man. As an obedient daughter, she complied with the parents' wish.

After having entered the matrimony for a while, she begged her husband to let her join the Sangha Order. Her husband finally gave her his blessings to become member of Buddha's Order. Thus she was ordained as a bhikkhuni and resided with lady-monks under Bhikkhu Devadatta.

Months passed by, one day the lady-monks of the community noticed that the new bhikkhuni was pregnant. They furiously disapproved of her and wanted her to be forced out of the Order. So they brought the case to Bhikkhu Devadatta who agreed that she must quit the Order. The young lady, however, argued that the Buddha should be the one to judge her and decide if she whether or not should be banished from the Order. After an intensive investigation by Upali Thera, the Buddha was counseled that the conception of her baby occurred prior to her joining the Order. Thus they concluded that she must not to be blamed or had to disrobe. This pregnancy case was so famous that even King Pasenadi and Upasika Visakha got involved.

After the bhikkhuni had given birth to a baby boy at the monastery, King Pasenadi adopted the baby and raised him as his own child in the royal palace. The babyboy was given the name 'Kumara-Kassapa'. The boy grew up and played happily with other royal children. But one day the other children were no longer friendly; they ridiculed him, mocking him for being an orphan --not a royal blood sibling. And it made him very sad and desolated. He was only seven years old then, when he went to see the Buddha and asked to be ordained as a samanera and to reside at the Buddha's place.

At the age of twenty he became a bhikku and soon asked for the Buddha's permission to go to Andhavana(Dark) Forest to meditate alone. Bhikkhu Kumara Kassapa made great progress in his meditation, dwelling in solitude. One night, while being in an intense meditative state, a superdeva named Suddhávása appeared in front of him. [The Deva once was his friend during the time of the Kassapa Buddha, and they used to practice meditation together.] Suddhávása Deva explained the reason for his appearance; it was because he had 15 questions for the Bhikkhu to ask the Buddha. ( See Vammika Sutta for the 15 questions.)

Kumara Kassapa then travelled days and nights to see the Buddha and delivered the Deva's 15 questions.
While Buddha was telling him the answers to all these questions one by one, Bhikkhu Kumara-Kassapa listened intensely to each answer such that he attained arahantship with the Four Patisambhida -- right at the end of the question #15!

Once there was a very learned prince named 'Payasi of Setavya' whose stubbornness and arrogance was well known throughout the city. But after meeting with and debating about his belief with Kumara-Kassapa, Payasi admitted in public that he was wrong in every category. He was so impressed with Kumara-Kassapa's Dhamma that he proclaimed himself a royal supporter of the Buddha and his monks from then on. Because of Kumara-Kassapa's keen knowledge of the Dhamma and his great skills in delivering it, the Buddha praised him as an "etadagga" who was foremost among those with the special gift of delivering varied and versatile discourses (cittakathikanam).
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NOTE**: The mother of Bhikkhu Kumara-Kassapa was broken-hearted because King Pasenadi took her baby away to raise in his palace. She truly missed her kid through all those years and always wished that she could meet him again someday. Her wish came true one day, when she suddenly saw bhikkhu Kumara-Kassapa walking by for alms food! She was immensely happy, running to him so fast that she stumbled and fell to the ground in front of him. Bhikkhu Kumara-Kassapa realized that his mother was capable of enlightenment, but her overwhelming love has prevented her from unworldly attainments, therefore he intended to help her overcoming the worthless worldly love. So, instead of showing love and gladness, he criticized his mother that despite of her having been a bhikkhuni for quite a long time, it was shameful that she still could not let go of the wordly attachment. The ruse succeeded; his words cut through her heart like a knife. She suffered so deeply that she walked away from him and went back to the monastery. She then meditated continuously, nonstop, and was able to attain arahantship that very night.

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NOTE: In the time of Padumuttara Buddha Kassapa was a learned brahmin, and having heard a monk ranked foremost in eloquence, he wished for a similar distinction and did many good deeds and merits towards the end.

NOTE: The superdeva was a deity of the Suddhávása brahma world. He was one of five friends who, in the time of Kassapa Buddha, had entered the Order and who, in order to meditate uninterruptedly, had climbed a rock by means of a ladder which they had then removed, thus cutting off their return. The eldest became an arahant in three days, the second (anuthera) was this superdeva, who had become an anágámí. The third was Pukkusáti, the fourth Báhiya Dárucíriya and the last Kumára-Kassapa. This superdeva was responsible for the arahantship both of Báhiya and Kumara-Kassapa.

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