Free Online FOOD for MIND & HUNGER - DO GOOD 😊 PURIFY MIND.To live like free birds 🐦 🦢 🦅 grow fruits 🍍 🍊 🥑 🥭 🍇 🍌 🍎 🍉 🍒 🍑 🥝 vegetables 🥦 🥕 🥗 🥬 🥔 🍆 🥜 🎃 🫑 🍅🍜 🧅 🍄 🍝 🥗 🥒 🌽 🍏 🫑 🌳 🍓 🍊 🥥 🌵 🍈 🌰 🇧🇧 🫐 🍅 🍐 🫒Plants 🌱in pots 🪴 along with Meditative Mindful Swimming 🏊‍♂️ to Attain NIBBĀNA the Eternal Bliss.
Kushinara NIBBĀNA Bhumi Pagoda White Home, Puniya Bhumi Bengaluru, Prabuddha Bharat International.
Categories:

Archives:
Meta:
April 2011
M T W T F S S
« Mar   May »
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930  
04/29/11
243 LESSON 30 04 2011 Bankei s Song of Original Mind Bankei Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 10:53 pm
comments (0)
242 LESSON 29 04 2011 Bala Sutta Fools and Wise People Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org-VOICE OF SARVAJAN HONEYLEAKS-Desperate bid to shield Congress leaders: Gadkari -[issuesonline_worldwide] Kanimozhi VS Nitin Gadkari – The Most Crooked & Corrupt
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 12:40 am


242 LESSON 29 04 2011 Bala Sutta Fools and  Wise People Free ONLINE
eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter 
to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic
Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org


Dove-02-june.gif (38556 bytes) THE BUDDHISTrevolving globe

ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

COURSE PROGRAM

LESSON 242

Please visit:

http://wn.com/Buddhist_Chants_Peace_Music__Hanshan_Temple

Bala Sutta: Fools

“Monks,
these two are fools. Which two? The one who takes up a burden that hasn’t
fallen to him, and the one who doesn’t take up a burden that has. These two are
fools.”

Bala-pandita Sutta: Fools & Wise People

“Monks,
these two are fools. Which two? The one who doesn’t see his transgression as a
transgression, and the one who doesn’t rightfully pardon another who has
confessed his transgression. These two are fools.

“These
two are wise people. Which two? The one who sees his transgression as a
transgression, and the one who rightfully pardons another who has confessed his
transgression. These two are wise people.”


ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

VOICE OF SARVAJAN HONEYLEAKS

Desperate bid to shield Congress leaders: Gadkari

[issuesonline_worldwide]
Kanimozhi VS Nitin Gadkari – The Most Crooked & Corrupt


FROM:

·        
Ravinder Singh

TO:

·        
PUCL@yahoogroups.com

·        
awakening_india@yahoogroups.com

·        
humanrightsactivist@yahoogroups.com

·        
5 More…

Monday, 25 April 2011 10:49 PM

Kanimozhi
VS Nitin Gadkari – The Most Crooked & Corrupt
 
We all condemn corruption of Kanimozhi for Rs. 200 crores transferred in to her
TV channel swiftly but there is not yet a line about Nitin Gadkari corruption since
1999 that is ten times larger than her –
 
- There was NO open bidding for ‘Distillery’ and Sugar Mill projects that was
initially a cooperative but converted in to Private, acquiring 250 acres of
farm land, along side installed 22 MW cogen plant even as there was no Sugar
Cane for his plant, he ran it on Coal not procured from Coal India but from
Smugglers, he also got clearances for 540MW thermal project, acquired two Sugar
Mills and other projects.
 
Gadkari corrupted every institution.
 
Ravinder Singh
April26, 2011
 
First thing Nitin Gadkari did when BJP came to power was to acquire
‘Distillery’ license that would ensure Rs.2 crores per day profits though it
was under the pretensions of helping Sugar Farmers to earn more and setting up
of a Sugar Mill.
 
This case study is crucial as this Purti Sugar Mill was the first major venture
undertaken by Nitin Gadkari – for an ex Minister and close to RSS BJP NDA every
rule was broken to promote him.
 
There was no sugar cane cultivation area in the normal operating range of the
Project Site yet he was allowed to set up a Sugar Factory.
 
Sugar mill required just 25 acres of land but Nitin Gadkari was allowed 250
acres for 22 MW Cogen power project – even Maruti Car factory had 100 acres
land.
 
When we in UP were opposed to 2500 acres for 10,000 MW project in Dadri, he
silently grabbed 250 acres for 22MW cogen plant with eye on 500MW coal based
project.
 
In addition he also managed to get license for ‘Distillery Complex Also’ and
Ethanol project as well with capacity of 45,000 & 120,000 Liters Per Day.
Distillery and Ethanol plants are identical.
 
As I said earlier like a pig he looks left but runs right, though in original
plan he wanted Purti Cooperative Sugar Mill – he turned a Cooperative to private
company.
 
165,000 proof liters per day is 412500 liters per day or 5,50,000 bottles per
day of alcoholic drinks. Even Rs.50 per bottle profit is Rs.2.7 crores per day
income or Rs. 2 crores per day profits. 
 
Ravinder Singh
February18, 2011
 
http://www.sinetinfo.com/pdf/casestudies_sugar.pdf

PURTI CO-OPERATIVE SUGAR MILL LTD.:
 
M/s Purti sugar mill is situated at Khursapar (Bela) village near about 60 KM
from Nagpur at national highway (Nagpur-Chandrapur) in Umred Taluka. This
complex has been started within the leadership of Shri. Nitinji Gadkari,
Chairman, who had laid the foundation stone of this multiproduct complex, which
in the years to come would be the ideal example for whole Indian sugar industry
sector.
 
This multiproduct complex is spread over 250 Acres and consist of the
Following
 
• Sugar complex -capacity 2500 TPD/day (tons per day)
• Distillery complex- capacity Sprit– 45,000 KLPD (kilo liters per day)
Ethanol– 1,20,000 KLPD
• Co-generation complex( capacity 22 MW)
• Bio-disel complex capacity (3000 liters/day)
• Bio-composting unit
 
Sugar Complex
 
The sugar industry began its crushing operation in 2002 with a capacity of 2500
TPD. of cane per day. But eventually operating a sugar factory in an area where
small number of farmers are planting sugar cane which is insufficient to assure
the operation of the sugar factory would not have been commercially viable.
This year the restriction of the command area has been removed by the
government which in turns helps the industry to procure the sugarcane from
outside the command area.
 
In this region water table is very low therefore water scarcity problem is very
high as compare to other sugarcane growing region. This sugar factory has an
enormous importance for the surrounding community.
 
Being located in the rural area, it provides employment opportunity and
increases secondary business in the area. During the harvesting season, the
cane is taken to the mill mostly by tractors (single & doubled trolley),
bullock cart, and trucks. This year, most of the sugar cane came from the
nearby areas like Wardha , Nanded, Selu, which approximately takes 6 to 8 hrs,
while in case of Madhya Pradesh it takes more than 12 to 15 hrs.
 
Harvesting is done by hand. Sugarcane cutting is a hard and dirty job, but
provides employment to people in nearby areas where jobs are scarce. Sugarcane
is cut at about ground level, the top green leaves are chopped off and then the
stalk is bundled. Once a complete bundle has been assembled, it is removed from
the field with the help of labourers and transferred to a larger vehicle for
transport to the mill. The harvested sugar cane should be crushed within 24
hrs. to get a good recovery of sugar. Therefore every sugar mill has provided
transportation and harvesting facility to the farmers on nominal charges, which
ultimately provides secondary employment to the nearby communities.
 
In general, almost all sugar mills depend for their supplies of sugar cane on
large number of independent farmers, producing the crop for profits. If the
yield per hectare is improved, the benefit goes to the growers while if the
cane is rich enough in sugar content; it becomes profitable to the mills.
Therefore cane
growing and milling are essentially a joint enterprise what helps the grower
helps the miller and vice- versa.
 
Sugarcane considered as a alternative crop in this area, most of the farmers go
for the cotton, some of them cultivating orange, which in this area, gives a
good income to the farmers. As this mill has started operating only recently,
the mill at present does not have an agriculture development department but
through traditional channels, they are in touch with the farmers and purchase
sugar cane from nearby areas. The harvesters which are deployed by the mill are
mostly from the area where the sugarcane growing and harvesting is a
traditional
business like western Maharashtra, Maratwada & Andhra Pradesh. They are
largely migrated workers who live nearby to the factory in small tents
(Zopadi).
 
They harvest the crop and then load it on to the vehicle in presence of the
crop owner (Farmer). Each group of harvester consists of 8-10 members. The
transporting agent gets the slip signed by the farmer and goes to the weighing
and crushing center. Weighing is located near to the crushing center. Once the
weighing has being carried out, mill officials will note down the entry of the
crop weight, name of crop owner and the vehicle number, for further procedure.
The payment of the crop will directly be deposited in the account of each
farmer or can be paid directly. The sugarcane vehicles is then unloaded at the
crushing centre with the help of lifters, the lifted bundle of sugarcane is
then conveyed
to the cane leveler where it is cut and chipped. The cut cane blanket is then
fed to tandem of mill, wherein it is crushed and the juice is extracted. The
manager needs to process the cane as soon as possible if sucrose losses are to
be avoided. Typically, cane is processed within 24 hours after harvesting.
Following
are the steps, which are involved in the manufacturing of sugar.
 
Extraction of juice: The extraction is actually conducted as a counter-current
process using fresh hot water being pumped at one end in the opposite direction
to the cane. The more the water is used, the more is the sugar extracted but
the more dilute the mixed juice, hence more energy will be required to
evaporate the juice. In many factories, the cane is crushed in a series of large
roller mills similar to a mangle [wringer] and the sweet juice extracted.
Generally juice looks pretty dirty, because of contamination with soil
particles from the fields, small
fibers and the green extracts from the plant. There are several important aspects
to extraction which involve the energy balance of the mill, the efficiency of
extraction and therefore ultimately the profitability of operations. The
fibrous cane material after the extraction of juice is called the bagasse
 
Clarification: -The extracted juices are then heated to 60-65o c in juice
heater and passed to reaction tank where the liming and sulphitation takes
place. This limed and sulphited juice is pumped back to a ‘clarifier’ after
heating to 100o c. which remains there for about 3 hr. During this stage in the
clarifier, the heavy insoluble impurities, mostly soil and mud are precipitates
which are then pumped to a vacuum filter, which remove the liquid portion from
the mud, while the solid muddy portion is taken out of the mill building. This
is used as manure or can serve as raw material for the extraction of crude wax.
 
Boiling: -The raw juice is now clarified and is called the clarified juice. It
is then passed through a set of evaporator which boils the excess water under
vacuum
concentrating it gradually, as it passes from one evaporator to another.
Finally concentrated juice called the sugar syrup is sent to the pan floor
wherein the final
crystallization takes place, under vacuum. The evaporation is carried out under
vacuum.
 
Crystallization: - A viscous solid mass consisting of sugar crystals and mother
liquor is dropped in the crystallizer and it then passes through the pug mills
to centrifugal machines. Due to very high gravity factor, the viscous mother
liquor passes through the opening in the liner and the sugar is retained on the
screen and the sugar is then dropped in hopper.
 
Grading & Packaging:-
 
The sugar is then passed on to a unit called grader, which grades the sugar in
different grades and in different sizes as per the Indian sugar standards. At
present, Purti is producing S-30 which is around Rs. 30– 100 less than M-30
grade of sugar. The sugar is bagged in the pre-stamped gunny bags, weighed; the
grades and number marked on the bags and these bags are stored in godowns and
are finally sold. The transportation of sugar from mill to market is mostly
carried out by road. Though the Indian sugar industry is more concentrated in
rural part of India but the area is well connected with most of the
metropolitan cities in India.
 
Distillery Complex
 
The by-product generated from the production of sugar is sent to the down
stream industry. Molasses, generated from sugar manufacturing finds its way to
the distillery industry which is adjacent to the sugar complex, where it is
used as a raw material to produce various industrial chemicals, alcohol, and
power biofuels. Presently M/s Purti Co-operative Sugar Mill has a well equipped
distillery complex for production of Sprit and Ethanol with installed capacity
of 45,000 KLPD of sprit and 1,20,000 KLPD of ethanol which is an important
basic feed stock for manufacture of various chemicals. These chemicals are good
substitutes for petrochemicals and petrol based chemicals in India. The waste
water produced is treated in the effluent treatment plant and then treated
water is recycled for on-site use, sent back to the river or used to irrigate
the cane-farms.
 
Molasses stream.
 
The fibrous cane material left after the extraction of juice, called bagasse
goes to the boiler, wherein the same is burnt producing steam and electricity.
At present M/s Purti Co-operative Sugar Mill is producing 2 MW electricity that
powers the mill to process sugar from cane juice and alcohol in distillery
industry.
 
M/s Reliance Industries has recently signed an electricity purchase
agreement of 22 MW with Purti. The bagasse is being stored into a open ground.
The construction of full fledge co-generation plant is ongoing. Very soon it
will start working to its full capacity. the two multi fuel boiler has been
constructed with installed capacity i.e. working pressure 22 KG and 67 KG
respectively
 
Bio-Disel Complex
 
Purti Sakhar Karkhana is one of its kind which has a bio-diesel plant. This
plant was started to cope up with the power shortage and fuel problem. When the
sugar complex was in the preliminary stage there was a lot of vehicles and
generator use to work for 24 hr. which consume huge amount of fuel and
accounted for the extra cost to the mill, which prompted Mr. Gadkari chairman
of this mill and he had started the bio-disel plant with an installed capacity
of 3000 liters as a solution to the problem. This complex has started to make
biodisel from cotton seed oil and Jatropa (local name karanji) cotton seed
which is locally available in good quantity and quality. Presently all the
vehicles ,generators and other instruments which need petroleum fuel are
running on biodisel produced by M/s Purti Co-operative Sugar Mill.
 
Bio-composting unit
 
Spent wash generated from the distillery, sludge from ETP and excess of bagasse
is used as a filler material for bio-composting, The produced compost is then
supplied to the farmers at nominal cost.
 
Recommendations:
 
1) Mill should take up a sort of programme to encourage the nearby farmers for
sugarcane plantation.
 
2) There are very few water irrigation schemes in this area therefore mill can
think to develop water reservoirs and provide irrigation facility on subsidized
rate.
3) As practiced in the western Maharashtra mill can think for the bio-gas
generation plant.
 
4) Mill have to undertake few rain water, rooftop rain water and ground water
recharging projects in the area.
 
5) It is highly recommended that mill should established agriculture
development department.
 
Acknowledgement
Mr. Nitinji Gadkari, Chairman
Mr. Sudhir Diwe, Managing Director
Mr. D. R. Jadhav, Works Manager (Sugar)
Mr. Sandeep Mendjoge, Sr. Executive Admin.
 
M/s Purti Sakhar Karkhana Ltd.
2nd floor, Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan, Gandhisagar,
Mahal, Nagpur-440 002
Maharashtra, India



comments (0)
04/27/11
241 LESSON 28 04 2011 Bahiya Sutta About Bahiya Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 10:03 pm

241 LESSON 28 04 2011 Bahiya Sutta About Bahiya Free ONLINE eNālandā Research
and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter
 
to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic
Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org

Dove-02-june.gif (38556 bytes) THE BUDDHISTrevolving globe

ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

COURSE PROGRAM

LESSON 241

Please visit:

http://www.archive.org/details/BahiyaSutta


Bahiya Sutta: About Bahiya

I have heard that on one
occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi, in Jeta’s
Grove, Anathapindika’s monastery. Now at that time Bahiya of the Bark-cloth was living in Supparaka
by the seashore. He was worshipped, revered, honored, venerated, given homage —
a recipient of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medical requisites for the sick.
Then, when he was alone in seclusion, this line of thinking arose to his
awareness: “Now, of those who in this world are arahants or have entered
the path of arahantship, am I one?”

Then a devata who had once
been a blood relative of Bahiya of the Bark-cloth — compassionate, desiring his
welfare, knowing with her own awareness the line of thinking that had arisen in
his awareness — went to where he was staying and on arrival said to him:
“You, Bahiya, are neither an arahant nor have you entered the path of arahantship.
You don’t even have the practice whereby you would become an arahant or enter
the path of arahantship.”

“But who, living in this
world with its devas, is an arahant or has entered the path to
arahantship?”

“Bahiya, there is a city
in the northern country named Savatthi. The Blessed One — an arahant, rightly
self-awakened — is living there now. He is truly an arahant and he teaches the
Dhamma that leads to arahantship. “

Then Bahiya, deeply chastened
by the devata, left Supparaka right then and, in the space of one day and
night, went all the way to where the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi, in
Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s monastery. At that time, a large number of monks
were doing walking meditation in the open air. He went to them and, on arrival,
said, “Where, venerable sirs, is the Blessed One staying — the arahant,
right self-awakened? We want to see him.”

“He has gone into the
town for alms.”

Then Bahiya, hurriedly leaving
Jeta’s Grove and entering Savatthi, saw the Blessed One going for alms in
Savatthi — calm, calming, his senses at peace, his mind at peace, tranquil and
poised in the ultimate sense, accomplished, trained, guarded, his senses
restrained, a Great One (naga). Seeing him, he approached the
Blessed One and, on reaching him, threw himself down, with his head at the
Blessed One’s feet, and said, “Teach me the Dhamma, O Blessed One! Teach
me the Dhamma, O One-Well-Gone, that will be for my long-term welfare and
bliss.”

When this was said, the
Blessed One said to him: “This is not the time, Bahiya. We have entered
the town for alms.”

A second time, Bahiya said to
the Blessed One: “But it is hard to know for sure what dangers there may
be for the Blessed One’s life, or what dangers there may be for mine. Teach me
the Dhamma, O Blessed One! Teach me the Dhamma, O One-Well-Gone, that will be
for my long-term welfare and bliss.”

A second time, the Blessed One
said to him: “This is not the time, Bahiya. We have entered the town for
alms.”

A third time, Bahiya said to
the Blessed One: “But it is hard to know for sure what dangers there may
be for the Blessed One’s life, or what dangers there may be for mine. Teach me
the Dhamma, O Blessed One! Teach me the Dhamma, O One-Well-Gone, that will be
for my long-term welfare and bliss.”

“Then, Bahiya, you should
train yourself thus: In reference to the seen, there will be only the seen. In
reference to the heard, only the heard. In reference to the sensed, only the
sensed. In reference to the cognized, only the cognized. That is how you should
train yourself. When for you there will be only the seen in reference to the
seen, only the heard in reference to the heard, only the sensed in reference to
the sensed, only the cognized in reference to the cognized, then, Bahiya, there
is no you in terms of that. When there is no you in terms of that, there is no
you there. When there is no you there, you are neither here nor yonder nor
between the two. This, just this, is the end of stress.”

Through
hearing
this
brief explanation of the Dhamma from the Blessed One, the mind of Bahiya of the
Bark-cloth right then and there was released from the effluents through lack of
clinging/sustenance. Having exhorted Bahiya of the Bark-cloth with this brief
explanation of the Dhamma, the Blessed One left.

Now, not long after the Blessed One’s
departure, Bahiya — attacked by a cow with a calf — lost his life. Then the
Blessed One, having gone for alms in Savatthi, after the meal, returning from
his alms round with a large number of monks, saw that Bahiya had died. On seeing
him, he said to the monks, “Take Bahiya’s body and, placing it on a litter
and carrying it away, cremate it and build him a memorial. Your companion in
the holy life has died.”

“As you say, lord,”
the monks replied. After placing Bahiya’s body on a litter, carrying it off,
cremating it, and building him a memorial, they went to the Blessed One and, on
arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As they were sitting there,
they said to him, “Bahiya’s body has been cremated, lord, and his memorial
has been built. What is his destination? What is his future state?”

“Monks, Bahiya of the
Bark-cloth was wise. He practiced the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma and
did not pester me with issues related to the Dhamma. Bahiya of the Bark-cloth,
monks, is totally unbound.”

Then, on realizing the
significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:

Where water, earth,
fire, & wind have no footing:

There the stars do not shine, the sun is not visible, the moon
does not appear, darkness is not found. And when a sage, a brahman through
sagacity, has known [this] for himself, then from form & formless, from
bliss & pain, he is freed.


comments (0)
240 LESSON 27 04 2011Ayoniso-manasikara Sutta: Inappropriate Attention Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 12:54 am

240 LESSON 27 04 2011 Ayoniso-manasikara Sutta: Inappropriate Attention Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and
Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social
Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org


Dove-02-june.gif (38556 bytes) THE BUDDHISTrevolving globe

ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

COURSE PROGRAM


LESSON 240

Ayoniso-manasikara Sutta: Inappropriate Attention

I have
heard that on one occasion a certain monk was dwelling among the Kosalans in a forest thicket. Now at that time, he spent the
day’s abiding thinking evil, unskillful thoughts: i.e., thoughts of sensuality,
thoughts of ill will, thoughts of doing harm.

Then the
devata inhabiting the forest thicket, feeling sympathy for the monk, desiring
his benefit, desiring to bring him to his senses, approached him and addressed
him with this verse:

From inappropriate attention you’re being chewed by your
thoughts. Relinquishing what’s inappropriate, contemplate appropriately.
Keeping your mind on the Teacher, the Dhamma, the Sangha, your virtues, you
will arrive at joy, rapture, pleasure without doubt. Then, saturated with joy,
you will put an end to suffering & stress.

The monk,
chastened by the devata, came to his senses.


comments (0)
04/26/11
239 LESSON 26 04 2011 Khema Sutta With Khema Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org-Mayawati against black money and criminalisation in politics
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 1:23 am

239 LESSON 26 04 2011 Khema Sutta With Khema
Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and
Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social
Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org

Dove-02-june.gif (38556 bytes) THE BUDDHISTrevolving globe

ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

COURSE PROGRAM

LESSON 239

Khema
Sutta: With Khema


On one occasion the Blessed
One was staying near
 Savatthi at Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s monastery. And on that occasion
the bhikkhuni Khema, wandering on tour among the Kosalans, had taken up
residence between Savatthi and
 Saketa at Toranavatthu. Then King Pasenadi Kosala, while traveling from Saketa to Savatthi,
took up a one-night residence between Savatthia and Saketa at Toranavatthu.
Then he addressed a certain man, “Come, now, my good man. Find out if in
Toranavatthu there’s the sort of brahman or contemplative I might visit
today.”


“As you say, sire,” the man replied to the king, but
having roamed all over Toranavatthu he did not see the sort of brahman or
contemplative the king might visit. But he did see the bhikkhuni Khema residing
in Toranavatthu. On seeing her, he went to King Pasenadi Kosala and on arrival
said to him, “Sire, in Toranavatthu there is no brahman or contemplative
of the sort your majesty might visit. But there is, however, a bhikkhuni named
Khema, a disciple of the Blessed One, worthy and rightly self-awakened. And of
this lady, this admirable report has spread about: ‘She is wise, competent,
intelligent, learned, a fluent speaker, admirable in her ingenuity.’ Let your
majesty visit her.”


Then King Pasenadi Kosala went to the bhikkhuni Khema and, on
arrival, having bowed down to her, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he
said to her, “Now then, lady, does the Tathagata exist after death?”


“That, great king, has not been declared by the Blessed
One: ‘The Tathagata exists after death.’”


“Well then, lady, does the Tathagata not exist after
death?”


“Great king, that too has not been declared by the Blessed
One: ‘The Tathagata does not exist after death.’”


“Then does the Tathagata both exist and not exist after
death?”


“That has not been declared by the Blessed One: ‘The
Tathagata both exists and does not exist after death.’”


“Well then, does the Tathagata neither exist nor not exist
after death?”


“That too has not been declared by the Blessed One: ‘The
Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist after death.’”


“Now, lady, when asked if the Tathagata exists after death,
you say, ‘That has not been declared by the Blessed One: “The Tathagata
exists after death.”‘ When asked if the Tathagata does not exist after
death… both exists and does not exist after death… neither exists nor does
not exist after death, you say, ‘That too has not been declared by the Blessed
One: “The Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist after death.”‘
Now, what is the cause, what is the reason, why that has not been declared by
the Blessed One?”


“Very well, then, great king, I will question you in return
about this very same matter. Answer as you see fit. What do you think great
king: Do you have an accountant or actuary or mathematician who can count the
grains of sand in the river Ganges as ’so many grains of sand’ or ’so many
hundreds of grains of sand’ or ’so many thousands of grains of sand’ or ’so
many hundreds of thousands of grains of sand’?”


“No, lady.”


“Then do you have an accountant or calculator or
mathematician who can count the water in the great ocean as ’so many buckets of
water’ or ’so many hundreds of buckets of water’ or ’so many thousands of
buckets of water’ or ’so many hundreds of thousands of buckets of water’?”


“No, lady. Why is that? The great ocean is deep, boundless,
hard to fathom.”


“Even so, great king, any
physical form by which one describing the Tathagata would describe him:
 That the Tathagata has abandoned, its root destroyed, made like
a palmyra stump, deprived of the conditions of development, not destined for
future arising. Freed from the classification of form, great king, the
Tathagata is deep, boundless, hard to fathom, like the ocean. ‘The Tathagata
exists after death’ doesn’t apply. ‘The Tathagata doesn’t exist after death
doesn’t apply. ‘The Tathagata both exists and doesn’t exist after death’ doesn’t
apply. ‘The Tathagata neither exists nor doesn’t exist after death’ doesn’t
apply.


“Any feeling… Any perception… Any mental fabrication…


“Any consciousness by
which one describing the Tathagata would describe him: That the Tathagata has
abandoned, its root destroyed, made like a palmyra stump, deprived of the
conditions of development, not destined for future arising. Freed from the
classification of consciousness, great king, the Tathagata is deep, boundless,
hard to fathom, like the ocean. ‘The Tathagata exists after death’ doesn’t
apply. ‘The Tathagata doesn’t exist after death doesn’t apply. ‘The Tathagata
both exists and doesn’t exist after death’ doesn’t apply. ‘The Tathagata
neither exists nor doesn’t exist after death’ doesn’t apply.”
 [1]


Then King Pasenadi Kosala, delighting in & approving of the
bhikkhuni Khema’s words, got up from his seat, bowed down to her and — keeping
her to his right — departed.


Then at another time he went to the Blessed One and, on arrival,
having bowed down to the Blessed One, sat to one side. As he was sitting there
[he asked the Blessed One the same questions he had asked the bhikkhuni Khema,
and received precisely the same responses and analogies. Then he exclaimed:]


“Amazing, lord! Astounding! How the meaning and phrasing of
the teacher and disciple agree, coincide, and do not diverge from one another
with regard to the supreme teaching! Recently, lord, I went to the bhikkhuni
Khema and, on arrival, asked her about this matter, and she answered me with
the same words, the same phrasing, as the Blessed One. Amazing, lord!
Astounding! How the meaning and phrasing of the teacher and disciple agree,
coincide, and do not diverge from one another with regard to the supreme
teaching!


“Now, lord, we must go. Many are our duties, many our
responsibilities.”


“Then do, great king, what you think it is now time to
do.”


So King Pasenadi Kosala, delighting in and approving of the
Blessed One’s words, got up from his seat, bowed down to the Blessed One and —
keeping him to his right — departed.

POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE

[ZESTCaste]
Mayawati against black money and criminalisation in politics

Hide Details

Saturday, 23 April 2011 5:27 PM

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/mayawati-against-black-money-and-criminalisation-in-politics/657112.html

Mayawati against black money and criminalisation in
politics
PTI | 09:04 PM,Apr 21,2011

Kolkata, Apr 21 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today
expressed concern over criminalisation in politics, flow of black
money and extended solidarity with the movement of social activist
Anna Hazare against corruption.”Large-scale corruption and flow of
black money in the country is a matter of concern. Anna Hazare rightly
raised his voice against this. We are always against corruption,” she
told an election meeting here for party candidates. She claimed
corruption and criminalisation in politics has reached its peak during
the rule of Congress, BJP and SP in Uttar Pradesh.The menace was
contained to a great extent soon after BSP came to power, Mayawati
said.”I came in power for four times in the state. I don’t take the
help of the corporate or capitalists or black money. I run my party
with the help of subscriptions from my supporters,” she said. Mayawati
also criticised the economic policy of the Congress-led UPA government
saying that it was serving the interest of the capitalists. Holding the
UPA government responsible for all the hurdles faced by the SC/STs,
OBC and other minorities, Mayawati said that the Centre had
failed to take concrete steps to improve the standard of lives of
these sections of the population.

comments (0)
04/24/11
238 LESSON 25 04 2011 Malunkyaputta Sutta To Malunkyaputta Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 11:00 pm

238 LESSON
25 04 2011

Malunkyaputta Sutta To Malunkyaputta
 Free ONLINE
eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter
  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social
Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org


Dove-02-june.gif (38556 bytes) 

THE BUDDHISTrevolving globe


ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

COURSE PROGRAM

LESSON 238

Malunkyaputta
Sutta: To Malunkyaputta

Then Ven. Malunkyaputta, who was ardent & resolute, went to
the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As
he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One: “It would be good, lord,
if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief so that, having heard the
Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone in seclusion: heedful, ardent,
& resolute.”

“Here now, Malunkyaputta: What will I say to the young
monks when you — aged, old, elderly, along in years, come to the last stage of
life — ask for an admonition in brief?”

“Lord, even though I’m aged, old, elderly, along in years,
come to the last stage of life, may the Blessed One teach me the Dhamma in
brief! May the One Well-gone teach me the Dhamma in brief! It may well be that
I’ll understand the Blessed One’s words. It may well be that I’ll become an
heir to the Blessed One’s words.”

“What do you think, Malunkyaputta: the forms cognizable via
the eye that are unseen by you — that you have never before seen, that you
don’t see, and that are not to be seen by you: Do you have any desire or
passion or love there?”

“No, lord.”[1]

“The sounds cognizable via the ear…

“The aromas cognizable via the nose…

“The flavors cognizable via the tongue…

“The tactile sensations cognizable via the body…

“The ideas cognizable via the intellect that are uncognized
by you — that you have never before cognized, that you don’t cognize, and that
are not to be cognized by you: Do you have any desire or passion or love
there?”

“No, lord.”

“Then, Malunkyaputta,
with regard to phenomena to be seen, heard, sensed, or cognized: In reference
to the seen, there will be only the seen. In reference to the heard, only the
heard. In reference to the sensed, only the sensed. In reference to the
cognized, only the cognized. That is how you should train yourself. When for
you there will be only the seen in reference to the seen, only the heard in
reference to the heard, only the sensed in reference to the sensed, only the
cognized in reference to the cognized, then, Malunkyaputta, there is no
 youin
connection with that. When there is no you in connection with that, there is no you there. When there is no you there, you are neither here nor yonder
nor between the two. This, just this, is the end of stress.”[2]

“I understand in detail, lord, the meaning of what the
Blessed One has said in brief:

 

Seeing a form

               
mindfulness lapsed —

attending

                to
the theme of ‘endearing,’

impassioned in mind,

                one
feels

                and
remains fastened there.

One’s feelings, born of the form,

                grow
numerous,

Greed & annoyance

                injure
one’s mind.

Thus amassing stress,

                one
is said to be far from Unbinding.

 

Hearing a sound…

Smelling an aroma…

Tasting a flavor…

Touching a tactile sensation…

 

Knowing an idea

               
mindfulness lapsed —

attending

                to
the theme of ‘endearing,’

impassioned in mind,

                one
feels

                and
remains fastened there.

One’s feelings, born of the idea,

                grow
numerous,

Greed & annoyance

                injure
one’s mind.

Thus amassing stress,

                one
is said to be far from Unbinding.

 

Not impassioned with forms

               
seeing a form with mindfulness firm —

dispassioned in mind,

                one
knows

                and
doesn’t remain fastened there.

While one is seeing a form

               
and even experiencing feeling —

it falls away and doesn’t accumulate.

Thus one fares mindfully.

Thus not amassing stress,

                one
is said to be

in the presence of Unbinding.

 

Not impassioned with sounds…

Not impassioned with aromas…

Not impassioned with flavors…

Not impassioned with tactile sensations…

 

Not impassioned with ideas

               
knowing an idea with mindfulness firm —

dispassioned in mind,

                one
knows

                and
doesn’t remain fastened there.

While one is knowing an idea

               
and even experiencing feeling —

it falls away and doesn’t accumulate.

Thus one fares mindfully.

Thus not amassing stress,

                one
is said to be

in the presence of Unbinding.

“It’s in this way, lord, that I understand in detail the
meaning of what the Blessed One said in brief.”

“Good, Malunkyaputta. Very good. It’s good that you
understand in detail this way the meaning of what I said in brief.”

[The Buddha then repeats the verses.]

“It’s in this way, Malunkyaputta, that the meaning of what
I said in brief should be regarded in detail.”


Then Ven. Malunkyaputta,
having been admonished by the admonishment
 from
the Blessed One, got up from his seat and bowed down to the Blessed One,
circled around him, keeping the Blessed One to his right side, and left. Then,
dwelling alone, secluded, heedful, ardent, & resolute, he in no long time
reached & remained in the supreme goal of the holy life for which clansmen
rightly go forth from home into homelessness, knowing & realizing it for
himself in the here & now. He knew: “Birth is ended, the holy life
fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for the sake of this
world.” And thus Ven. Malunkyaputta became another one of the arahants.




comments (0)
237 LESSON 24 04 2011 Bahiya Sutta About Bahiya Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 4:56 am

237 LESSON
24 04 2011
Bahiya Sutta About Bahiya Free ONLINE
eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter
  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation
to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org

Dove-02-june.gif (38556 bytes) THE BUDDHISTrevolving globe


ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

LESSON 237

Bahiya
Sutta: About Bahiya

I have heard that on one occasion
the Blessed One was staying near
 Savatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s
monastery. Now at that time Bahiya of
the Bark-cloth was living inSupparaka by the seashore. He was worshipped,
revered, honored, venerated, given homage — a recipient of robes, almsfood,
lodgings, and medical requisites for the sick. Then, when he was alone in
seclusion, this line of thinking arose to his awareness: “Now, of those
who in this world are arahants or have entered the path of arahantship, am I
one?”

Then
a devata who had once been a blood relative of Bahiya of the Bark-cloth —
compassionate, desiring his welfare, knowing with her own awareness the line of
thinking that had arisen in his awareness — went to where he was staying and on
arrival said to him: “You, Bahiya, are neither an arahant nor have you
entered the path of arahantship. You don’t even have the practice whereby you
would become an arahant or enter the path of arahantship.”

“But
who, living in this world with its devas, is an arahant or has entered the path
to arahantship?”

“Bahiya,
there is a city in the northern country named Savatthi. The Blessed One — an
arahant, rightly self-awakened — is living there now. He is truly an arahant
and he teaches the Dhamma that leads to arahantship. “

Then
Bahiya, deeply chastened by the devata, left Supparaka right then and, in the
space of one day and night, went all the way to where the Blessed One was
staying near Savatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s monastery. At that
time, a large number of monks were doing walking meditation in the open air. He
went to them and, on arrival, said, “Where, venerable sirs, is the Blessed
One staying — the arahant, right self-awakened? We want to see him.”

“He
has gone into the town for alms.”

Then Bahiya, hurriedly leaving
Jeta’s Grove and entering Savatthi, saw the Blessed One going for alms in
Savatthi — calm, calming, his senses at peace, his mind at peace, tranquil and
poised in the ultimate sense, accomplished, trained, guarded, his senses
restrained, a
 Great One (naga).
Seeing him, he approached the Blessed One and, on reaching him, threw himself
down, with his head at the Blessed One’s feet, and said, “Teach me the
Dhamma, O Blessed One! Teach me the Dhamma, O One-Well-Gone, that will be for
my long-term welfare and bliss.”

When
this was said, the Blessed One said to him: “This is not the time, Bahiya.
We have entered the town for alms.”

A
second time, Bahiya said to the Blessed One: “But it is hard to know for
sure what dangers there may be for the Blessed One’s life, or what dangers
there may be for mine. Teach me the Dhamma, O Blessed One! Teach me the Dhamma,
O One-Well-Gone, that will be for my long-term welfare and bliss.”

A
second time, the Blessed One said to him: “This is not the time, Bahiya.
We have entered the town for alms.”

A
third time, Bahiya said to the Blessed One: “But it is hard to know for
sure what dangers there may be for the Blessed One’s life, or what dangers
there may be for mine. Teach me the Dhamma, O Blessed One! Teach me the Dhamma,
O One-Well-Gone, that will be for my long-term welfare and bliss.”

“Then,
Bahiya, you should train yourself thus: In reference to the seen, there will be
only the seen. In reference to the heard, only the heard. In reference to the
sensed, only the sensed. In reference to the cognized, only the cognized. That
is how you should train yourself. When for you there will be only the seen in
reference to the seen, only the heard in reference to the heard, only the
sensed in reference to the sensed, only the cognized in reference to the
cognized, then, Bahiya, there is no you in terms of that. When there is no you
in terms of that, there is no you there. When there is no you there, you are
neither here nor yonder nor between the two. This, just this, is the end of
stress.”

Through hearing this
brief explanation of the Dhamma from the Blessed One, the mind of Bahiya of the
Bark-cloth right then and there was released from the effluents through lack of
clinging/sustenance. Having exhorted Bahiya of the Bark-cloth with this brief
explanation of the Dhamma, the Blessed One left.

Now, not long
after the Blessed One’s departure, Bahiya — attacked by a cow with a calf —
lost his life. Then the Blessed One, having gone for alms in Savatthi, after
the meal, returning from his alms round with a large number of monks, saw that
Bahiya had died. On seeing him, he said to the monks, “Take Bahiya’s body
and, placing it on a litter and carrying it away, cremate it and build him a
memorial. Your companion in the holy life has died.”

“As
you say, lord,” the monks replied. After placing Bahiya’s body on a
litter, carrying it off, cremating it, and building him a memorial, they went
to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side.
As they were sitting there, they said to him, “Bahiya’s body has been
cremated, lord, and his memorial has been built. What is his destination? What
is his future state?”

“Monks,
Bahiya of the Bark-cloth was wise. He practiced the Dhamma in accordance with
the Dhamma and did not pester me with issues related to the Dhamma. Bahiya of
the Bark-cloth, monks, is totally unbound.”

Then,
on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion
exclaimed:

 

Where water, earth, fire,
& wind have no footing:

 

There
the stars do not shine,

the
sun is not visible,

the
moon does not appear,

darkness
is not found.

And
when a sage,

a
brahman through sagacity,

has
known [this] for himself,

then
from form & formless,

from
bliss & pain,


he is
freed.

POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE

 Could you please take some pain to read PDF file from this link.
This link will give some information about your question.

Please watch this YouTube Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe4TQHNs6w4

for

Uttar Pradesh

MAYAWATI : THE KING ASHOKA OF THIS ERA

Mahamaya, Gautam Buddha, Panchsheel, Savitri Bai Phule hi-tech govt college in UP


Hi All,
If we go by the word of the district administration, year 2011 is going to bring about a “sea change” in the education scenario in Gautam Budh Nagar district of UP with chief minister Mayawati’s dream project of providing “affordable and quality English education to all” becoming a reality.

Four government-run English medium senior secondary schools — two each in Noida and Greater Noida — with infrastructure and facilities matching those of renowned private schools have become functional and have finalized their affiliation with the Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE).

Constructed at a cost of Rs 600 crore, the four institutions —

Mahamaya Girls’ Inter College in Noida’s sector 44,
Panchsheel Boys’ Inter College in Noida’s sector 91,
Savitri Bai Phule Girls’ Inter College in Kasna (Greater Noida) and
Gautam Buddha Boys’ Inter College at Knowledge Park V in Greater Noida — have all modern facilities in place.

A first in Uttar Pradesh, these schools have high-tech classrooms with facilities like projectors and electronic screens, laboratories, well equipped libraries, air-conditioned blocks, elevators, hostels, staff housing complexes, auditoriums and sport complexes among others.

Construction work at the primary section in Mahamaya Girls Inter College and Panchsheel Balak Inter College was completed last year and the schools have opened for students of classes I to VII.

The four schools will now begin the admission process in mid-April for students up to class IX for the session 2011-12. Students of class XI will be admitted from July onwards. The four centres became functional last year with classes starting for classes I to VII. In 2011-12 session, students of class IX will be admitted in May and those of class XI will be given admission in July.

“Our existing student strength is 5,050. Once the senior classes are opened, 320 more students can join us. We are ready to cater to such a large number. Work at the auditorium and sports complex is 80% complete. Our hi-tech library and science labs are ready. We are focusing on installation of CCTV cameras and on introducing e-learning,” said Dr Satyaveer Singh, principal of Panchsheel Balak Inter College.

The authorities are also thinking of introducing a new aptitude or IQ test based on patterns practised in several private schools for students seeking admission in the primary section.

The opening of these institutions is expected to give the much-needed thrust to the quality of education in government-run schools in the district. Moreover, the fees in the schools are kept low. The four schools will charge tuition fee of Rs 290 for classes I to VIII, Rs 490 for classes IX and X and Rs 700 for XI and XII. “This (low fees and high-end education) is the only such experiment in the state. The mandate is to provide quality education at low cost,” said N P Singh, secretary, Noida and Greater Noida Education
Society.

The schools are governed by the Noida and Greater Noida Education Society and headed by the UP cabinet secretary. They are funded by Noida and Greater Noida authorities.

The four schools have a total of 100 teachers, and the authorities are currently recruiting another 100 “qualified and dedicated” teaching staff as well as non-teaching staff to cater to the new students.

Currently, there are around 2,240 seats in the four schools. The number will go up with the addition of senior schools. Of these 85% seats have been reserved for people domiciled in UP. Nearly 50% of the total seats have been reserved for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward castes.

With Regards
Sandip Patil

Mumbai, 8149645674

comments (0)
04/22/11
236 LESSON 23 04 2011 Thana Sutta Traits Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org-POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE-Mayawati: why no Scheduled Caste on Lokpal panel?
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 10:06 pm

236 LESSON 23 04 2011 Thana Sutta  Traits Free ONLINE eNālandā Research
and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter
  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social
Transformation and
Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org

Dove-02-june.gif (38556 bytes) THE BUDDHISTrevolving globe

ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER


LESSON 236

Thana Sutta: Traits

“Monks,
these four traits may be known by means of four [other] traits. Which four?

“It’s
through living together that a person’s virtue may be known, and then only
after a long period, not a short period; by one who is attentive, not by one
who is inattentive; by one who is discerning, not by one who is not discerning.

“It’s
through dealing with a person that his purity may be known, and then only after
a long period, not a short period; by one who is attentive, not by one who is
inattentive; by one who is discerning, not by one who is not discerning.

“It’s
through adversity that a person’s endurance may be known, and then only after a
long period, not a short period; by one who is attentive, not by one who is
inattentive; by one who is discerning, not by one who is not discerning.

“It’s
through discussion that a person’s discernment may be known, and then only
after a long period, not a short period; by one who is attentive, not by one
who is inattentive; by one who is discerning, not by one who is not discerning.

[1] “‘It’s through living together that a
person’s virtue may be known, and then only after a long period, not a short
period; by one who is attentive, not by one who is inattentive; by one who is
discerning, not by one who is not discerning’: Thus was it said. And in
reference to what was it said?

“There
is the case where one individual, through living with another, knows this: ‘For
a long time this person has been torn, broken, spotted, splattered in his
actions. He hasn’t been consistent in his actions. He hasn’t practiced
consistently with regard to the precepts. He is an unprincipled person, not a
virtuous, principled one.’ And then there is the case where one individual,
through living with another, knows this: ‘For a long time this person has been
untorn, unbroken, unspotted, unsplattered in his actions. He has been
consistent in his actions. He has practiced consistently with regard to the
precepts. He is a virtuous, principled person, not an unprincipled one.’

“‘It’s
through living together that a person’s virtue may be known, and then only
after a long period, not a short period; by one who is attentive, not by one
who is inattentive; by one who is discerning, not by one who is not
discerning’: Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said.

[2] “‘It’s through dealing with a person
that his purity may be known, and then only after a long period, not a short
period; by one who is attentive, not by one who is inattentive; by one who is
discerning, not by one who is not discerning’: Thus was it said. And in
reference to what was it said?

“There
is the case where one individual, through dealing with another, knows this:
‘This person deals one way when one-on-one, another way when with two, another
way when with three, another way when with many. His earlier dealings do not
jibe with his later dealings. He is impure in his dealings, not pure.’ And then
there is the case where one individual, through dealing with another, knows
this: ‘The way this person deals when one-on-one, is the same way he deals when
with two, when with three, when with many. His earlier dealings jibe with his
later dealings. He is pure in his dealings, not impure.’

“‘It’s
through dealing with a person that his purity may be known, and then only after
a long period, not a short period; by one who is attentive, not by one who is
inattentive; by one who is discerning, not by one who is not discerning’: Thus
was it said. And in reference to this was it said.

[3] “‘It’s through adversity that a
person’s endurance may be known, and then only after a long period, not a short
period; by one who is attentive, not by one who is inattentive; by one who is
discerning, not by one who is not discerning’: Thus was it said. And in
reference to what was it said?

“There
is the case where a person, suffering loss of relatives, loss of wealth, or
loss through disease, does not reflect: ‘That’s how it is when living together
in the world. That’s how it is when gaining a personal identity.[1]
When there is living in the world, when there is the gaining of a personal
identity, these eight worldly conditions spin after the world, and the world
spins after these eight worldly conditions: gain, loss, status, disgrace,
censure, praise, pleasure, & pain.’ Suffering loss of relatives, loss of
wealth, or loss through disease, he sorrows, grieves, & laments, beats his
breast, becomes distraught. And then there is the case where a person,
suffering loss of relatives, loss of wealth, or loss through disease, reflects:
‘That’s how it is when living together in the world. That’s how it is when
gaining a personal identity. When there is living in the world, when there is
the gaining of a personal identity, these eight worldly conditions spin after
the world, and the world spins after these eight worldly conditions: gain,
loss, status, disgrace, censure, praise, pleasure, & pain.’ Suffering loss
of relatives, loss of wealth, or loss through disease, he does not sorrow,
grieve, or lament, does not beat his breast or become distraught.

“‘It’s
through adversity that a person’s endurance may be known, and then only after a
long period, not a short period; by one who is attentive, not by one who is
inattentive; by one who is discerning, not by one who is not discerning’: Thus
was it said. And in reference to this was it said.

[4] “‘It’s through discussion that a
person’s discernment may be known, and then only after a long period, not a
short period; by one who is attentive, not by one who is inattentive; by one
who is discerning, not by one who is not discerning’: Thus was it said. And in
reference to what was it said?

“There
is the case where one individual, through discussion with another, knows this:
‘From the way this person rises to an issue, from the way he applies [his
reasoning], from the way he addresses a question, he is dull, not discerning.
Why is that? He does not make statements that are deep, tranquil, refined,
beyond the scope of conjecture, subtle, to-be-experienced by the wise. He
cannot declare the meaning, teach it, describe it, set it forth, reveal it,
explain it, or make it plain. He is dull, not discerning.’ Just as
if a man with good eyesight standing on the shore of a body of water were to
see a small fish rise. The thought would occur to him, ‘From the rise of this
fish, from the break of its ripples, from its speed, it is a small fish, not a
large one.’ In the same way, one individual, in discussion with another, knows
this: ‘From the way this person rises to an issue, from the way he applies [his
reasoning], from the way he addresses a question… he is dull, not
discerning.’

“And
then there is the case where one individual, through discussion with another,
knows this: ‘From the way this person rises to an issue, from the way he
applies [his reasoning], from the way he addresses a question, he is discerning,
not dull. Why is that? He makes statements that are deep, tranquil, refined,
beyond the scope of conjecture, subtle, to-be-experienced by the wise. He can
declare the meaning, teach it, describe it, set it forth, reveal it, explain
it, & make it plain. He is discerning, not dull.’ Just as if a man with
good eyesight standing on the shore of a body of water were to see a large fish
rise. The thought would occur to him, ‘From the rise of this fish, from the
break of its ripples, from its speed, it is a large fish, not a small one.’ In
the same way, one individual, in discussion with another, knows this: ‘From the
way this person rises to an issue, from the way he applies [his reasoning],
from the way he addresses a question… he is discerning, not dull.’

“‘It’s
through discussion that a person’s discernment may be known, and then only
after a long period, not a short period; by one who is attentive, not by one
who is inattentive; by one who is discerning, not by one who is not
discerning’: Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said.

“These,
monks, are the four traits that may be known by means of these four [other]
traits.”

POLITICS
is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE

Mayawati: why no Scheduled
Caste on Lokpal panel?

Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday criticised the Centre, the Congress
and civil society for not including any SC member in the Jan Lokpal Bill
drafting committee.

At
a press conference here, Ms. Mayawati invoked Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar
and his contribution to the socio-economic uplift of the downtrodden sections
to drive home her point. Even after 63 years of independence, was not a single
SC member found suitable to be on the drafting panel?

The
panel comprises Anna Hazare, Santosh Hegde, Arvind Kejriwal, Shanti Bhushan,
Prashant Bhushan (civil society members) and Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee,
P. Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, M. Veerappa Moily and Salman Khursheed (from the
government side).

In
a pointed reference to Gandhian Anna Hazare, Ms. Mayawati said he came from a
State, which has had a history of struggle for the socio-economic development
of the SCs and the STs. Dr. Ambedkar was also from Maharashtra. “Mr. Hazare
should have considered these aspects before naming the civil society members.”

The
“mistake” should be rectified by including an SC member from a non-political
background.

Referring
to the controversy surrounding the Bhushans but without naming them, Ms.
Mayawati suggested that the panel distance itself from members whose integrity
was in doubt.


comments (0)
235 LESSON 22 04 2011 Mahaparinibbana Sutta Last Days of the Buddha Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 2:06 am

235 LESSON 22 04 2011 Mahaparinibbana Sutta Last Days of the Buddha Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org

Dove-02-june.gif (38556 bytes) THE BUDDHISTrevolving globe

ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

LESSON 235
COURSE PROGRAM

Maha-parinibbana Sutta: Last Days of the Buddha

Foreword

The translation of the Maha-parinibbana Sutta

http://wn.com/Mahaparinibbana_Sutta

which is offered here is a work of collaboration, but is based upon a text prepared by Sister Vajira of Germany,
to whom credit for the initial work must be given. The final revision
of the text was done by Mr Francis Story. The notes and references
which, it is hoped, will help in the understanding of the text have been
contributed by the Venerable Nyanaponika Mahathera, much of the
material for them being taken from the Pali Commentary.

Every
effort has been made to give a faithful rendering of the original Pali.
The greater part of the sutta is straight forward narrative, but it
also includes references to profound aspects of the Dhamma, which have
to be understood in their precise meaning if the full import of the
Buddha’s last exhortations is to be conveyed. In the choice which
inevitably arises between terminological exactitude and literary form,
the translators have endeavoured to preserve the former with as little
sacrifice as possible of the latter. Those who understand the
difficulties of Pali translation will appreciate that this is no easy
task, and will readily overlook the absence of those literary graces
which only a freer rendering would have permitted.

As in previous translations, some repetitions have been omitted and some repetitive passages condensed.

— Buddhist Publication Society

Foreword to the Revised Edition

In this revised edition of Last Days of the Buddha, a number of stylistic changes have been made, aimed at improved readability. The word “Bhagava,”
untranslated in the original edition, has been replaced by “the Blessed
One”; several archaic expressions, which gave a slightly Biblical
flavour to the diction, have been replaced by their modern counterparts;
awkward sentences have been reformulated; and greater consistency was
aimed at in the rendering of certain terms and expressions. The notes
have also been revised in certain respects. The titles of the chapters
and sections have been supplied by the translator and editors, though
the division of the work into six recitation units dates back to the
period when the Canon was transmitted orally from one generation to the
next.


Introduction

Of
the thirty-four discourses (suttas) that make up the Digha Nikaya
(Collection of Long Discourses), ours, the sixteenth, is the longest,
and so altogether maintains the first place where length is concerned.

It
preserves the principal feature of the Buddhist sutta, insofar as it
is, like others, a rehearsal of events as they have been witnessed. On
account of its unique composition, however, it is, more than other
suttas, capable not only of winning the affection of the pious Buddhist,
as it naturally does, but also of attracting the general reader, since
it is indeed a fine specimen of sacred universal literature.

It
gives a good general idea of the Buddha’s Teaching, too, even though it
hardly offers anything that is not found — and often more extensively
dealt with — in other suttas.

At
the end of his life, after almost half a century’s ministry, the Master
had long since taught all that was necessary for attaining the ideal.
During the last period his primary concern, therefore, was to impress on
his followers the necessity of unflinchingly putting into practice
those very same teachings: an appeal that could, of course, hardly fail
in stirring their hearts more than ever before.

The
Sangha came, indeed, to witness the greatest event in its history, and
was keenly aware of it, especially since the Master had announced his
Parinibbana three months ahead. The impression on the bhikkhus who
flocked to him in large numbers as he was pressing northward was
tremendous, and could not fail to be reflected vividly in the oral
account. (The Buddhist canon was originally, as is well known,
altogether oral.) Because of its particular import and abundance, this
material was soon formed into one body; and so our sutta came to be.

In
this connection, it is hardly possible not to remember gratefully the
Venerable Ananda. His share in the preservation of the Master’s word is
paramount to any other bhikkhu’s, and his figure is inseparable from our
texts. This was to become manifest for all time in the Maha-parinibbana
Sutta, which is plainly unimaginable without him. For it is Ananda, and
again Ananda, whom the Master addresses, having tested for twenty-five
years his sure grasp and brilliant memory and also his indefatigable
personal devotion. But Ananda too, here more than elsewhere, by his
constant queries, worries, and amazements, becomes without intending it a
central figure beside the Master himself, which undoubtedly increases
the attractiveness of the text. Thus, then, Ananda, gentle and pleasant
as his name, and yet almost throughout his career incurring the reproach
of the brethren, was immortalized along with his beloved Master, and —
as we may add — along with his strange position between praise and
blame, assuming mystic character in the third chapter.

The
third chapter, almost exclusively, is devoted to depicting the
circumstances connected with the Master’s relinquishment of life, which
is the dramatic culmination of events. It overwhelmingly drives home the
purely metaphysical significance of the Parinibbana, or at least ought
to do so. For the Buddha neither succumbed to his fatal illness nor did
he give way to the appeal of Mara (which is identical with the
non-appeal of Ananda), but sovereignly let go of existence at a timely
hour, just as forty-five years earlier, on becoming fully awakened, he
had duly taken upon himself the wearisome task of teaching men. This
fact is most thought-provoking, and consistently leads to the conclusion
that by his Parinibbana, indeed, the Buddha bore the last and highest
possible testimony to his Teaching, which permits of no lingering
inclination to self-preservation and continuance, but on the contrary
reaches the highest exultation ending it all. The Master’s Parinibbana
is, therefore, the one sorrowful event in the history of Buddhism that
turns out, in its true meaning, to be really the most blissful.

— Sister Vajira
Ceylon
May 1961

Part One: In Magadha

1. Thus have I heard. Once the Blessed One [1] dwelt at Rajagaha, on the hill called Vultures’ Peak. At that time the king of Magadha, Ajatasattu, son of the Videhi queen, [2] desired to wage war against the Vajjis.
He spoke in this fashion: “These Vajjis, powerful and glorious as they
are, I shall annihilate them, I shall make them perish, I shall utterly
destroy them.”

2. And Ajatasattu, the king of Magadha, addressed his chief minister, the brahman Vassakara,
saying: “Come, brahman, go to the Blessed One, pay homage in my name at
his feet, wish him good health, strength, ease, vigour, and comfort,
and speak thus: ‘O Lord, Ajatasattu, the king of Magadha, desires to
wage war against the Vajjis. He has spoken in this fashion: “These
Vajjis, powerful and glorious as they are, I shall annihilate them, I
shall make them perish, I shall utterly destroy them.”‘ And whatever the
Blessed One should answer you, keep it well in mind and inform me; for
Tathagatas [3]
do not speak falsely.”

3.
“Very well, sire,” said the brahman Vassakara in assent to Ajatasattu,
king of Magadha. And he ordered a large number of magnificent carriages
to be made ready, mounted one himself, and accompanied by the rest,
drove out to Rajagaha towards Vultures’ Peak. He went by carriage as far
as the carriage could go, then dismounting, he approached the Blessed
One on foot. After exchanging courteous greetings with the Blessed One,
together with many pleasant words, he sat down at one side and addressed
the Blessed One thus: “Venerable Gotama, Ajatasattu, the king of
Magadha, pays homage at the feet of the Venerable Gotama and wishes him
good health, strength, ease, vigour, and comfort. He desires to wage war
against the Vajjis, and he has spoken in this fashion: ‘These Vajjis,
powerful and glorious as they are, I shall annihilate them, I shall make
them perish, I shall utterly destroy them.’”



Conditions of a Nation’s Welfare

4. At that time the Venerable Ananda [4]
was standing behind the Blessed One, fanning him, and the Blessed One
addressed the Venerable Ananda thus: “What have you heard, Ananda: do
the Vajjis have frequent gatherings, and are their meetings well
attended?”

“I have heard, Lord, that this is so.”

“So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

“What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis assemble and disperse peacefully and attend to their affairs in concord?”

“I have heard, Lord, that they do.”

“So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

“What
have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis neither enact new decrees nor
abolish existing ones, but proceed in accordance with their ancient
constitutions?”

“I have heard, Lord, that they do.”

“So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

“What
have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis show respect, honour, esteem, and
veneration towards their elders and think it worthwhile to listen to
them?”

“I have heard, Lord, that they do.”

“So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

“What have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis refrain from abducting women and maidens of good families and from detaining them?”

“I have heard, Lord, that they refrain from doing so.”

“So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

“What
have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis show respect, honor, esteem, and
veneration towards their shrines, both those within the city and those
outside it, and do not deprive them of the due offerings as given and
made to them formerly?”

“I have heard, Lord, that they do venerate their shrines, and that they do not deprive them of their offerings.”

“So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.

“What
have you heard, Ananda: do the Vajjis duly protect and guard the
arahats, so that those who have not come to the realm yet might do so,
and those who have already come might live there in peace?”

“I have heard, Lord, that they do.”

“So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.”

5. And the Blessed One addressed the brahman Vassakara in these words: “Once, brahman, I dwelt at Vesali, at the Sarandada shrine, and there it was that I taught the Vajjis these seven conditions leading to (a nation’s) welfare. [5]
So long, brahman, as these endure among the Vajjis, and the Vajjis are
known for it, their growth is to be expected, not their decline.”

Thereupon
the brahman Vassakara spoke thus to the Blessed One: “If the Vajjis,
Venerable Gotama, were endowed with only one or another of these
conditions leading to welfare, their growth would have to be expected,
not their decline. What then of all the seven? No harm, indeed, can be
done to the Vajjis in battle by Magadha’s king, Ajatasattu, except
through treachery or discord. Well, then, Venerable Gotama, we will take
our leave, for we have much to perform, much work to do.”

“Do
as now seems fit to you, brahman.” And the brahman Vassakara, the chief
minister of Magadha, approving of the Blessed One’s words and delighted
by them, rose from his seat and departed.

Welfare of the Bhikkhus

6.
Then, soon after Vassakara’s departure, the Blessed One addressed the
Venerable Ananda thus: “Go now, Ananda, and assemble in the hall of
audience as many bhikkhus as live around Rajagaha.”

“Very
well, Lord.” And the Venerable Ananda did as he was requested and
informed the Blessed One: “The community of bhikkhus is assembled, Lord.
Now let the Blessed One do as he wishes.”

Thereupon
the Blessed One rose from his seat, went up to the hall of audience,
took his appointed seat there, and addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Seven
conditions leading to welfare I shall set forth, bhikkhus. Listen and
pay heed to what I shall say.”

“So be it, Lord.”

“The
growth of the bhikkhus is to be expected, not their decline, bhikkhus,
so long as they assemble frequently and in large numbers; meet and
disperse peacefully and attend to the affairs of the Sangha in concord;
so long as they appoint no new rules, and do not abolish the existing
ones, but proceed in accordance with the code of training (Vinaya) laid
down; so long as they show respect, honour, esteem, and veneration
towards the elder bhikkhus, those of long standing, long gone forth, the
fathers and leaders of the Sangha, and think it worthwhile to listen to
them; so long as they do not come under the power of the craving that
leads to fresh becoming; so long as they cherish the forest depths for
their dwellings; so long as they establish themselves in mindfulness, so
that virtuous brethren of the Order who have not come yet might do so,
and those already come might live in peace; so long, bhikkhus, as these
seven conditions leading to welfare endure among the bhikkhus and the
bhikkhus are known for it, their growth is to be expected, not their
decline.

7. “Seven further conditions leading to welfare I shall set forth, bhikkhus. Listen and pay heed to what I shall say.”

“So be it, Lord.”

“The
growth of the bhikkhus is to be expected, not their decline, bhikkhus,
so long as they do not delight in, are not pleased with, and are not
fond of activities, talk, sleep, and company; so long as they do not
harbour, do not come under the spell of evil desires; have no bad
friends, associates, or companions; and so long as they do not stop
halfway on account of some trifling achievement. So long, bhikkhus, as
these seven conditions leading to welfare endure among the bhikkhus and
the bhikkhus are known for it, their growth is to be expected, not their
decline.

Seven Good Qualities [6]

8. “Seven further conditions leading to welfare I shall set forth, bhikkhus. Listen and pay heed to what I shall say.”

“So be it, Lord.”

“The
growth of the bhikkhus is to be expected, not their decline, bhikkhus,
so long as they shall have faith, so long as they have moral shame and
fear of misconduct, are proficient in learning, resolute, mindful, and
wise. So long, bhikkhus, as these seven conditions leading to welfare
endure among the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus are known for it, their
growth is to be expected, not their decline.

Seven Factors of Awakenment [7]

9. “Seven further conditions leading to welfare I shall set forth, bhikkhus. Listen and pay heed to what I shall say.”

“So be it, Lord.”

“The
growth of the bhikkhus is to be expected, not their decline, bhikkhus,
so long as they cultivate the seven factors of awakenment, that is:
mindfulness, investigation into phenomena, energy, bliss, tranquillity,
concentration, and equanimity. So long, bhikkhus, as these seven
conditions leading to welfare endure among the bhikkhus, and the
bhikkhus are known for it, their growth is to be expected, not their
decline.

Seven Perceptions

10. “Seven further conditions leading to welfare I shall set forth, bhikkhus. Listen and pay heed to what I shall say.”

“So be it, Lord.”

“The
growth of the bhikkhus is to be expected, not their decline, bhikkhus,
so long as they cultivate the perception of impermanence, of
egolessness, of (the body’s) impurity, of (the body’s) wretchedness, of
relinquishment, of dispassion, and of cessation. So long, bhikkhus, as
these seven conditions leading to welfare endure among the bhikkhus, and
the bhikkhus are known for it, their growth is to be expected, not
their decline.

Six Conditions to be Remembered [8]

11. “Six further conditions leading to welfare I shall set forth, bhikkhus. Listen and pay heed to what I shall say.”

“So be it, Lord.”

“The
growth of the bhikkhus is to be expected, not their decline, bhikkhus,
so long as they attend on each other with loving-kindness in deed, word,
and thought, both openly and in private; so long as in respect of what
they receive as due offerings, even the contents of their alms bowls,
they do not make use of them without sharing them with virtuous members
of the community; so long as, in company with their brethren, they train
themselves, openly and in private, in the rules of conduct, which are
complete and perfect, spotless and pure, liberating, praised by the
wise, uninfluenced (by mundane concerns), and favourable to
concentration of mind; and in company with their brethren, preserve,
openly and in private, the insight that is noble and liberating, and
leads one who acts upon it to the utter destruction of suffering. So
long, bhikkhus, as these six conditions leading to welfare endure among
the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus are known for it, their growth is to be
expected, not their decline.

Counsel to the Bhikkhus

12. And the Blessed One, living at Rajagaha, at the hill called Vultures’ Peak, often gave counsel to the bhikkhus thus:

“Such and such is virtue; such and such is concentration; and such and such is wisdom. [9]
Great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of concentration when it is
fully developed by virtuous conduct; great becomes the fruit, great is
the gain of wisdom when it is fully developed by concentration; utterly
freed from the taints [10] of lust, becoming, and ignorance is the mind that is fully developed in wisdom.”

13.
When the Blessed One had stayed at Rajagaha as long as he pleased, he
addressed the Venerable Ananda thus: “Come, Ananda, let us go to Ambalatthika.”

“So be it, Lord.”

And the Blessed One took up his abode at Ambalatthika, together with a large community of bhikkhus.

14.
At Ambalatthika the Blessed One came to stay in the king’s rest house;
and there, too, the Blessed One often gave counsel to the bhikkhus thus:

“Such
and such is virtue; such and such is concentration; and such and such
is wisdom. Great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of concentration
when it is fully developed by virtuous conduct; great becomes the fruit,
great is the gain of wisdom when it is fully developed by
concentration; utterly freed from the taints of lust, becoming, and
ignorance is the mind that is fully developed in wisdom.”

15.
When the Blessed One had stayed at Ambalatthika as long as he pleased,
he addressed the Venerable Ananda thus: “Come, Ananda, let us go to Nalanda.”

“So be it, Lord.”

And
the Blessed One took up his abode at Nalanda together with a large
community of bhikkhus, and came to stay in the mango grove of Pavarika.

Sariputta’s Lion’s Roar [11]

16. Then the Venerable Sariputta went to the Blessed One, respectfully greeted him, sat down at one side, and spoke thus to him:

“This
faith, Lord, I have in the Blessed One, that there has not been, there
will not be, nor is there now, another recluse or brahman more exalted
in Awakenment than the Blessed One.”

“Lofty
indeed is this speech of yours, Sariputta, and lordly! A bold
utterance, a veritable sounding of the lion’s roar! But how is this,
Sariputta? Those Arahants, Fully Awakened Ones of the past — do you have
direct personal knowledge of all those Blessed Ones, as to their
virtue, their meditation, [12]
their wisdom, their abiding, and their emancipation?” [13]

“Not so, Lord.”

“Then
how is this, Sariputta? Those Arahants, Fully Awakened Ones of the
future — do you have direct personal knowledge of all those Blessed
Ones, as to their virtue, their meditation, their wisdom, their abiding,
and their emancipation?”

“Not so, Lord.”

“Then
how is this, Sariputta? Of me, who am at present the Arahant, the Fully
Awakened One, do you have direct personal knowledge as to my virtue, my
meditation, my wisdom, my abiding, and my emancipation?”

“Not so, Lord.”

“Then
it is clear, Sariputta, that you have no such direct personal knowledge
of the Arahats, the Fully Awakened Ones of the past, the future, and
the present. How then dare you set forth a speech so lofty and lordly,
an utterance so bold, a veritable sounding of the lion’s roar, saying:
‘This faith, Lord, I have in the Blessed One, that there has not been,
there will not be, nor is there now another recluse or brahman more
exalted in Awakenment than the Blessed One’?”

17.
“No such direct personal knowledge, indeed, is mine, Lord, of the
Arahants, the Fully Awakened Ones of the past, the future, and the
present; and yet I have come to know the lawfulness of the Dhamma.
Suppose, Lord, a king’s frontier fortress was strongly fortified, with
strong ramparts and turrets, and it had a single gate, and there was a
gatekeeper, intelligent, experienced, and prudent, who would keep out
the stranger but allow the friend to enter. As he patrols the path that
leads all around the fortress, he does not perceive a hole or fissure in
the ramparts even big enough to allow a cat to slip through. So he
comes to the conclusion: ‘Whatever grosser living things are to enter or
leave this city, they will all have to do so just by this gate.’ In the
same way, Lord, I have come to know the lawfulness of the Dhamma.

“For, Lord, all the Blessed Ones, Arahants, Fully Awakened Ones of the past had abandoned the five hindrances, [14] the mental defilements that weaken wisdom; had well established their minds in the four foundations of mindfulness; [15] had duly cultivated the seven factors of awakenment, and were fully Awakened in unsurpassed, supreme Awakenment.

“And,
Lord, all the Blessed Ones, Arahants, Fully Awakened Ones of the future
will abandon the five hindrances, the mental defilements that weaken
wisdom; will well establish their minds in the four foundations of
mindfulness; will duly cultivate the seven factors of awakenment, and
will be fully awakened in unsurpassed, supreme Awakenment.

“And
the Blessed One too, Lord, being at present the Arahant, the Fully
Awakened One, has abandoned the five hindrances, the mental defilements
that weaken wisdom; has well established his mind in the four
foundations of mindfulness; has duly cultivated the seven factors of
awakenment, and is fully awakened in unsurpassed, supreme Awakenment.”

18. And also in Nalanda, in the mango grove of Pavarika, the Blessed One often gave counsel to the bhikkhus thus:

“Such
and such is virtue; such and such is concentration; and such and such
is wisdom. Great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of concentration
when it is fully developed by virtuous conduct; great becomes the fruit,
great is the gain of wisdom when it is fully developed by
concentration; utterly freed from the taints of lust, becoming, and
ignorance is the mind that is fully developed in wisdom.”

19. When the Blessed One had stayed at Nalanda as long as he pleased, he addressed the Venerable Ananda thus:

“Come, Ananda, let us go to Pataligama.”

“So be it, Lord.”

And the Blessed One took up his abode at Pataligama together with a large community of bhikkhus.

20.
Then the devotees of Pataligama came to know: “The Blessed One, they
say, has arrived at Pataligama.” And they approached the Blessed One,
respectfully greeted him, sat down at one side, and addressed him thus:
“May the Blessed One, Lord, kindly visit our council hall.” And the
Blessed One consented by his silence.

21.
Knowing the Blessed One’s consent, the devotees of Pataligama rose from
their seats, respectfully saluted him, and keeping their right sides
towards him, departed for the council hall. Then they prepared the
council hall by covering the floor all over, arranging seats and water,
and setting out an oil lamp. Having done this, they returned to the
Blessed One, respectfully greeted him, and standing at one side,
announced: “Lord, the council hall is ready, with the floor covered all
over, seats and water prepared, and an oil lamp has been set out. Let
the Blessed One come, Lord, at his convenience.

22.
And the Blessed One got ready, and taking his bowl and robe, went to
the council hall together with the company of bhikkhus. After rinsing
his feet, the Blessed One entered the council hall and took his seat
close to the middle pillar, facing east. The community of bhikkhus,
after rinsing their feet, also entered the council hall and took seats
near the western wall, facing east, so that the Blessed One was before
them. And the devotees of Pataligama, after rinsing their feet and
entering the council hall, sat down near the eastern wall, facing west,
so that the Blessed One was in front of them.

The Fruits of an Immoral and a Moral Life

23.
Thereupon the Blessed One addressed the devotees of Pataligama thus:
“The immoral man, householders, by falling away from virtue, encounters
five perils: great loss of wealth through heedlessness; an evil
reputation; a timid and troubled demeanour in every society, be it that
of nobles, brahmans, householders, or ascetics; death in bewilderment;
and, at the breaking up of the body after death, rebirth in a realm of
misery, in an unhappy state, in the nether world, in hell.

24.
“Five blessings, householders, accrue to the righteous man through his
practice of virtue: great increase of wealth through his diligence; a
favourable reputation; a confident deportment, without timidity, in
every society, be it that of nobles, brahmans, householders, or
ascetics; a serene death; and, at the breaking up of the body after
death, rebirth in a happy state, in a heavenly world.”

25.
And the Blessed One spent much of the night instructing the devotees of
Pataligama in the Dhamma, rousing, edifying, and gladdening them, after
which he dismissed them, saying: “The night is far advanced,
householders. You may go at your convenience.

“So
be it, Lord.” And the devotees of Pataligama rose from their seats,
respectfully saluted the Blessed One, and keeping their right sides
towards him, departed. And the Blessed One, soon after their departure,
retired into privacy.

26. At that time Sunidha
and Vassakara, the chief ministers of Magadha, were building a fortress
at Pataligama in defense against the Vajjis. And deities in large
numbers, counted in thousands, had taken possession of sites at
Pataligama. In the region where deities of great power prevailed,
officials of great power were bent on constructing edifices; and where
deities of medium power and lesser power prevailed, officials of medium
and lesser power were bent on constructing edifices.

27.
And the Blessed One saw with the heavenly eye, pure and transcending
the faculty of men, the deities, counted in thousands, where they had
taken possession of sites in Pataligama. And rising before the night was
spent, towards dawn, the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ananda
thus: “Who is it, Ananda, that is erecting a city at Pataligama?”

“Sunidha
and Vassakara, Lord, the chief ministers of Magadha, are building a
fortress at Pataligama, in defence against the Vajjis.”

28.
“It is, Ananda, as if Sunidha and Vassakara had taken counsel with the
gods of the Thirty-three. For I beheld, Ananda, with the heavenly eye,
pure and transcending the faculty of men, a large number of deities,
counted in thousands, that have taken possession of sites at Pataligama.
In the region where deities of great power prevail, officials of great
power are bent on constructing edifices; and where deities of medium and
lesser power prevail, officials of medium and lesser power are bent on
constructing edifices. Truly, Ananda, as far as the Aryan race extends
and trade routes spread, this will be the foremost city Pataliputta, a trade-center. [16]
But Pataliputta, Ananda, will be assailed by three perils — fire, water, and dissension.”

29.
Then Sunidha and Vassakara went to the Blessed One, and after courteous
greeting to the Blessed One, and exchanging many pleasant words, they
stood at one side and addressed him thus: “May the Venerable Gotama
please accept our invitation for tomorrow’s meal, together with the
community of bhikkhus.” And the Blessed One consented by his silence.

30.
Knowing the Blessed One’s consent, Sunidha and Vassakara departed for
their own abodes, where they had choice food, hard and soft, prepared.
And when it was time, they announced to the Blessed One: “It is time,
Venerable Gotama; the meal is ready.”

Thereupon
the Blessed One got ready in the forenoon, and taking bowl and robe, he
went together with the community of bhikkhus to the abode of Sunidha
and Vassakara, where he took the seat prepared for him. And Sunidha and
Vassakara themselves attended on the community of bhikkhus headed by the
Buddha, and served them with choice food, hard and soft. When the
Blessed One had finished his meal and had removed his hand from the
bowl, they took low seats and sat down at one side.

31. And the Blessed One thanked them with these stanzas:

Wherever he may dwell, the prudent man

Ministers to the chaste and virtuous;

And having to these worthy ones made gifts,

He shares his merits with the local devas.

And so revered, they honor him in turn,

Are gracious to him even as a mother

Is towards her own, her only son;

And he who thus enjoys the devas’ grace,

And is by them beloved, good fortune sees.

After this, the Blessed One rose from his seat and departed.

Crossing the Ganges

32.
Then Sunidha and Vassakara followed behind the Blessed One, step by
step, saying: “Through whichever gate the recluse Gotama will depart
today, that we will name the Gotama-gate; and the ford by which he will
cross the river Ganges shall be named the Gotama-ford.” And so it came
to pass, where the gate was concerned.

33. But when the Blessed One came to the river Ganges,
it was full to the brim, so that crows could drink from it. And some
people went in search of a boat or float, while others tied up a raft,
because they desired to get across. But the Blessed One, as quickly as a
strong man might stretch out his bent arm or draw in his outstretched
arm, vanished from this side of the river Ganges, and came to stand on
the yonder side.

34.
And the Blessed One saw the people who desired to cross searching for a
boat or float, while others were binding rafts. And then the Blessed
One, seeing them thus, gave forth the solemn utterance:

They who have bridged the ocean vast,

Leaving the lowlands far behind,

While others still their frail rafts bind,

Are saved by wisdom unsurpassed.

Part Two: The Journey to Vesali

The Four Noble Truths

1. Now the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “Come, Ananda, let us go to Kotigama.”

“So be it, Lord.” And the Blessed One took up his abode at Kotigama together with a large community of bhikkhus.

2.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Bhikkhus, it is
through not realizing, through not penetrating the Four Noble Truths
that this long course of birth and death has been passed through and
undergone by me as well as by you. What are these four? They are the
noble truth of suffering; the noble truth of the origin of suffering;
the noble truth of the cessation of suffering; and the noble truth of
the way to the cessation of suffering. But now, bhikkhus, that these
have been realized and penetrated, cut off is the craving for existence,
destroyed is that which leads to renewed becoming, and there is no
fresh becoming.”

3. Thus it was said by the Blessed One. And the Happy One, the Master, further said:

Through not seeing the Four Noble Truths,

Long was the weary path from birth to birth.

When these are known, removed is rebirth’s cause,

The root of sorrow plucked; then ends rebirth.

4.
And also at Kotigama the Blessed One often gave counsel to the bhikkhus
thus: “Such and such is virtue; such and such is concentration; and
such and such is wisdom. Great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of
concentration when it is fully developed by virtuous conduct; great
becomes the fruit, great is the gain of wisdom when it is fully
developed by concentration; utterly freed from the taints of lust,
becoming, and ignorance is the mind that is fully developed in wisdom.”

5.
When the Blessed One had stayed at Kotigama as long as he pleased, he
spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “Come, Ananda, let us go to Nadika.”

“So
be it, Lord.” And the Blessed One took up his abode in Nadika together
with a large community of bhikkhus, staying in the Brick House.

The Four Specific Attainments

6.
Then the Venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One and, after
greeting him respectfully, sat down at one side. And he said to the
Blessed One: “Here in Nadika, Lord, there have passed away the bhikkhu Salha and the bhikkhuni Nanda. Likewise there have passed away the layman Sudatta and the laywoman Sujata; likewise the layman Kakudha, Kalinga, Nikata, Katissabha, Tuttha, Santuttha, Bhadda, and Subhadda. What is their destiny, Lord? What is their future state?”

7.
“The bhikkhu Salha, Ananda, through the destruction of the taints in
this very lifetime has attained to the taint-free deliverance of mind
and deliverance through wisdom, having directly known and realized it by
himself. [17]

“The
bhikkhuni Nanda, Ananda, through the destruction of the five lower
fetters (that bind beings to the world of the senses), has arisen
spontaneously (among the Suddhavasa deities) and will come to final
cessation in that very place, not liable to return from that world.

“The
layman Sudatta, Ananda, through the destruction of the three fetters
(self-belief, doubt, and faith in the efficacy of rituals and
observances), and the lessening of lust, hatred, and delusion, has
become a once-returner and is bound to make an end of suffering after
having returned but once more to this world.

“The
laywoman Sujata, Ananda, through the destruction of the three fetters
has become a stream-enterer, and is safe from falling into the states of
misery, assured, and bound for Enlightenment.

“The
layman Kakudha, Ananda, through the destruction of the five lower
fetters (that bind beings to the world of the senses), has arisen
spontaneously (among the Suddhavasa deities), and will come to final
cessation in that very place, not liable to return from that world.

“So
it is with Kalinga, Nikata, Katissabha, Tuttha, Santuttha, Bhadda, and
Subhadda, and with more than fifty laymen in Nadika. More than ninety
laymen who have passed away in Nadika, Ananda, through the destruction
of the three fetters, and the lessening of lust, hatred, and delusion,
have become once-returners and are bound to make an end of suffering
after having returned but once more to this world.

“More
than five hundred laymen who have passed away in Nadika, Ananda,
through the complete destruction of the three fetters have become
stream-enterers, and are safe from falling into the states of misery,
assured, and bound for Enlightenment.

The Mirror of the Dhamma

8.But truly,
Ananda, it is nothing strange that human beings should die. But if each
time it happens you should come to the Tathagata and ask about them in
this manner, indeed it would be troublesome to him. Therefore, Ananda, I
will give you the teaching called the Mirror of the Dhamma, possessing
which the noble disciple, should he so desire, can declare of himself:
‘There is no more rebirth for me in hell, nor as an animal or ghost, nor
in any realm of woe. A stream-enterer am I, safe from falling into the
states of misery, assured am I and bound for Enlightenment.’”

9.
“And what, Ananda, is that teaching called the Mirror of Dhamma,
possessing which the noble disciple may thus declare of himself?

“In
this case, Ananda, the noble disciple possesses unwavering faith in the
Buddha thus: ‘The Blessed One is an Arahant, the Fully Enlightened One,
perfect in knowledge and conduct, the Happy One, the knower of the
world, the paramount trainer of beings, the teacher of gods and men, the
Enlightened One, the Blessed One.’

“He possesses unwavering faith in the Dhamma thus: ‘Well propounded by the Blessed One is the Dhamma, evident, timeless, [18] inviting investigation, leading to emancipation, to be comprehended by the wise, each for himself.’

“He
possesses unwavering faith in the Blessed One’s Order of Disciples
thus: ‘Well faring is the Blessed One’s Order of Disciples, righteously,
wisely, and dutifully: that is to say, the four pairs of men, the eight
classes of persons. The Blessed One’s Order of Disciples is worthy of
honor, of hospitality, of offerings, of veneration — the supreme field
for meritorious deeds in the world.’

“And
he possesses virtues that are dear to the Noble Ones, complete and
perfect, spotless and pure, which are liberating, praised by the wise,
uninfluenced (by worldly concerns), and favorable to concentration of
mind.

10.
“This, Ananda, is the teaching called the Mirror of the Dhamma, whereby
the noble disciple may thus know of himself: ‘There is no more rebirth
for me in hell, nor as an animal or ghost, nor in any realm of woe. A
stream-enterer am I, safe from falling into the states of misery,
assured am I and bound for Enlightenment.’”

11.
And also in Nadika, in the Brick House, the Blessed One often gave
counsel to the bhikkhus thus: “Such and such is virtue; such and such is
concentration; and such and such is wisdom. Great becomes the fruit,
great is the gain of concentration when it is fully developed by
virtuous conduct; great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of wisdom
when it is fully developed by concentration; utterly freed from the
taints of lust, becoming, and ignorance is the mind that is fully
developed in wisdom.”

12.
When the Blessed One had stayed in Nadika as long as he pleased, he
spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “Come, Ananda, let us go to
Vesali.”

“So
be it, O Lord.” And the Blessed One took up his abode in Vesali
together with a large community of bhikkhus, and stayed in Ambapali’s
grove.

Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension

13.
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Mindful should
you dwell, bhikkhus, clearly comprehending; thus I exhort you.

14.
“And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu mindful? When he dwells contemplating
the body in the body, earnestly, clearly comprehending, and mindfully,
after having overcome desire and sorrow in regard to the world; and when
he dwells contemplating feelings in feelings, the mind in the mind, and
mental objects in mental objects, earnestly, clearly comprehending, and
mindfully, after having overcome desire and sorrow in regard to the
world, then is he said to be mindful.

15.
“And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu have clear comprehension? When he
remains fully aware of his coming and going, his looking forward and his
looking away, his bending and stretching, his wearing of his robe and
carrying of his bowl, his eating and drinking, masticating and savoring,
his defecating and urinating, his walking, standing, sitting, lying
down, going to sleep or keeping awake, his speaking or being silent,
then is he said to have clear comprehension.

“Mindful should you dwell, bhikkhus, clearly comprehending; thus I exhort you.”

Ambapali and the Licchavis

16. Then Ambapali
the courtesan came to know: “The Blessed One, they say, has arrived at
Vesali and is now staying in my Mango Grove.” And she ordered a large
number of magnificent carriages to be made ready, mounted one of them
herself, and accompanied by the rest, drove out from Vesali towards her
park. She went by carriage as far as the carriage could go, then
alighted; and approaching the Blessed One on foot, she respectfully
greeted him and sat down at one side. And the Blessed One instructed
Ambapali the courtesan in the Dhamma and roused, edified, and gladdened
her.

17.
Thereafter Ambapali the courtesan spoke to the Blessed One, saying:
“May the Blessed One, O Lord, please accept my invitation for tomorrow’s
meal, together with the community of bhikkhus.” And by his silence the
Blessed One consented.

Sure,
then, of the Blessed One’s consent, Ambapali the courtesan rose from
her seat, respectfully saluted him, and keeping her right side towards
him, took her departure.

18. Then the Licchavi
of Vesali came to know: “The Blessed One, they say, has arrived at
Vesali and is now staying in Ambapali’s grove.” And they ordered a large
number of magnificent carriages to be made ready, each mounted one, and
accompanied by the rest, drove out from Vesali. Now, of these
Licchavis, some were in blue, with clothing and ornaments all of blue,
while others were in yellow, red, and white.

19.
And it so happened that Ambapali the courtesan drove up against the
young Licchavis, axle by axle, wheel by wheel, and yoke by yoke.
Thereupon the Licchavis exclaimed: “Why do you drive up against us in
this fashion, Ambapali?”

“Thus
it is, indeed, my princes, and not otherwise! For the Blessed One is
invited by me for tomorrow’s meal, together with the community of
bhikkhus!”

“Give up the meal, Ambapali, for a hundred thousand!”

But
she replied: “Even if you were to give me Vesali, sirs, together with
its tributary lands, I would not give up a meal of such importance.”

Then
the Licchavis snapped their fingers in annoyance: “See, friends! We are
defeated by this mango lass! We are utterly outdone by this mango
lass!” But they continued on their way to Ambapali’s grove.

20.
And the Blessed One beheld the Licchavis from afar, as they drove up.
Then he spoke to the bhikkhus, saying: “Those of you, bhikkhus, who have
not yet seen the Thirty-three gods, may behold the assembly of the
Licchavis, and may gaze on them, for they are comparable to the assembly
of the Thirty-three gods.”

21.
Then the Licchavis drove their carriages as far as the carriages could
go, then alighted; and approaching the Blessed One on foot, they
respectfully greeted him and sat down at one side. The Blessed One
instructed the Licchavis in the Dhamma, and roused, edified, and
gladdened them.

22.
Thereafter the Licchavis spoke to the Blessed One, saying: “May the
Blessed One, O Lord, please accept our invitation for tomorrow’s meal,
together with the community of bhikkhus.”

“The invitation for tomorrow’s meal, Licchavis, has been accepted by me from Ambapali the courtesan.”

Then
the Licchavis snapped their fingers in annoyance: “See, friends! We are
defeated by this mango lass! We are utterly outdone by this mango
lass!” And then the Licchavis, approving of the Blessed One’s words and
delighted with them, rose from their seats, respectfully saluted him,
and keeping their right sides towards him, took their departure.

23.
Then, after the night had passed, Ambapali the courtesan had choice
food, hard and soft, prepared in her park, and announced it to the
Blessed One: “It is time, O Lord; the meal is ready.” Thereupon the
Blessed One got ready in the forenoon, and taking bowl and robe, he went
together with the community of bhikkhus to Ambapali’s dwelling, and
there he took the seat prepared for him. And Ambapali herself attended
on the community of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha, and served them with
choice food, hard and soft.

24.
And when the Blessed One had finished his meal and had removed his hand
from his bowl, Ambapali the courtesan took a low seat, and placing
herself at one side, spoke to the Blessed One, saying: “This park, O
Lord, I offer to the community of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha.” And
the Blessed One accepted the park. He then instructed Ambapali in the
Dhamma, and having roused, edified, and gladdened her, he rose from his
seat and departed.

25.
And also at Vesali, in Ambapali’s grove, the Blessed One often gave
counsel to the bhikkhus thus: “Such and such is virtue; such and such is
concentration; and such and such is wisdom. Great becomes the fruit,
great is the gain of concentration when it is fully developed by
virtuous conduct; great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of wisdom
when it is fully developed by concentration; utterly freed from the
taints of lust, becoming, and ignorance is the mind that is fully
developed in wisdom.”

26.
When the Blessed One had stayed in Ambapali’s grove as long as he
pleased, he spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “Come, Ananda, let us
go to the village of Beluva.”

“So be it, Lord.” And the Blessed One took up his abode in the village of Beluva together with a large community of bhikkhus.

The Blessed One’s Deadly Sickness

27.
At that time the Blessed One spoke to the bhikkhus, saying: “Go now,
bhikkhus, and seek shelter anywhere in the neighborhood of Vesali where
you are welcome, among acquaintances and friends, and there spend the
rainy season. As for me, I shall spend the rainy season in this very
place, in the village of Beluva.”

“So be it, O Lord,” the bhikkhus said.

28. But when
the Blessed One had entered upon the rainy season, there arose in him a
severe illness, and sharp and deadly pains came upon him. And the
Blessed One endured them mindfully, clearly comprehending and
unperturbed.

29.
Then it occurred to the Blessed One: “It would not be fitting if I came
to my final passing away without addressing those who attended on me,
without taking leave of the community of bhikkhus. Then let me suppress
this illness by strength of will, resolve to maintain the life process,
and live on.”

30.
And the Blessed One suppressed the illness by strength of will,
resolved to maintain the life process, and lived on. So it came about
that the Blessed One’s illness was allayed.

31.
And the Blessed One recovered from that illness; and soon after his
recovery he came out from his dwelling place and sat down in the shade
of the building, on a seat prepared for him. Then the Venerable Ananda
approached the Blessed One, respectfully greeted him, and sitting down
at one side, he spoke to the Blessed One, saying: “Fortunate it is for
me, O Lord, to see the Blessed One at ease again! Fortunate it is for
me, O Lord, to see the Blessed One recovered! For truly, Lord, when I
saw the Blessed One’s sickness it was as though my own body became weak
as a creeper, every thing around became dim to me, and my senses failed
me. Yet, Lord, I still had some little comfort in the thought that the
Blessed One would not come to his final passing away until he had given
some last instructions respecting the community of bhikkhus.”

32.
Thus spoke the Venerable Ananda, but the Blessed One answered him,
saying: “What more does the community of bhikkhus expect from me,
Ananda? I have set forth the Dhamma without making any distinction of
esoteric and exoteric doctrine; there is nothing, Ananda, with regard to
the teachings that the Tathagata holds to the last with the closed fist
of a teacher who keeps some things back. Whosoever may think that it is
he who should lead the community of bhikkhus, or that the community
depends upon him, it is such a one that would have to give last
instructions respecting them. But, Ananda, the Tathagata has no such
idea as that it is he who should lead the community of bhikkhus, or that
the community depends upon him. So what instructions should he have to
give respecting the community of bhikkhus?

“Now
I am frail, Ananda, old, aged, far gone in years. This is my eightieth
year, and my life is spent. Even as an old cart, Ananda, is held
together with much difficulty, so the body of the Tathagata is kept
going only with supports. It is, Ananda, only when the Tathagata,
disregarding external objects, with the cessation of certain feelings,
attains to and abides in the signless concentration of mind, [19]
that his body is more comfortable.

33.Therefore,
Ananda, be islands unto yourselves, refuges unto yourselves, seeking no
external refuge; with the Dhamma as your island, the Dhamma as your
refuge, seeking no other refuge.

“And
how, Ananda, is a bhikkhu an island unto himself, a refuge unto
himself, seeking no external refuge; with the Dhamma as his island, the
Dhamma as his refuge, seeking no other refuge?

34.
“When he dwells contemplating the body in the body, earnestly, clearly
comprehending, and mindfully, after having overcome desire and sorrow in
regard to the world; when he dwells contemplating feelings in feelings,
the mind in the mind, and mental objects in mental objects, earnestly,
clearly comprehending, and mindfully, after having overcome desire and
sorrow in regard to the world, then, truly, he is an island unto
himself, a refuge unto himself, seeking no external refuge; having the
Dhamma as his island, the Dhamma as his refuge, seeking no other refuge.

35.
“Those bhikkhus of mine, Ananda, who now or after I am gone, abide as
an island unto themselves, as a refuge unto themselves, seeking no other
refuge; having the Dhamma as their island and refuge, seeking no other
refuge: it is they who will become the highest, [20]
if they have the desire to learn.”

Part Three: Relinquishing the Will to Live

The Blessed One’s Prompting

1.
Then the Blessed One, getting ready in the forenoon, took bowl and robe
and went into Vesali for alms. After the alms round and meal, on his
return, he spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “Take up a mat,
Ananda, and let us spend the day at the Capala shrine.”

“So be it, Lord.” And the Venerable Ananda took up a mat and followed behind the Blessed One, step by step.

2.
And the Blessed One went to the Capala shrine and sat down on the seat
prepared for him. And when the Venerable Ananda had seated himself at
one side after he had respectfully saluted the Blessed One, the Lord
said to him: “Pleasant, Ananda, is Vesali; pleasant are the shrines of Udena, Gotamaka, Sattambaka, Bahuputta, Sarandada, and Capala.”

3.
And the Blessed One said: “Whosoever, Ananda, has developed, practiced,
employed, strengthened, maintained, scrutinized, and brought to
perfection the four constituents of psychic power could, if he so
desired, remain throughout a world-period or until the end of it. [21]

The Tathagata, Ananda, has done so. Therefore the Tathagata could, if
he so desired, remain throughout a world-period or until the end of it.”

4.
But the Venerable Ananda was unable to grasp the plain suggestion, the
significant prompting, given by the Blessed One. As though his mind was
influenced by Mara, [22]

he did not beseech the Blessed One: “May the Blessed One remain, O
Lord!. May the Happy One remain, O Lord, throughout the world-period,
for the welfare and happiness of the multitude, out of compassion for
the world, for the benefit, well being, and happiness of gods and men!”

5. And when for a second and a third time the Blessed One repeated his words, the Venerable Ananda remained silent.

6. Then the Blessed One said to the Venerable Ananda: “Go now, Ananda, and do as seems fit to you.”

“Even
so, O Lord.” And the Venerable Ananda, rising from his seat,
respectfully saluted the Blessed One, and keeping his right side towards
him, took his seat under a tree some distance away.

Mara’s Appeal

7. And when
the Venerable Ananda had gone away, Mara, the Evil One, approached the
Blessed One. And standing at one side he spoke to the Blessed One,
saying: “Now, O Lord, let the Blessed One come to his final passing
away; let the Happy One utterly pass away! The time has come for the
Parinibbana of the Lord.

“For
the Blessed One, O Lord, spoke these words to me: ‘I shall not come to
my final passing away, Evil One, until my bhikkhus and bhikkhunis,
laymen and laywomen, have come to be true disciples — wise, well
disciplined, apt and learned, preservers of the Dhamma, living according
to the Dhamma, abiding by the appropriate conduct, and having learned
the Master’s word, are able to expound it, preach it, proclaim it,
establish it, reveal it, explain it in detail, and make it clear; until,
when adverse opinions arise, they shall be able to refute them
thoroughly and well, and to preach this convincing and liberating
Dhamma.’ [23]

8.
“And now, O Lord, bhikkhus and bhikkhunis, laymen and laywomen, have
become the Blessed One’s disciples in just this way. So, O Lord, let the
Blessed One come to his final passing away! The time has come for the
Parinibbana of the Lord.

“For
the Blessed One, O Lord, spoke these words to me: ‘I shall not come to
my final passing away, Evil One, until this holy life taught by me has
become successful, prosperous, far-renowned, popular, and widespread,
until it is well proclaimed among gods and men.’ And this too has come
to pass in just this way. So, O Lord, let the Blessed One come to his
final passing away, let the Happy One utterly pass away! The time has
come for the Parinibbana of the Lord.”

The Blessed One Relinquishes His Will to Live

9.
When this was said, the Blessed One spoke to Mara, the Evil One,
saying: “Do not trouble yourself, Evil One. Before long the Parinibbana
of the Tathagata will come about. Three months hence the Tathagata will
utterly pass away.”

10.
And at the Capala shrine the Blessed One thus mindfully and clearly
comprehending renounced his will to live on. And upon the Lord’s
renouncing his will to live on, there came a tremendous earthquake,
dreadful and astonishing, and thunder rolled across the heavens. And the
Blessed One beheld it with understanding, and made this solemn
utterance:

What causes life, unbounded or confined [24]

His process of becoming [25] this the Sage

Renounces. With inward calm and joy he breaks,

As though a coat of mail, his own life’s cause. [26]

11.
Then it came to the mind of the Venerable Ananda: “Marvellous it is
indeed, and most wonderful! The earth shakes mightily, tremendously!
Dreadful and astonishing it is, how the thunders roll across the
heavens! What could be the reason, what the cause, that so mighty an
earthquake should arise?”

Eight Causes of Earthquakes

12.
And the Venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One, and respectfully
greeting him, sat down at one side. Then he spoke to the Blessed One,
saying: “Marvellous it is indeed, and most wonderful! The earth shakes
mightily, tremendously! Dreadful and astonishing it is how the thunders
roll across the heavens! What could be the reason, what the cause, that
so mighty an earthquake should arise?”

13.
Then the Blessed One said: “There are eight reasons, Ananda, eight
causes for a mighty earthquake to arise. What are those eight?

14.
“This great earth, Ananda, is established upon liquid, the liquid upon
the atmosphere, and the atmosphere upon space. And when, Ananda, mighty
atmospheric disturbances take place, the liquid is agitated. And with
the agitation of the liquid, tremors of the earth arise. This is the
first reason, the first cause for the arising of mighty earthquakes.

15.
“Again, Ananda, when an ascetic or holy man of great power, one who has
gained mastery of his mind, or a deity who is mighty and potent,
develops intense concentration on the delimited aspect of the earth
element, and to a boundless degree on the liquid element, he, too,
causes the earth to tremble, quiver, and shake. This is the second
reason, the second cause for the arising of mighty earthquakes.

16-21.
“Again, Ananda, when the Bodhisatta departs from the Tusita realm and
descends into his mother’s womb, mindfully and clearly comprehending;
and when the Bodhisatta comes out from his mother’s womb, mindfully and
clearly comprehending; and when the Tathagata becomes fully enlightened
in unsurpassed, supreme Enlightenment; when the Tathagata sets rolling
the excellent Wheel of the Dhamma; when the Tathagata renounces his will
to live on; and when the Tathagata comes to pass away into the state of
Nibbana in which no element of clinging remains — then, too, Ananda,
this great earth trembles, quivers, and shakes.

“These, Ananda, are the eight reasons, the eight causes for a great earthquake to arise. [27]

Eight Assemblies

22.
“Now there are eight kinds of assemblies, Ananda, that is to say,
assemblies of nobles, brahmans, householders, ascetics, of the Four
Great Kings, of the Thirty-three gods, of Maras, and of Brahmas.

23. “And I recall, Ananda, how I have attended each of these eight kinds of assemblies, amounting to hundreds. [28]
And before seating myself and starting the conversation or the
discussion, I made my appearance resemble theirs, my voice resemble
theirs. And so I taught them the Dhamma, and roused, edified, and
gladdened them. Yet while I was speaking to them thus, they did not know
me, and they would enquire of one another, asking: ‘Who is he that
speaks to us? Is it a man or a god?’

“Then
having taught them the Dhamma, and roused, edified, and gladdened them,
I would straightaway vanish. And when I had vanished, too, they did not
know me, and they would enquire of one another, asking: ‘Who is he that
has vanished? Is it a man or a god?’

“And such, Ananda, are the eight kinds of assemblies.

Eight Fields of Mastery

24. “Now there are eight fields of mastery, [29] Ananda. What are those eight?

25. “When one, perceiving forms subjectively, [30] sees small forms, beautiful or ugly, external to himself, [31] and mastering them, is aware that he perceives and knows them as they are — this is the first field of mastery.

26.
“When one, perceiving forms subjectively, sees large forms, beautiful
or ugly, external to himself, and mastering them, is aware that he
perceives and knows them as they are — this is the second field of
mastery.

27. “When one, not perceiving forms subjectively, [32]
sees small forms, beautiful or ugly, external to himself, and mastering
them, is aware that he perceives and knows them as they are — this is
the third field of mastery.

28.
“When one, not perceiving forms subjectively, sees large forms,
beautiful or ugly, external to himself, and mastering them, is aware
that he perceives and knows them as they are — this is the fourth field
of mastery.

29.
“When one, not perceiving forms subjectively, sees forms external to
himself that are blue, blue in color, of a blue luster like the blossoms
of flax, or like fine Benares muslin which, burnished on both sides, is
blue, blue in color, of a blue luster — when such a one sees forms
external to himself that are blue, and mastering them, is aware that he
perceives and knows them as they are — this is the fifth field of
mastery.

30.
“When one, not perceiving forms subjectively, sees forms external to
himself that are yellow, yellow in color, of a yellow luster like the
Kanikara blossom, or like fine Benares muslin which, burnished on both
sides, is yellow, yellow in color, of a yellow luster — when such a one
sees forms external to himself that are yellow, and mastering them, is
aware that he perceives and knows them as they are — this is the sixth
field of mastery.

31.
“When one, not perceiving forms subjectively, sees forms external to
himself that are red, red in color, of a red luster like the
Bandhujivaka blossom, or like fine Benares muslin which, burnished on
both sides, is red, red in color, of a red luster — when such a one sees
forms external to himself that are red, and mastering them, is aware
that he perceives and knows them as they are — this is the seventh field
of mastery.

32.
“When one, not perceiving forms subjectively, sees forms external to
himself that are white, white in color, of a white luster like the
morning star, or like fine Benares muslin which, burnished on both
sides, is white, white in color, of a white luster — when such a one
sees forms external to himself that are white, and mastering them, is
aware that he perceives and knows them as they are — this is the eighth
field of mastery.

“These, Ananda, are the eight fields of mastery.

Eight Liberations

33. “Now there are eight liberations, Ananda. What are those eight? [33]

34. “Oneself having form, [34] one perceives forms; this is the first liberation.

35. “Being unaware of one’s own form, one perceives forms external to oneself; this is the second liberation.

36. “Experiencing loveliness, one is intent upon it; [35] this is the third liberation.

37.
“By utterly transcending the perceptions of matter, by the
disappearance of the perceptions of sense-reaction, and by giving no
attention to diversity-perceptions, one becomes aware of, attains to,
and abides in the sphere of infinite space; this is the fourth
liberation.

38.
“By utterly transcending the sphere of infinite space, one becomes
aware of, attains to, and abides in the sphere of infinite
consciousness; this is the fifth liberation.

39.
“By utterly transcending the sphere of infinite consciousness, one
becomes aware of, attains to, and abides in the sphere of nothingness;
this is the sixth liberation.

40.
“By utterly transcending the sphere of nothingness, one attains to and
abides in the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception; this is
the seventh liberation.

41.
“By utterly transcending the sphere of
neither-perception-nor-non-perception, one attains to and abides in the
cessation of perception and sensation; this is the eighth liberation.

“These, Ananda, are the eight liberations.

Mara’s Former Temptation

42.
“There was a time, Ananda, when I dwelt at Uruvela, on the bank of the
Nerañjara River, at the foot of the goatherds’ banyan-tree, soon after
my supreme Enlightenment. And Mara, the Evil One, approached me, saying:
‘Now, O Lord, let the Blessed One come to his final passing away! Let
the Happy One utterly pass away! The time has come for the Parinibbana
of the Lord.’

43.
“Then, Ananda, I answered Mara, the Evil One, saying: ‘I shall not come
to my final passing away, Evil One, until my bhikkhus and bhikkhunis,
laymen and laywomen, have come to be true disciples — wise, well
disciplined, apt and learned, preservers of the Dhamma, living according
to the Dhamma, abiding by appropriate conduct and, having learned the
Master’s word, are able to expound it, preach it, proclaim it, establish
it, reveal it, explain it in detail, and make it clear; until, when
adverse opinions arise, they shall be able to refute them thoroughly and
well, and to preach this convincing and liberating Dhamma.

44.
“‘I shall not come to my final passing away, Evil One, until this holy
life taught by me has become successful, prosperous, far-renowned,
popular, and widespread, until it is well proclaimed among gods and
men.’

45.
“And again today, Ananda, at the Capala shrine, Mara, the Evil One,
approached me, saying: ‘Now, O Lord, bhikkhus and bhikkhunis, laymen and
laywomen, have come to be true disciples of the Blessed One — wise,
well disciplined, apt and learned, preservers of the Dhamma, living
according to the Dhamma, abiding in the appropriate conduct, and having
learned the Master’s word, are able to expound it, preach it, proclaim
it, establish it, reveal it, explain it in detail, and make it clear;
and when adverse opinions arise, they are now able to refute them
thoroughly and well, and to preach this convincing and liberating
Dhamma.

“‘And
now, O Lord, this holy life taught by the Blessed One has become
successful, prosperous, far-renowned, popular and widespread, and it is
well proclaimed among gods and men. Therefore, O Lord, let the Blessed
One come to his final passing away! Let the Happy One utterly pass away!
The time has come for the Parinibbana of the Lord.’

46.
“And then, Ananda, I answered Mara, the Evil One, saying: ‘Do not
trouble yourself, Evil One. Before long the Parinibbana of the Tathagata
will come about. Three months hence the Tathagata will utterly pass
away.’

47. “And in this way, Ananda, today at the Capala shrine the Tathagata has renounced his will to live on.”

Ananda’s Appeal

48.
At these words the Venerable Ananda spoke to the Blessed One, saying:
“May the Blessed One remain, O Lord! May the Happy One remain, O Lord,
throughout the world-period, for the welfare and happiness of the
multitude, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, well being,
and happiness of gods and men!”

49.
And the Blessed One answered, saying: “Enough, Ananda. Do not entreat
the Tathagata, for the time is past, Ananda, for such an entreaty.”

50-51.
But for a second and a third time, the Venerable Ananda said to the
Blessed One: “May the Blessed One remain, O Lord! May the Happy One
remain, O Lord, throughout the world-period, for the welfare and
happiness of the multitude, out of compassion for the world, for the
benefit, well being, and happiness of gods and men!”

52.
Then the Blessed One said: “Do you have faith, Ananda, in the
Enlightenment of the Tathagata?” And the Venerable Ananda replied: “Yes,
O Lord, I do.”

“Then how, Ananda, can you persist against the Tathagata even up to the third time?”

53.
Then the Venerable Ananda said: “This, O Lord, I have heard and learned
from the Blessed One himself when the Blessed One said to me:
‘Whosoever, Ananda, has developed, practiced, employed, strengthened,
maintained, scrutinized, and brought to perfection the four constituents
of psychic power could, if he so desired, remain throughout a
world-period or until the end of it. The Tathagata, Ananda, has done so.
Therefore the Tathagata could, if he so desired, remain throughout a
world-period or until the end of it.’”

54. “And did you believe it, Ananda?”

“Yes, O Lord, I did.”

“Then,
Ananda, the fault is yours. Herein have you failed, inasmuch as you
were unable to grasp the plain suggestion, the significant prompting
given by the Tathagata, and you did not then entreat the Tathagata to
remain. For if you had done so, Ananda, twice the Tathagata might have
declined, but the third time he would have consented. Therefore, Ananda,
the fault is yours; herein have you failed.

55.
“At Rajagaha, Ananda, when dwelling at Vultures’ Peak, I spoke to you,
saying: ‘Pleasant, Ananda, is Rajagaha; pleasant is Vultures’ Peak.
Whosoever, Ananda, has developed… Therefore the Tathagata could, if he
so desired, remain throughout a world-period or until the end of it.’

56. “So also at the Banyan Grove, at Robbers’ Cliff, at the Sattapanni Cave on the Vebhara Mountain, at the Black Rock of Isigili, at the Serpents’ Pool in the Cool Forest, at the Tapoda
Grove, at the Bamboo Grove in the Squirrels’ Feeding-ground, at
Jivaka’s Mango Grove, and at Small Nook in the Deer Park I spoke to you
in the same words, saying: ‘Pleasant, Ananda, is Rajagaha, pleasant are
these places. Whosoever, Ananda, has developed… Therefore the
Tathagata could, if he so desired, remain throughout a world-period or
until the end of it.’

“But
you, Ananda, were unable to grasp the plain suggestion, the significant
prompting given you by the Tathagata, and you did not entreat the
Tathagata to remain. For if you had done so, Ananda, twice the Tathagata
might have declined, but the third time he would have consented.
Therefore, Ananda, the fault is yours; herein you have failed.

57.
“So also at Vesali, Ananda, at different times the Tathagata has spoken
to you, saying: ‘Pleasant, Ananda, is Vesali; pleasant are the shrines
of Udena, Gotamaka, Sattambaka, Bahuputta, Sarandada, and Capala.
Whosoever, Ananda, has developed… Therefore the Tathagata could, if he
so desired, remain throughout a world-period or until the end of it.’

“But
you, Ananda, were unable to grasp the plain suggestion, the significant
prompting, given you by the Tathagata, and you did not entreat the
Tathagata to remain. For if you had done so, Ananda, twice the Tathagata
might have declined, but the third time he would have consented.
Therefore, Ananda, the fault is yours; herein you have failed.

58.
“Yet, Ananda, have I not taught from the very beginning that with all
that is dear and beloved there must be change, separation, and
severance? Of that which is born, come into being, is compounded and
subject to decay, how can one say: ‘May it not come to dissolution!’
There can be no such state of things. And of that, Ananda, which the
Tathagata has finished with, that which he has relinquished, given up,
abandoned, and rejected — his will to live on — the Tathagata’s word has
been spoken once for all: ‘Before long the Parinibbana of the Tathagata
will come about. Three months hence the Tathagata will utterly pass
away.’ And that the Tathagata should withdraw his words for the sake of
living on — this is an impossibility.



The Last Admonition


59.
“So, then, Ananda, let us go to the hall of the Gabled House, in the
Great Forest.” And the Venerable Ananda replied: “So be it, Lord.”

60.
Then the Blessed One, with the Venerable Ananda, went to the hall of
the Gabled House, in the Great Forest. And there he spoke to the
Venerable Ananda, saying: “Go now, Ananda, and assemble in the hall of
audience all the bhikkhus who dwell in the neighborhood of Vesali.”

“So
be it, Lord.” And the Venerable Ananda gathered all the bhikkhus who
dwelt in the neighborhood of Vesali, and assembled them in the hall of
audience. And then, respectfully saluting the Blessed One, and standing
at one side, he said: “The community of bhikkhus is assembled, Lord. Now
let the Blessed One do as he wishes.”

61.
Thereupon the Blessed One entered the hall of audience, and taking the
seat prepared for him, he exhorted the bhikkhus, saying: “Now, O
bhikkhus, I say to you that these teachings of which I have direct
knowledge and which I have made known to you — these you should
thoroughly learn, cultivate, develop, and frequently practice, that the
life of purity may be established and may long endure, for the welfare
and happiness of the multitude, out of compassion for the world, for the
benefit, well being, and happiness of gods and men.

62.
“And what, bhikkhus, are these teachings? They are the four foundations
of mindfulness, the four right efforts, the four constituents of
psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven factors of
enlightenment, and the Noble Eightfold Path. These, bhikkhus, are the
teachings of which I have direct knowledge, which I have made known to
you, and which you should thoroughly learn, cultivate, develop, and
frequently practice, that the life of purity may be established and may
long endure, for the welfare and happiness of the multitude, out of
compassion for the world, for the benefit, well being, and happiness of
gods and men.”

63.
Then the Blessed One said to the bhikkhus: “So, bhikkhus, I exhort you:
All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness.
The time of the Tathagata’s Parinibbana is near. Three months hence the
Tathagata will utterly pass away.”

64. And having spoken these words, the Happy One, the Master, spoke again, saying:

My years are now full ripe, the life span left is short.

Departing, I go hence from you, relying on myself alone.

Be earnest, then, O bhikkhus, be mindful and of virtue pure!

With firm resolve, guard your own mind!

Whoso untiringly pursues the Dhamma and the Discipline

Shall go beyond the round of births and make an end of suffering.

Part Four: The Last Meal

The Elephant’s Look

1.
Then the Blessed One, getting ready in the forenoon, took bowl and robe
and went into Vesali for alms. After the alms round and meal, on his
return, he looked upon Vesali with the elephant’s look, [36]

and said to the Venerable Ananda: “This, Ananda, is the last time that
the Tathagata will look upon Vesali. Come, Ananda, let us go to Bhandagama.”

“So be it, O Lord.” And the Blessed One took up his abode at Bhandagama together with a large community of bhikkhus.

2.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Bhikkhus, it is
through not realizing, through not penetrating four principles that this
long course of birth and death has been passed through and undergone by
me as well as by you. What are those four? They are: noble virtue,
noble concentration, noble wisdom, and noble emancipation. But now,
bhikkhus, that these have been realized and penetrated, cut off is the
craving for existence, destroyed is that which leads to renewed
becoming, and there is no fresh becoming.”

3. And having spoken these words, the Happy One, the Master, spoke again, saying:

“Virtue, concentration, wisdom, and emancipation unsurpassed —

These are the principles realized by Gotama the renowned;

And, knowing them, he, the Buddha, to his monks has taught the Dhamma.

He, the destroyer of suffering, the Master, the Seer, is at peace.”

4.
And also at Bhandagama the Blessed One often gave counsel to the
bhikkhus thus: “Such and such is virtue; such and such is concentration;
and such and such is wisdom. Great becomes the fruit, great is the gain
of concentration when it is fully developed by virtuous conduct; great
becomes the fruit, great is the gain of wisdom when it is fully
developed by concentration; utterly freed from the taints of lust,
becoming, and ignorance is the mind that is fully developed in wisdom.”

5.
When the Blessed One had stayed at Bhandagama as long as he pleased, he
spoke to the Venerable Ananda: “Come, Ananda, let us go to Hatthigama.”

“So be it, Lord.” And the Blessed One took up his abode at Hatthigama together with a large community of bhikkhus.

And
when the Blessed One had stayed at Hatthigama as long as he pleased, he
took up his abode at Ambagama, then at Jambugama. And at each of these
places the Blessed One often gave counsel to the bhikkhus thus: “Such
and such is virtue; such and such is concentration; and such and such is
wisdom. Great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of concentration
when it is fully developed by virtuous conduct; great becomes the fruit,
great is the gain of wisdom when it is fully developed by
concentration; utterly freed from the taints of lust, becoming, and
ignorance is the mind that is fully developed in wisdom.”

6.
And when the Blessed One had stayed at Jambugama as long as he pleased,
he spoke to the Venerable Ananda: “Come, Ananda, let us go to Bhoganagara.”

“So
be it, Lord.” And the Blessed One took up his abode at Bhoganagara
together with a large community of bhikkhus, and stayed in the Ananda
shrine.

The Four Great References

7. And there the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Now, bhikkhus, I shall make known to you the four great references. [37] Listen and pay heed to my words.” And those bhikkhus answered, saying:

“So be it, Lord.”

8-11.
Then the Blessed One said: “In this fashion, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu might
speak: ‘Face to face with the Blessed One, brethren, I have heard and
learned thus: This is the Dhamma and the Discipline, the Master’s
Dispensation’; or: ‘In an abode of such and such a name lives a
community with elders and a chief. Face to face with that community, I
have heard and learned thus: This is the Dhamma and the Discipline, the
Master’s Dispensation’; or: ‘In an abode of such and such a name live
several bhikkhus who are elders, who are learned, who have accomplished
their course, who are preservers of the Dhamma, the Discipline, and the
Summaries. Face to face with those elders, I have heard and learned
thus: This is the Dhamma and the Discipline, the Master’s Dispensation’;
or: ‘In an abode of such and such a name lives a single bhikkhu who is
an elder, who is learned, who has accomplished his course, who is a
preserver of the Dhamma, the Discipline, and the Summaries. Face to face
with that elder, I have heard and learned thus: This is the Dhamma and
the Discipline, the Master’s Dispensation.’

“In
such a case, bhikkhus, the declaration of such a bhikkhu is neither to
be received with approval nor with scorn. Without approval and without
scorn, but carefully studying the sentences word by word, one should
trace them in the Discourses and verify them by the Discipline. If they
are neither traceable in the Discourses nor verifiable by the
Discipline, one must conclude thus: ‘Certainly, this is not the Blessed
One’s utterance; this has been misunderstood by that bhikkhu — or by
that community, or by those elders, or by that elder.’ In that way,
bhikkhus, you should reject it. But if the sentences concerned are
traceable in the Discourses and verifiable by the Discipline, then one
must conclude thus: ‘Certainly, this is the Blessed One’s utterance;
this has been well understood by that bhikkhu — or by that community, or
by those elders, or by that elder.’ And in that way, bhikkhus, you may
accept it on the first, second, third, or fourth reference. These,
bhikkhus, are the four great references for you to preserve.”

12.
And also at Bhoganagara, at the Ananda shrine, the Blessed One often
gave counsel to the bhikkhus thus: “Such and such is virtue; such and
such is concentration; and such and such is wisdom. Great becomes the
fruit, great is the gain of concentration when it is fully developed by
virtuous conduct; great becomes the fruit, great is the gain of wisdom
when it is fully developed by concentration; utterly freed from the
taints of lust, becoming, and ignorance is the mind that is fully
developed in wisdom.”

13.
When the Blessed One had stayed at Bhoganagara as long as he pleased,
he spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “Come, Ananda, let us go to Pava.”

“So
be it, Lord.” And the Blessed One took up his abode at Pava together
with a great community of bhikkhus, and stayed in the Mango Grove of
Cunda, who was by family a metalworker.

The Buddha’s Last Meal

14. And Cunda
the metalworker came to know: “The Blessed One, they say, has arrived
at Pava, and is staying in my Mango Grove.” And he went to the Blessed
One, and having respectfully greeted him, sat down at one side. And the
Blessed One instructed Cunda the metalworker in the Dhamma, and roused,
edified, and gladdened him.

15.
Then Cunda spoke to the Blessed One, saying: “May the Blessed One, O
Lord, please accept my invitation for tomorrow’s meal, together with the
community of bhikkhus.” And by his silence the Blessed One consented.

16.
Sure, then, of the Blessed One’s consent, Cunda the metalworker rose
from his seat, respectfully saluted the Blessed One, and keeping his
right side towards him, took his departure.

17.
And Cunda the metalworker, after the night had passed, had choice food,
hard and soft, prepared in his abode, together with a quantity of sukara-maddava, [38]
and announced it to the Blessed One, saying: “It is time, O Lord, the meal is ready.”

18.
Thereupon the Blessed One, in the forenoon, having got ready, took bowl
and robe and went with the community of bhikkhus to the house of Cunda,
and there sat down on the seat prepared for him. And he spoke to Cunda,
saying: “With the sukara-maddava you have prepared, Cunda, you may serve me; with the other food, hard and soft, you may serve the community of bhikkhus.”

“So be it, Lord.” And with the sukara-maddava prepared by him, he served the Blessed One; and with the other food, hard and soft, he served the community of bhikkhus.

19. Thereafter the Blessed One spoke to Cunda, saying: “Whatever, Cunda, is left over of the sukara-maddava,
bury that in a pit. For I do not see in all this world, with its gods,
Maras, and Brahmas, among the host of ascetics and brahmans, gods and
men, anyone who could eat it and entirely digest it except the Tathagata
alone.”

And Cunda the metalworker answered the Blessed One saying: “So be it, O Lord.”And what remained over of the sukara-maddava he buried in a pit.

20.
Then he returned to the Blessed One, respectfully greeted him, and sat
down at one side. And the Blessed One instructed Cunda the metalworker
in the Dhamma, and roused, edified, and gladdened him. After this he
rose from his seat and departed.

21.
And soon after the Blessed One had eaten the meal provided by Cunda the
metalworker, a dire sickness fell upon him, even dysentery, and he
suffered sharp and deadly pains. But the Blessed One endured them
mindfully, clearly comprehending and unperturbed.

22. Then the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “Come, Ananda, let us go to Kusinara.” And the Venerable Ananda answered: “So be it, Lord.”

23. When he had eaten Cunda’s food, I heard,

With fortitude the deadly pains he bore.

From the sukara-maddava a sore

And dreadful sickness came upon the Lord.

But nature’s pangs he endured. “Come, let us go

To Kusinara,” was his dauntless word. [39]

The Clearing of the Waters

Please visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcYLO8haYas

for

Buddhist Chants & Peace Music - Hanshan
Temple

24.
Now on the way the Blessed One went aside from the highway and stopped
at the foot of a tree. And he said to the Venerable Ananda: “Please fold
my upper robe in four, Ananda, and lay it down. I am weary and want to
rest awhile.”

“So be it, Lord.” And the Venerable Ananda folded the robe in four and laid it down.

25.
And the Blessed One sat down on the seat prepared for him and said to
the Venerable Ananda: “Please bring me some water, Ananda. I am thirsty
and want to drink.”

26.
And the Venerable Ananda answered the Blessed One: “But just now, Lord,
a great number of carts, five hundred carts, have passed over, and the
shallow water has been cut through by the wheels, so that it flows
turbid and muddy. But the Kakuttha River, Lord, is quite close by, and
its waters are clear, pleasant, cool, and translucent. It is easily
approachable and delightfully placed. There the Blessed One can quench
his thirst and refresh his limbs.”

27-29.
But a second time the Blessed One made his request, and the Venerable
Ananda answered him as before. And then for a third time the Blessed One
said: “Please bring me some water, Ananda. I am thirsty and want to
drink.”

30.
Then the Venerable Ananda answered, saying: “So be it, Lord.” And he
took the bowl and went to the stream. And the shallow water, which had
been cut through by the wheels so that it flowed turbid and muddy,
became clear and settled down, pure and pleasant as the Venerable Ananda
drew near.

31. Then the Venerable Ananda thought: “Marvellous and most wonderful indeed is the power and glory of the Tathagata!”

32.
And he took up water in the bowl and carried it to the Blessed One, and
said: “Marvellous and most wonderful indeed is the power and glory of
the Tathagata! For this shallow water, which had been cut through by the
wheels so that it flowed turbid and muddy, became clear and settled
down, pure and pleasant as I drew near. Now let the Blessed One drink
the water. Let the Happy One drink.” And the Blessed One drank the
water.

Pukkusa the Malla

33. Now it so happened that one Pukkusa of the Malla clan, who was a disciple of Alara Kalama, was passing by on his way from Kusinara to Pava.[40]

34.
And when he saw the Blessed One seated at the foot of a tree, he
approached him, respectfully greeted him, and sat down at one side. And
he spoke to the Blessed One, saying: “Marvellous it is, Lord, most
wonderful it is, O Lord, the state of calmness wherein abide those who
have gone forth from the world.

35.
“For at one time, Lord, Alara Kalama was on a journey, and he went
aside from the highway and sat down by the wayside at the foot of a tree
to pass the heat of the day. And it came about, Lord, that a great
number of carts, even five hundred carts, passed by him, one by one. And
then, Lord, a certain man who was following behind that train of carts,
approached and spoke to him, saying: ‘Did you, sir, see a great number
of carts that passed you by?’ And Alara Kalama answered him: ‘I did not
see them, brother.’ ‘But the noise, sir, surely you heard?’ ‘I did not
hear it, brother.’ Then that man asked him: ‘Then, sir, perhaps you
slept?’ ‘No, brother, I was not sleeping.’ ‘Then, sir, were you
conscious?’ ‘I was, brother.’ Then that man said: ‘Then, sir, while
conscious and awake you still did not see the great number of carts,
even five hundred carts, that passed you by one after another, nor heard
the noise? Why, sir, your very robe is covered with their dust!’ And
Alara Kalama replied, saying: ‘So it is, brother.’

36.
“And to that man, O Lord, came the thought: ‘Marvellous it is, most
wonderful indeed it is, the state of calmness wherein abide those who
have gone forth from the world!’ And there arose in him great faith in
Alara Kalama, and he went his way.”

37.
“Now what do you think, Pukkusa? What is more difficult to do, more
difficult to meet with — that a man, while conscious and awake, should
not see a great number of carts, even five hundred carts, that passed
him by one after another, nor hear the noise, or that one conscious and
awake, in the midst of a heavy rain, with thunder rolling, lightning
flashing, and thunderbolts crashing, should neither see it nor hear the
noise?”

38.
“What, O Lord, are five hundred carts — nay, six, seven, eight, nine
hundred, or a thousand or even hundreds of thousands of carts — compared
with this?”

39.
“Now one time, Pukkusa, I was staying at Atuma, and had my abode in a
barn there. And at that time there was a heavy rain, with thunder
rolling, lightning flashing, and thunderbolts crashing. And two farmers
who were brothers were killed close to the barn, together with four
oxen, and a great crowd came forth from Atuma to the spot where they
were killed.

40.
“Now at that time, Pukkusa, I had come out of the barn and was walking
up and down in thought before the door. And a certain man from the great
crowd approached me, respectfully greeted me, and stood at one side.

41.
“And I asked him: ‘Why, brother, has this great crowd gathered
together?’ And he answered me: ‘Just now, Lord, there was a heavy rain,
with thunder rolling, lightning flashing, and thunderbolts crashing. And
two farmers who were brothers were killed close by, together with four
oxen. It is because of this that the great crowd has gathered. But
where, Lord, were you?’

“‘I
was here, brother.’ ‘Yet, Lord, did you not see it?’ ‘I did not see it,
brother.’ ‘But the noise, Lord, you surely heard?’ ‘I did not hear it,
brother.’ Then that man asked me: ‘Then, Lord, perhaps you slept?’ ‘No,
brother, I was not sleeping.’ ‘Then, Lord, you were conscious?’ ‘I was,
brother.’ Then that man said: ‘Then, Lord, while conscious and awake, in
the midst of a heavy rain, with thunder rolling, lightning flashing,
and thunderbolts crashing, you neither saw it nor heard the noise?’ And I
answered him, saying: ‘I did not, brother.’

42.
“And to that man, Pukkusa, came the thought: ‘Marvellous it is, most
wonderful indeed it is, the state of calmness wherein abide those who
have gone forth from the world!’ And there arose in him great faith in
me, and he respectfully saluted me, and keeping his right side towards
me, he went his way.”

43.
When this had been said, Pukkusa of the Malla clan said to the Blessed
One: “The faith, Lord, that I had in Alara Kalama I now scatter to the
mighty wind, I let it be carried away as by a flowing stream! Excellent,
O Lord, most excellent, O Lord! It is as if, Lord, one were to set
upright what had been overthrown, or to reveal what had been hidden, or
to show the path to one who had gone astray, or to light a lamp in the
darkness so that those having eyes might see — even so has the Blessed
One set forth the Dhamma in many ways. And so, O Lord, I take my refuge
in the Blessed One, the Dhamma, and the Community of Bhikkhus. May the
Blessed One accept me as his disciple, one who has taken refuge until
the end of life.”

44.
Then Pukkusa of the Malla clan spoke to a certain man, saying: “Bring
me at once, friend, two sets of golden-hued robes, burnished and ready
for wear.” And the man answered him: “So be it, sir.”

45.
And when the robes were brought, Pukkusa of the Malla clan offered them
to the Blessed One, saying: “May the Blessed One, O Lord, out of
compassion, accept this from me.” And the Blessed One said: “Robe me,
then in one, Pukkusa, and in the other robe Ananda.”

“So be it, Lord.” And he thereupon robed the Blessed One in one, and in the other he robed the Venerable Ananda.

46.
And then the Blessed One instructed Pukkusa of the Malla clan in the
Dhamma, and roused, edified, and gladdened him. And after that, Pukkusa
rose from his seat, respectfully saluted the Blessed One, and keeping
his right side towards him, went his way.

47.
And soon after Pukkusa of the Malla clan had departed, the Venerable
Ananda arranged the set of golden-hued robes, burnished and ready for
wear, about the body of the Blessed One. But when the set of robes was
arranged upon the body of the Blessed One, it became as though faded,
and its splendor dimmed.

48.
And the Venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: “Marvellous it is, O
Lord, most wonderful indeed it is, how clear and radiant the skin of the
Tathagata appears! This set of golden-hued robes, burnished and ready
for wear, Lord, now that it is arranged upon the body of the Blessed One
seems to have become faded, its splendor dimmed.”

49.
“It is so, Ananda. There are two occasions, Ananda, when the skin of
the Tathagata appears exceedingly clear and radiant. Which are these
two? The night, Ananda, when the Tathagata becomes fully enlightened in
unsurpassed, supreme Enlightenment, and the night when the Tathagata
comes to his final passing away into the state of Nibbana in which no
element of clinging remains. These, Ananda, are the two occasions on
which the skin of the Tathagata appears exceedingly clear and radiant.

50.
“And now today, in the last watch of this very night, Ananda, in the
Mallas’ Sala Grove, in the vicinity of Kusinara, between two sala trees,
the Tathagata will come to his Parinibbana. So now, Ananda, let us go
to the Kakuttha River.”

51. Clad in Pukkusa’s gift, the robes of gold,

The Master’s form was radiant to behold.

At the Kakuttha River

52. Then the Blessed One went to the Kakuttha River together with a great community of bhikkhus.

53.
And he went down into the water and bathed and drank. And coming forth
from the water again, he went to the Mango Grove, and there spoke to the
Venerable Cundaka, saying: “Please fold my upper robe in four, Cundaka, and lay it down. I am weary and would rest awhile.”

“So be it, Lord.” And Cundaka folded the robe in four and laid it down.

54.
And the Blessed One lay down on his right side, in the lion’s posture,
resting one foot upon the other, and so disposed himself, mindfully and
clearly comprehending, with the time for rising held in mind. And the
Venerable Cundaka sat down right in front of the Blessed One.

55. The Buddha to Kakuttha’s river came,

Where cool and limpid flows the pleasant stream;

There washed in water clear his weary frame

The Buddha he in all the world supreme!

And having bathed and drank, the Teacher straight

Crossed over, the bhikkhus thronging in his wake.

Discoursing holy truths, the Master great

Towards the Mango Grove his path did take.

There to the elder Cundaka he spoke:

“Lay down my robe, please, folded into four.”

Then the elder, swift as lightning stroke,

Hastened the Teacher’s bidding to obey.

Weary, the Lord then lay down on the mat,

And Cunda on the ground before him sat.

Relieving Cunda’s Remorse

56.
Then the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “It may
come to pass, Ananda, that someone will cause remorse to Cunda the
metalworker, saying: ‘It is no gain to you, friend Cunda, but a loss,
that it was from you the Tathagata took his last alms meal, and then
came to his end.’ Then, Ananda, the remorse of Cunda should be dispelled
after this manner: ‘It is a gain to you, friend Cunda, a blessing that
the Tathagata took his last alms meal from you, and then came to his
end. For, friend, face to face with the Blessed One I have heard and
learned: “There are two offerings of food which are of equal fruition,
of equal outcome, exceeding in grandeur the fruition and result of any
other offerings of food. Which two? The one partaken of by the Tathagata
before becoming fully enlightened in unsurpassed, supreme
Enlightenment; and the one partaken of by the Tathagata before passing
into the state of Nibbana in which no element of clinging remains. By
his deed the worthy Cunda has accumulated merit which makes for long
life, beauty, well being, glory, heavenly rebirth, and sovereignty.”‘
Thus, Ananda, the remorse of Cunda the metalworker should be dispelled.”

57. Then the Blessed One, understanding that matter, breathed forth the solemn utterance:

Who gives, his virtues shall increase;

Who is self-curbed, no hatred bears;

Whoso is skilled in virtue, evil shuns,

And by the rooting out of lust and hate

And all delusion, comes to be at peace.

Part Five: At Kusinara

Last Place of Rest


t .




 

1. Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ananda, saying: “Come, Ananda, let us cross to the farther bank of the Hiraññavati, and go to the Mallas’ Sala Grove, in the vicinity of Kusinara.”

“So be it, Lord.”

2.
And the Blessed One, together with a large company of bhikkhus, went to
the further bank of the river Hiraññavati, to the Sala Grove of the
Mallas, in the vicinity of Kusinara. And there he spoke to the Venerable
Ananda, saying:

3.
“Please, Ananda, prepare for me a couch between the twin sala trees,
with the head to the north. I am weary, Ananda, and want to lie down.”[41]

“So be it, Lord.” And the Venerable Ananda did as the Blessed One asked him to do.

Then
the Blessed One lay down on his right side, in the lion’s posture,
resting one foot upon the other, and so disposed himself, mindfully and
clearly comprehending.

4.
At that time the twin sala trees broke out in full bloom, though it was
not the season of flowering. And the blossoms rained upon the body of
the Tathagata and dropped and scattered and were strewn upon it in
worship of the Tathagata. And celestial mandarava flowers and
heavenly sandalwood powder from the sky rained down upon the body of the
Tathagata, and dropped and scattered and were strewn upon it in worship
of the Tathagata. And the sound of heavenly voices and heavenly
instruments made music in the air out of reverence for the Tathagata.

5.
And the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “Ananda, the
twin sala trees are in full bloom, though it is not the season of
flowering. And the blossoms rain upon the body of the Tathagata and drop
and scatter and are strewn upon it in worship of the Tathagata. And
celestial coral flowers and heavenly sandalwood powder from the sky rain
down upon the body of the Tathagata, and drop and scatter and are
strewn upon it in worship of the Tathagata. And the sound of heavenly
voices and heavenly instruments makes music in the air out of reverence
for the Tathagata.

6.
“Yet it is not thus, Ananda, that the Tathagata is respected,
venerated, esteemed, worshipped, and honored in the highest degree. But,
Ananda, whatever bhikkhu or bhikkhuni, layman or laywoman, abides by
the Dhamma, lives uprightly in the Dhamma, walks in the way of the
Dhamma, it is by such a one that the Tathagata is respected, venerated,
esteemed, worshipped, and honored in the highest degree. Therefore,
Ananda, thus should you train yourselves: ‘We shall abide by the Dhamma,
live uprightly in the Dhamma, walk in the way of the Dhamma.’”

The Grief of the Gods

7. At that time the Venerable Upavana
was standing before the Blessed One, fanning him. And the Blessed One
rebuked him, saying: “Move aside, bhikkhu, do not stand in front of me.”

8.
And to the Venerable Ananda came the thought: “This Venerable Upavana
has been in attendance on the Blessed One for a long time, closely
associating with him and serving him. Yet now, right at the end, the
Blessed One rebukes him. What now could be the reason, what the cause
for the Blessed One to rebuke the Venerable Upavana, saying: ‘Move
aside, bhikkhu, do not stand in front of me’?”

9-10.
And the Venerable Ananda told his thought to the Blessed One. The
Blessed One said: “Throughout the tenfold world-system, Ananda, there
are hardly any of the deities that have not gathered together to look
upon the Tathagata. For a distance of twelve yojanas around the Sala
Grove of the Mallas in the vicinity of Kusinara there is not a spot that
could be pricked with the tip of a hair that is not filled with
powerful deities. And these deities, Ananda, are complaining: ‘From afar
have we come to look upon the Tathagata. For rare in the world is the
arising of Tathagatas, Arahants, Fully Enlightened Ones. And this day,
in the last watch of the night, the Tathagata’s Parinibbana will come
about. But this bhikkhu of great powers has placed himself right in
front of the Blessed One, concealing him, so that now, at the very end,
we are prevented from looking upon him.’ Thus, Ananda, the deities
complain.”

11. “Of what kind of deities, Lord, is the Blessed One aware?”

12-13.
“There are deities, Ananda, in space and on earth, who are
earthly-minded; with dishevelled hair they weep, with uplifted arms they
weep; flinging themselves on the ground, they roll from side to side,
lamenting: ‘Too soon has the Blessed One come to his Parinibbana! Too
soon has the Happy One come to his Parinibbana! Too soon will the Eye of
the World vanish from sight!’

14.
“But those deities who are freed from passion, mindful and
comprehending, reflect in this way: ‘Impermanent are all compounded
things. How could this be otherwise?’”

Ananda’s Concern

15.
“Formerly, Lord, on leaving their quarters after the rains, the
bhikkhus would set forth to see the Tathagata, and to us there was the
gain and benefit of receiving and associating with those very revered
bhikkhus who came to have audience with the Blessed One and to wait upon
him. But, Lord, after the Blessed One has gone, we shall no longer have
that gain and benefit.”

Four Places of Pilgrimage

16. “There are four places, Ananda, that a pious person should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence.[42] What are the four?

17. “‘Here the Tathagata was born!’[43] This, Ananda, is a place that a pious person should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence.

18. “‘Here the Tathagata became fully enlightened in unsurpassed, supreme Enlightenment!’[44] This, Ananda, is a place that a pious person should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence.

19. “‘Here the Tathagata set rolling the unexcelled Wheel of the Dhamma!’[45] This, Ananda, is a place that a pious person should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence.

20.
“‘Here the Tathagata passed away into the state of Nibbana in which no
element of clinging remains!’ This, Ananda, is a place that a pious
person should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence.

21.
“These, Ananda, are the four places that a pious person should visit
and look upon with feelings of reverence. And truly there will come to
these places, Ananda, pious bhikkhus and bhikkhunis, laymen and
laywomen, reflecting: ‘Here the Tathagata was born! Here the Tathagata
became fully enlightened in unsurpassed, supreme Enlightenment! Here the
Tathagata set rolling the unexcelled Wheel of the Dhamma! Here the
Tathagata passed away into the state of Nibbana in which no element of
clinging remains!’

22.
“And whoever, Ananda, should die on such a pilgrimage with his heart
established in faith, at the breaking up of the body, after death, will
be reborn in a realm of heavenly happiness.”

23. Then the Venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: “How, Lord, should we conduct ourselves towards women?”

“Do not see them, Ananda.”

“But, Lord, if we do see them?”

“Do not speak, Ananda.”

“But, Lord, if they should speak to us?”

“Then, Ananda, you should establish mindfulness.”

24. Then the Venerable Ananda said: “How should we act, Lord, respecting the body of the Tathagata?”

“Do
not hinder yourselves, Ananda, to honor the body of the Tathagata.
Rather you should strive, Ananda, and be zealous on your own behalf,[46]

for your own good. Unflinchingly, ardently, and resolutely you should
apply yourselves to your own good. For there are, Ananda, wise nobles,
wise brahmans, and wise householders who are devoted to the Tathagata,
and it is they who will render the honor to the body of the Tathagata.”

25. Then the Venerable Ananda said: “But how, Lord, should they act respecting the body of the Tathagata?”

“After the same manner, Ananda, as towards the body of a universal monarch.”[47]

“But how, Lord, do they act respecting the body of a universal monarch?”

26.
“The body of a universal monarch, Ananda, is first wrapped round with
new linen, and then with teased cotton wool, and so it is done up to
five hundred layers of linen and five hundred of cotton wool. When that
is done, the body of the universal monarch is placed in an iron[48]

oil vessel, which is enclosed in another iron vessel, a funeral pyre is
built of all kinds of perfumed woods, and so the body of the universal
monarch is burned; and at a crossroads a stupa is raised for the
universal monarch. So it is done, Ananda, with the body of a universal
monarch. And even, Ananda, as with the body of a universal monarch, so
should it be done with the body of the Tathagata; and at a crossroads
also a stupa should be raised for the Tathagata. And whosoever shall
bring to that place garlands or incense or sandalpaste, or pay
reverence, and whose mind becomes calm there — it will be to his well
being and happiness for a long time.

27. “There are four persons,
Ananda, who are worthy of a stupa. Who are those four? A Tathagata, an
Arahant, a Fully Enlightened One is worthy of a stupa; so also is a
Paccekabuddha,[49]
and a disciple of a Tathagata, and a universal monarch.

28-31.
“And why, Ananda, is a Tathagata, an Arahant, a Fully Enlightened One
worthy of a stupa? Because, Ananda, at the thought: ‘This is the stupa
of that Blessed One, Arahant, Fully Enlightened One!’ the hearts of many
people will be calmed and made happy; and so calmed and with their
minds established in faith therein, at the breaking up of the body,
after death, they will be reborn in a realm of heavenly happiness. And
so also at the thought: ‘This is the stupa of that Paccekabuddha!’ or
‘This is the stupa of a disciple of that Tathagata, Arahant, Fully
Enlightened One!’ or ‘This is the stupa of that righteous monarch who
ruled according to Dhamma!’ — the hearts of many people are calmed and
made happy; and so calmed and with their minds established in faith
therein, at the breaking up of the body, after death, they will be
reborn in a realm of heavenly happiness. And it is because of this,
Ananda, that these four persons are worthy of a stupa.”

Ananda’s Grief

32. Then the Venerable Ananda went into the vihara[50] and leaned against the doorpost and wept: “I am still but a learner,[51]
and still have to strive for my own perfection. But, alas, my Master,
who was so compassionate towards me, is about to pass away!”

33. And the Blessed One spoke to the bhikkhus, saying: “Where, bhikkhus, is Ananda?”

“The
Venerable Ananda, Lord, has gone into the vihara and there stands
leaning against the door post and weeping: ‘I am still but a learner,
and still have to strive for my own perfection. But, alas, my Master,
who was so compassionate towards me, is about to pass away!’”

34.
Then the Blessed One asked a certain bhikkhu to bring the Venerable
Ananda to him, saying: “Go, bhikkhu, and say to Ananda, ‘Friend Ananda,
the Master calls you.’”

“So
be it, Lord.” And that bhikkhu went and spoke to the Venerable Ananda
as the Blessed One had asked him to. And the Venerable Ananda went to
the Blessed One, bowed down to him, and sat down on one side.

35.
Then the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “Enough,
Ananda! Do not grieve, do not lament! For have I not taught from the
very beginning that with all that is dear and beloved there must be
change, separation, and severance? Of that which is born, come into
being, compounded, and subject to decay, how can one say: ‘May it not
come to dissolution!’? There can be no such state of things. Now for a
long time, Ananda, you have served the Tathagata with loving-kindness in
deed, word, and thought, graciously, pleasantly, with a whole heart and
beyond measure. Great good have you gathered, Ananda! Now you should
put forth energy, and soon you too will be free from the taints.”[52]

Praise of Ananda

36.
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Bhikkhus, the
Blessed Ones, Arahants, Fully Enlightened Ones of times past also had
excellent and devoted attendant bhikkhus, such as I have in Ananda. And
so also, bhikkhus, will the Blessed Ones, Arahants, Fully Enlightened
Ones of times to come.

37.
“Capable and judicious is Ananda, bhikkhus, for he knows the proper
time for bhikkhus to have audience with the Tathagata, and the time for
bhikkhunis, the time for laymen and for laywomen; the time for kings and
for ministers of state; the time for teachers of other sects and for
their followers.

38.In Ananda,
bhikkhus, are to be found four rare and superlative qualities. What are
the four? If, bhikkhus, a company of bhikkhus should go to see Ananda,
they become joyful on seeing him; and if he then speaks to them of the
Dhamma, they are made joyful by his discourse; and when he becomes
silent, they are disappointed. So it is also when bhikkhunis, laymen, or
laywomen go to see Ananda: they become joyful on seeing him; and if he
then speaks to them of the Dhamma, they are made joyful by his
discourse; and when he becomes silent, they are disappointed.

39.In a universal
monarch, bhikkhus, are to be found four rare and superlative qualities.
What are those four? If, bhikkhus, a company of nobles should go to see
the universal monarch, they become joyful on seeing him; and if he then
speaks, they are made joyful by his talk; and when he becomes silent,
they are disappointed. So it is also when a company of brahmans, of
householders, or of ascetics goes to see a universal monarch.

40. “And in just the same way, bhikkhus, in Ananda are to be found these four rare and superlative qualities.”

The Past Glory of Kusinara

41.
When this had been said, the Venerable Ananda spoke to the Blessed One,
saying: “Let it not be, Lord, that the Blessed One should pass away in
this mean place, this uncivilized township in the midst of the jungle, a
mere outpost of the province. There are great cities, Lord, such as Campa, Rajagaha, Savatthi, Saketa, Kosambi, and Benares
— let the Blessed One have his final passing away in one of those. For
in those cities dwell many wealthy nobles and brahmans and householders
who are devotees of the Tathagata, and they will render due honor to the
remains of the Tathagata.”

42.
“Do not say that, Ananda! Do not say: ‘This mean place, this
uncivilized township in the midst of the jungle, a mere outpost of the
province.’ In times long past, Ananda, there was a king by the name of Maha Sudassana,
who was a universal monarch, a king of righteousness, a conqueror of
the four quarters of the earth, whose realm was established in security,
and who was endowed with the seven jewels.[53]
And that King Maha Sudassana, Ananda, had his royal residence here at Kusinara, which was then called Kusavati, and it extended twelve yojanas from east to west, and seven from north to south.

43.
“And mighty, Ananda, was Kusavati, the capital, prosperous and well
populated, much frequented by people, and abundantly provided with food.
Just as the royal residence of the deities, Alakamanda,
is mighty, prosperous, and well populated, much frequented by deities
and abundantly provided with food, so was the royal capital of Kusavati.

44.
“Kusavati, Ananda, resounded unceasingly day and night with ten sounds —
the trumpeting of elephants, the neighing of horses, the rattling of
chariots, the beating of drums and tabours, music and song, cheers, the
clapping of hands, and cries of ‘Eat, drink, and be merry!’

Lamentation of the Mallas

45.
“Go now, Ananda, to Kusinara and announce to the Mallas: ‘Today,
Vasetthas, in the last watch of the night, the Tathagata’s Parinibbana
will take place. Approach, O Vasetthas, draw near! Do not be remorseful
later at the thought: “In our township it was that the Tathagata’s
Parinibbana took place, but we failed to see him at the end!”‘”

“So be it, Lord.” And the Venerable Ananda prepared himself, and taking bowl and robe, went with a companion to Kusinara.

46.
Now at that time the Mallas had gathered in the council hall for some
public business. And the Venerable Ananda approached them and announced:
“Today, Vasetthas, in the last watch of the night, the Tathagata’s
Parinibbana will take place. Approach, Vasetthas, draw near! Do not be
remorseful later at the thought: ‘In our township it was that the
Tathagata’s Parinibbana took place, but we failed to see him at the
end.’”

47.
When they heard the Venerable Ananda speak these words, the Mallas with
their sons, their wives, and the wives of their sons, were sorely
grieved, grieved at heart and afflicted; and some, with their hair all
dishevelled, with arms uplifted in despair, wept; flinging themselves on
the ground, they rolled from side to side, lamenting: “Too soon has the
Blessed One come to his Parinibbana! Too soon has the Happy One come to
his Parinibbana! Too soon will the Eye of the World vanish from sight!”

48.
And thus afflicted and filled with grief, the Mallas, with their sons,
their wives, and the wives of their sons, went to the Sala Grove, the
recreation park of the Mallas, to the place where the Venerable Ananda
was.

49.
And the thought arose in the Venerable Ananda: “If I were to allow the
Mallas of Kusinara to pay reverence to the Blessed One one by one, the
night will have given place to dawn before they are all presented to
him. Therefore let me divide them up according to clan, each family in a
group, and so present them to the Blessed One thus: ‘The Malla of such
and such a name, Lord, with his wives and children, his attendants and
his friends, pays homage at the feet of the Blessed One.’”

50.
And the Venerable Ananda divided the Mallas up according to clan, each
family in a group, and presented them to the Blessed One. So it was that
the Venerable Ananda caused the Mallas of Kusinara to be presented to
the Blessed One by clans, each family in a group, even in the first
watch of the night.

The Last Convert

51. Now at that time a wandering ascetic named Subhadda
was dwelling at Kusinara. And Subhadda the wandering ascetic heard it
said: “Today in the third watch of the night, the Parinibbana of the
ascetic Gotama will take place.”

52.
And the thought arose in him: “I have heard it said by old and
venerable wandering ascetics, teachers of teachers, that the arising of
Tathagatas, Arahants, Fully Enlightened Ones, is rare in the world. Yet
this very day, in the last watch of the night, the Parinibbana of the
ascetic Gotama will take place. Now there is in me a doubt; but to this
extent I have faith in the ascetic Gotama, that he could so teach me the
Dhamma as to remove that doubt.”

53.
Then the wandering ascetic Subhadda went to the Sala Grove, the
recreation park of the Mallas, and drew near to the Venerable Ananda,
and told the Venerable Ananda his thought. And he spoke to the Venerable
Ananda, saying: “Friend Ananda, it would be good if I could be allowed
into the presence of the ascetic Gotama.”

54.
But the Venerable Ananda answered him, saying: “Enough, friend
Subhadda! Do not trouble the Tathagata. The Blessed One is weary.”

55-56.
Yet a second and a third time the wandering ascetic Subhadda made his
request, and a second and a third time the Venerable Ananda refused him.

57.
And the Blessed One heard the talk between them, and he called the
Venerable Ananda and said: “Stop, Ananda! Do not refuse Subhadda.
Subhadda, Ananda, may be allowed into the presence of the Tathagata. For
whatever he will ask me, he will ask for the sake of knowledge, and not
as an offence. And the answer I give him, that he will readily
understand.”

58.
Thereupon the Venerable Ananda said to the wandering ascetic Subhadda:
“Go then, friend Subhadda, the Blessed One gives you leave.”

59.
Then the wandering ascetic Subhadda approached the Blessed One and
saluted him courteously. And having exchanged with him pleasant and
civil greetings, the wandering ascetic Subhadda seated himself at one
side and addressed the Blessed One, saying: “There are, Venerable
Gotama, ascetics and brahmans who are heads of great companies of
disciples, who have large retinues, who are leaders of schools, well
known and renowned, and held in high esteem by the multitude, such
teachers as Purana Kassapa, Makkhali Gosala, Ajita Kesakambali, Pakudha Kaccayana, Sañjaya Belatthaputta,
Nigantha Nataputta. Have all of these attained realization, as each of
them would have it believed, or has none of them, or is it that some
have attained realization and others not?”

60.
“Enough, Subhadda! Let it be as it may, whether all of them have
attained realization, as each of them would have it believed, or whether
none of them has, or whether some have attained realization and others
not. I will teach you the Dhamma, Subhadda; listen and heed it well, and
I will speak.”

“So be it, Lord.”

The Lion’s Roar

61.
And the Blessed One spoke, saying: “In whatsoever Dhamma and
Discipline, Subhadda, there is not found the Noble Eightfold Path,
neither is there found a true ascetic of the first, second, third, or
fourth degree of saintliness. But in whatsoever Dhamma and Discipline
there is found the Noble Eightfold Path, there is found a true ascetic
of the first, second, third, and fourth degrees of saintliness.[54]

Now in this Dhamma and Discipline, Subhadda, is found the Noble
Eightfold Path; and in it alone are also found true ascetics of the
first, second, third, and fourth degrees of saintliness. Devoid of true
ascetics are the systems of other teachers. But if, Subhadda, the
bhikkhus live righteously, the world will not be destitute of arahats.

62. “In age but twenty-nine was I, Subhadda,

When I renounced the world to seek the Good;
Fifty-one years have passed since then, Subhadda,
And in all that time a wanderer have I been
In the domain of virtue and of truth,
And except therein, there is no saint
(of the first degree).

“And
there is none of the second degree, nor of the third degree, nor of the
fourth degree of saintliness. Devoid of true ascetics are the systems
of other teachers. But if, Subhadda, the bhikkhus live righteously, the
world will not be destitute of arahats.”

63.
When this was said, the wandering ascetic Subhadda spoke to the Blessed
One, saying: “Excellent, O Lord, most excellent, O Lord! It is as if,
Lord, one were to set upright what had been overthrown, or to reveal
what had been hidden, or to show the path to one who had gone astray, or
to light a lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes might see —
even so has the Blessed One set forth the Dhamma in many ways. And so, O
Lord, I take my refuge in the Blessed One, the Dhamma, and the
Community of Bhikkhus. May I receive from the Blessed One admission to
the Order and also the higher ordination.”

64.
“Whoever, Subhadda, having been formerly a follower of another creed,
wishes to receive admission and higher ordination in this Dhamma and
Discipline, remains on probation for a period of four months. At the end
of those four months, if the bhikkhus are satisfied with him, they
grant him admission and higher ordination as a bhikkhu. Yet in this
matter I recognize differences of personalities.”

65.
“If, O Lord, whoever, having been formerly a follower of another creed,
wishes to receive admission and higher ordination in this Dhamma and
Discipline, remains on probation for a period of four months, and at the
end of those four months, if the bhikkhus are satisfied with him, they
grant him admission and higher ordination as a bhikkhu — then I will
remain on probation for a period of four years. And at the end of those
four years, if the bhikkhus are satisfied with me, let them grant me
admission and higher ordination as a bhikkhu.”

66.
But the Blessed One called the Venerable Ananda and said to him:
“Ananda, let Subhadda be given admission into the Order.” And the
Venerable Ananda replied: “So be it, Lord.”

67.
Then the wandering ascetic Subhadda said to the Venerable Ananda: “It
is a gain to you, friend Ananda, a blessing, that in the presence of the
Master himself you have received the sprinkling of ordination as a
disciple.”

68. So it
came about that the wandering ascetic Subhadda, in the presence of the
Blessed One, received admission and higher ordination. And from the time
of his ordination the Venerable Subhadda remained alone, secluded,
heedful, ardent, and resolute. And before
long he attained to the goal for which a worthy man goes forth rightly
from home to homelessness, the supreme goal of the holy life; and having
by himself realized it with higher knowledge, he dwelt therein. He
knew: “Destroyed is birth; the higher life is fulfilled; nothing more is
to be done, and beyond this life nothing more remains.” And the
Venerable Subhadda became yet another among the arahats, and he was the
last disciple converted by the Blessed One himself.

Part Six: The Passing Away

The Blessed One’s Final Exhortation

1.
Now the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “It may be,
Ananda, that to some among you the thought will come: ‘Ended is the word
of the Master; we have a Master no longer.’ But it should not, Ananda,
be so considered. For that which I have proclaimed and made known as the
Dhamma and the Discipline, that shall be your Master when I am gone.

2.
“And, Ananda, whereas now the bhikkhus address one another as ‘friend,’
let it not be so when I am gone. The senior bhikkhus, Ananda, may
address the junior ones by their name, their family name, or as
‘friend’; but the junior bhikkhus should address the senior ones as
‘venerable sir’ or ‘your reverence.’[55]

3. “If it is desired, Ananda, the Sangha may, when I am gone, abolish the lesser and minor rules.[56]

4. “Ananda, when I am gone, let the higher penalty be imposed upon the bhikkhu Channa.”[57]

“But what, Lord, is the higher penalty?”

“The
bhikkhu Channa, Ananda, may say what he will, but the bhikkhus should
neither converse with him, nor exhort him, nor admonish him.”

5.
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “It may be,
bhikkhus, that one of you is in doubt or perplexity as to the Buddha,
the Dhamma, or the Sangha, the path or the practice. Then question,
bhikkhus! Do not be given to remorse later on with the thought: ‘The
Master was with us face to face, yet face to face we failed to ask
him.’”

6.
But when this was said, the bhikkhus were silent. And yet a second and a
third time the Blessed One said to them: “It may be, bhikkhus, that one
of you is in doubt or perplexity as to the Buddha, the Dhamma, or the
Sangha, the path or the practice. Then question, bhikkhus! Do not be
given to remorse later on with the thought: ‘The Master was with us face
to face, yet face to face we failed to ask him.’”

And
for a second and a third time the bhikkhus were silent. Then the
Blessed One said to them: “It may be, bhikkhus, out of respect for the
Master that you ask no questions. Then, bhikkhus, let friend communicate
it to friend.” Yet still the bhikkhus were silent.

7.
And the Venerable Ananda spoke to the Blessed One, saying: “Marvellous
it is, O Lord, most wonderful it is! This faith I have in the community
of bhikkhus, that not even one bhikkhu is in doubt or perplexity as to
the Buddha, the Dhamma, or the Sangha, the path or the practice.”

“Out
of faith, Ananda, you speak thus. But here, Ananda, the Tathagata knows
for certain that among this community of bhikkhus there is not even one
bhikkhu who is in doubt or perplexity as to the Buddha, the Dhamma, or
the Sangha, the path or the practice. For, Ananda, among these five
hundred bhikkhus even the lowest is a stream-enterer, secure from
downfall, assured, and bound for enlightenment.”

8.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Behold now,
bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish.
Strive with earnestness!”[58]

This was the last word of the Tathagata.

How the Blessed One Passed into Nibbana

9.
And the Blessed One entered the first jhana. Rising from the first
jhana, he entered the second jhana. Rising from the second jhana, he
entered the third jhana. Rising from the third jhana, he entered the
fourth jhana. And rising out of the fourth jhana, he entered the sphere
of infinite space. Rising from the attainment of the sphere of infinite
space, he entered the sphere of infinite consciousness. Rising from the
attainment of the sphere of infinite consciousness, he entered the
sphere of nothingness. Rising from the attainment of the sphere of
nothingness, he entered the sphere of
neither-perception-nor-non-perception. And rising out of the attainment
of the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, he attained to
the cessation of perception and feeling.

10. And the Venerable Ananda spoke to the Venerable Anuruddha, saying: “Venerable Anuruddha, the Blessed One has passed away.”

“No, friend Ananda, the Blessed One has not passed away. He has entered the state of the cessation of perception and feeling.”[59]

11.
Then the Blessed One, rising from the cessation of perception and
feeling, entered the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception.
Rising from the attainment of the sphere of
neither-perception-nor-non-perception, he entered the sphere of
nothingness. Rising from the attainment of the sphere of nothingness, he
entered the sphere of infinite consciousness. Rising from the
attainment of the sphere of infinite consciousness, he entered the
sphere of infinite space. Rising from the attainment of the sphere of
infinite space, he entered the fourth jhana. Rising from the fourth
jhana, he entered the third jhana. Rising from the third jhana, he
entered the second jhana. Rising from the second jhana, he entered the
first jhana.

Rising
from the first jhana, he entered the second jhana. Rising from the
second jhana, he entered the third jhana. Rising from the third jhana,
he entered the fourth jhana. And, rising from the fourth jhana, the
Blessed One immediately passed away.

The World’s Echo

12.
And when the Blessed One had passed away, simultaneously with his
Parinibbana there came a tremendous earthquake, dreadful and astounding,
and the thunders rolled across the heavens.

13. And when the Blessed One had passed away, simultaneously with his Parinibbana, Brahma Sahampati[60] spoke this stanza:

All must depart all beings that have life

Must shed their compound forms. Yea, even one,

A Master such as he, a peerless being,

Powerful in wisdom, the Enlightened One, has passed away.

14. And when the Blessed One had passed away, simultaneously with his Parinibbana, Sakka, king of the gods,[61] spoke this stanza:

Transient are all compounded things,

Subject to arise and vanish;

Having come into existence they pass away;

Good is the peace when they forever cease.

15. And when the Blessed One had passed away, simultaneously with his Parinibbana, the Venerable Anuruddha spoke this stanza:

No movement of the breath, but with steadfast heart,

Free from desires and tranquil so the sage

Comes to his end. By mortal pangs unshaken,

His mind, like a flame extinguished, finds release.

16. And when the Blessed One had passed away, simultaneously with his Parinibbana, the Venerable Ananda spoke this stanza:

Then there was terror, and the hair stood up, when he,

The All-accomplished One, the Buddha, passed away.

17.
Then, when the Blessed One had passed away, some bhikkhus, not yet
freed from passion, lifted up their arms and wept; and some, flinging
themselves on the ground, rolled from side to side and wept, lamenting:
“Too soon has the Blessed One come to his Parinibbana! Too soon has the
Happy One come to his Parinibbana! Too soon has the Eye of the World
vanished from sight!”

But
the bhikkhus who were freed from passion, mindful and clearly
comprehending, reflected in this way: “Impermanent are all compounded
things. How could this be otherwise?”

18.
And the Venerable Anuruddha addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Enough,
friends! Do not grieve, do not lament! For has not the Blessed One
declared that with all that is dear and beloved there must be change,
separation, and severance? Of that which is born, come into being,
compounded and subject to decay, how can one say: ‘May it not come to
dissolution!’? The deities, friends, are aggrieved.”

“But, venerable sir, of what deities is the Venerable Anuruddha aware?”

“There
are deities, friend Ananda, in space and on the earth who are
earthly-minded; with dishevelled hair they weep, with uplifted arms they
weep; flinging themselves on the ground, they roll from side to side,
lamenting: ‘Too soon has the Blessed One come to his Parinibbana! Too
soon has the Happy One come to his Parinibbana! Too soon has the Eye of
the World vanished from sight!’ But those deities who are freed from
passion, mindful and clearly comprehending, reflect in this way:
‘Impermanent are all compounded things. How could this be otherwise?’”

19.
Now the Venerable Anuruddha and the Venerable Ananda spent the rest of
the night in talking on the Dhamma. Then the Venerable Anuruddha spoke
to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “Go now, friend Ananda, to Kusinara,
and announce to the Mallas: ‘The Blessed One, Vasetthas, has passed
away. Do now as seems fitting to you.’”

“So
be it, venerable sir.” And the Venerable Ananda prepared himself in the
forenoon, and taking bowl and robe, went with a companion into
Kusinara.

20.
At that time the Mallas of Kusinara had gathered in the council hall to
consider that very matter. And the Venerable Ananda approached them and
announced: “The Blessed One, Vasetthas, has passed away. Do now as
seems fitting to you.”

And
when they heard the Venerable Ananda speak these words, the Mallas with
their sons, their wives, and the wives of their sons, were sorely
grieved, grieved at heart and afflicted; and some, with their hair all
dishevelled, with arms upraised in despair, wept; flinging themselves on
the ground, they rolled from side to side, lamenting: “Too soon has the
Blessed One come to his Parinibbana! “Too soon has the Happy One come
to his Parinibbana! Too soon has the Eye of the World vanished from
sight!”

Homage to the Remains

21.
Then the Mallas of Kusinara gave orders to their men, saying: “Gather
now all the perfumes, flower-garlands, and musicians, even all that are
in Kusinara.” And the Mallas, with the perfumes, the flower-garlands,
and the musicians, and with five hundred sets of clothing, went to the
Sala Grove, the recreation park of the Mallas, and approached the body
of the Blessed One. And having approached, they paid homage to the body
of the Blessed One with dance, song, music, flower-garlands, and
perfume, and erecting canopies and pavilions, they spent the day showing
respect, honor, and veneration to the body of the Blessed One. And then
the thought came to them: “Now the day is too far spent for us to
cremate the body of the Blessed One. Tomorrow we will do it.”

And
for the second day, and a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth day, they
paid homage to the body of the Blessed One with dance, song, music,
flower-garlands, and perfume, and erecting canopies and pavilions, they
spent the day showing respect, honor, and veneration to the body of the
Blessed One.

But
on the seventh day the thought came to them: “We have paid homage to
the body of the Blessed One with dance, song, music, flower-garlands,
and perfume, and have shown respect, honor, and veneration; let us now
carry the body of the Blessed One southward to the southern part of the
town and beyond, and let us there cremate the body of the Blessed One
south of the town.”

And
eight Mallas of the foremost families, bathed from the crown of their
heads and wearing new clothes, with the thought: “We will lift up the
body of the Blessed One,” tried to do so but they could not.

22.
Then the Mallas spoke to the Venerable Anuruddha, saying: “What is the
cause, Venerable Anuruddha, what is the reason that these eight Mallas
of the foremost families, bathed from the crown of their heads and
wearing new clothes, with the thought: ‘We will lift up the body of the
Blessed One,’ try to do so but cannot?”

“You, Vasetthas, have one purpose, the deities have another.”

“Then what, venerable sir, is the purpose of the deities?”

“Your
purpose, Vasetthas, is this: ‘We have paid homage to the body of the
Blessed One with dance, song, music, flower-garlands, and perfume, and
have shown respect, honor, and veneration; let us now carry the body of
the Blessed One southward to the southern part of the town and beyond,
and let us there cremate the body of the Blessed One south of the town.’
But the purpose of the deities, Vasetthas, is this: ‘We have paid
homage to the body of the Blessed One with heavenly dance, song, music,
flower-garlands, and perfume, and have shown respect, honor, and
veneration; let us now carry the body of the Blessed One northward to
the northern part of the town; and having carried it through the
northern gate, let us go through the center of the town, and then
eastward to the east of the town; and having passed through the east
gate, let us carry it to the cetiya of the Mallas, Makuta-bandhana, and there let us cremate the body of the Blessed One.’”

“As the deities wish, venerable sir, so let it be.”

23. Thereupon the whole of Kusinara, even to the dust heaps and rubbish heaps, became covered knee-deep in mandarava flowers.[62]
And homage was paid to the body of the Blessed One by the deities as
well as the Mallas of Kusinara. With dance, song, music,
flower-garlands, and perfume, both divine and human, respect, honor, and
veneration were shown. And they carried the body of the Blessed One
northward to the northern part of the town; and having carried it
through the northern gate, they went through the center of the town, and
then eastward to the east of the town; and having passed through the
east gate, they carried the body of the Blessed One to the cetiya of the
Mallas, Makuta-bandhana, and there laid it down.

24.
Then the Mallas of Kusinara spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying: “How
should we act, Venerable Ananda, respecting the body of the Tathagata?”

“After the same manner, Vasetthas, as towards the body of a universal monarch.”

“But how, venerable Ananda, do they act respecting the body of a universal monarch?”

“The
body of a universal monarch, Vasetthas, is first wrapped round with new
linen, and then with teased cotton wool. And again it is wrapped round
with new linen, and again with teased cotton wool, and so it is done up
to five hundred layers of linen and five hundred of cotton wool. When
that is done, the body of the universal monarch is placed in an iron
oil-vessel, which is enclosed in another iron vessel and a funeral pyre
is built of all kinds of perfumed woods, and so the body of the
universal monarch is burned. And at a crossroads a stupa is raised for
the universal monarch. So it is done, Vasetthas, with the body of a
universal monarch.

“And
even, Vasetthas, as with the body of a universal monarch, so should it
be done with the body of the Tathagata; and at a crossroads also a stupa
should be raised for the Tathagata. And whoever shall bring to that
place garlands or incense or sandalwood paste, or pay reverence, and
whose mind becomes calm there — it will be to his well being and
happiness for a long time.”

25.
Then the Mallas gave orders to their men, saying: “Gather now all the
teased cotton wool of the Mallas!” And the Mallas of Kusinara wrapped
the body of the Blessed One round with new linen, and then with teased
cotton wool. And again they wrapped it round with new linen, and again
with teased cotton wool, and so it was done up to five hundred layers of
linen and five hundred of cotton wool. When that was done, they placed
the body of the Blessed One in an iron oil-vessel, which was enclosed in
another iron vessel, and they built a funeral pyre of all kinds of
perfumed woods, and upon it they laid the body of the Blessed One.

26. Now at that time the Venerable Maha Kassapa[63]
was journeying from Pava to Kusinara together with a large company of
five hundred bhikkhus. And on the way, the Venerable Maha Kassapa went
aside from the highway and sat down at the foot of a tree.

And a certain Ajivaka came by, on his way to Pava, and he had taken a mandarava
flower from Kusinara. And the Venerable Maha Kassapa saw the Ajivaka
coming from a distance, and as he drew close he spoke to him, saying:
“Do you know, friend, anything of our Master?”

“Yes, friend, I know. It is now seven days since the ascetic Gotama passed away. From there I have brought this mandarava flower.”

27.
Thereupon some bhikkhus, not yet freed from passion, lifted up their
arms and wept; and some, flinging themselves on the ground, rolled from
side to side and wept, lamenting: “Too soon has the Blessed One come to
his Parinibbana! Too soon has the Happy One come to his Parinibbana! Too
soon has the Eye of the World vanished from sight!”

28. Now at that time, one Subhadda, who had renounced only in his old age, was seated in the assembly.[64]
And he addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Enough, friends! Do not grieve,
do not lament! We are well rid of that great ascetic. Too long,
friends, have we been oppressed by his saying: ‘This is fitting for you;
that is not fitting for you.’ Now we shall be able to do as we wish,
and what we do not wish, that we shall not do.”

But
the Venerable Maha Kassapa addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Enough
friends! Do not grieve, do not lament! For has not the Blessed One
declared that with all that is dear and beloved there must be change,
separation, and severance? Of that which is born, come into being,
compounded, and subject to decay, how can one say: ‘May it not come to
dissolution!’?”

29.
Now at that time four Mallas of the foremost families, bathed from the
crown of their heads and wearing new clothes, with the thought: “We will
set alight the Blessed One’s pyre,” tried to do so but they could not.
And the Mallas spoke to the Venerable Anuruddha, saying: “What is the
cause, Venerable Anuruddha, what is the reason that these four Mallas of
the foremost families, bathed from the crown of their heads and wearing
new clothes, with the thought: “We will set alight the Blessed One’s
pyre,’ try to do so but cannot?”

“You, Vasetthas, have one purpose, the deities have another.”

“Then what, venerable sir, is the purpose of the deities?”

“The
purpose of the deities, Vasetthas, is this: ‘The Venerable Maha Kassapa
is on his way from Pava to Kusinara together with a large company of
five hundred bhikkhus. Let not the Blessed One’s pyre be set alight
until the Venerable Maha Kassapa has paid homage at the feet of the
Blessed One.’”

“As the deities wish, venerable sir, so let it be.”

30.
And the Venerable Maha Kassapa approached the pyre of the Blessed One,
at the cetiya of the Mallas, Makuta-bandhana, in Kusinara. And he
arranged his upper robe on one shoulder, and with his clasped hands
raised in salutation, he walked three times round the pyre, keeping his
right side towards the Blessed One’s body, and he paid homage at the
feet of the Blessed One. And even so did the five hundred bhikkhus.

And
when homage had been paid by the Venerable Maha Kassapa and the five
hundred bhikkhus, the pyre of the Blessed One burst into flame by
itself.

31.
And it came about that when the body of the Blessed One had been
burned, no ashes or particles were to be seen of what had been skin,
tissue, flesh, sinews, and fluid; only bones remained. Just as when ghee
or oil is burned, it leaves no particles or ashes behind, even so when
the body of the Blessed One had been burned, no ashes or particles were
to be seen of what had been skin, tissue, flesh, sinews, and fluid; only
bones remained. And of the five hundred linen wrappings, only two were
not consumed, the innermost and the outermost.

32.
And when the body of the Blessed One had been burned, water rained down
from heaven and extinguished the pyre of the Blessed One, and from the
sala trees water came forth, and the Mallas of Kusinara brought water
scented with many kinds of perfumes, and they too extinguished the pyre
of the Blessed One.

And
the Mallas of Kusinara laid the relics of the Blessed One in their
council hall, and surrounded them with a lattice-work of spears and
encircled them with a fence of bows; and there for seven days they paid
homage to the relics of the Blessed One with dance, song, music,
flower-garlands, and perfume, and showed respect, honor, and veneration
to the relics of the Blessed One.

Partition of the Relics

33.
Then the king of Magadha, Ajatasattu, son of the Videhi queen, came to
know that at Kusinara the Blessed One had passed away. And he sent a
message to the Mallas of Kusinara, saying: “The Blessed One was of the
warrior caste, and I am too. I am worthy to receive a portion of the
relics of the Blessed One. I will erect a stupa over the relics of the
Blessed One and hold a festival in their honor.”

34.
And the Licchavis of Vesali came to know that at Kusinara the Blessed
One had passed away. And they sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinara,
saying: “The Blessed One was of the warrior caste, and we are too. We
are worthy to receive a portion of the relics of the Blessed One. We
will erect a stupa over the relics of the Blessed One and hold a
festival in their honor.”

35. And the Sakyas
of Kapilavatthu came to know that at Kusinara the Blessed One had
passed away. And they sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinara, saying:
“The Blessed One was the greatest of our clan. We are worthy to receive a
portion of the relics of the Blessed One. We will erect a stupa over
the relics of the Blessed One and hold a festival in their honor.”

36. And the Bulis of Allakappa
came to know that at Kusinara the Blessed One had passed away. And they
sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinara, saying: “The Blessed One was
of the warrior caste, and we are too. We are worthy to receive a portion
of the relics of the Blessed One. We will erect a stupa over the relics
of the Blessed One and hold a festival in their honor.”

37. And the Kolis of Ramagama
came to know that at Kusinara the Blessed One had passed away. And they
sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinara, saying: “The Blessed One was
of the warrior caste, and we are too. We are worthy to receive a portion
of the relics of the Blessed One. We will erect a stupa over the relics
of the Blessed One and hold a festival in their honor.”

38. And the Vethadipa
brahman came to know that at Kusinara the Blessed One had passed away.
And he sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinara, saying: “The Blessed
One was of the warrior caste, and I am a brahman. I am worthy to receive
a portion of the relics of the Blessed One. I will erect a stupa over
the relics of the Blessed One and hold a festival in their honor.”

39.
And the Mallas of Pava came to know that at Kusinara the Blessed One
had passed away. And they sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinara,
saying: “The Blessed One was of the warrior caste, and we are too. We
are worthy to receive a portion of the relics of the Blessed One. We
will erect a stupa over the relics of the Blessed One and hold a
festival in their honor.”

40.
But when they heard these words, the Mallas of Kusinara addressed the
assembly, saying: “The Blessed One has passed away in our township. We
shall not part with any portion of the relics of the Blessed One.” Then
the brahman Dona spoke to the assembly, saying:

One word from me, I beg you, sirs, to hear!

Our Buddha taught us ever to forbear;

Unseemly would it be should strife arise

And war and bloodshed, over the custody

Of his remains, who was the best of men!

Let us all, sirs, in friendliness agree

To share eight portions so that far and wide

Stupas may rise, and seeing them, mankind

Faith in the All-Enlightened One will find!

“So be it, brahman! Divide the relics into eight equal portions yourself.”

And
the brahman Dona said to the assembly: “So be it, sirs.” And he divided
justly into eight equal portions the relics of the Blessed One, and
having done so, he addressed the assembly, saying: “Let this urn, sirs,
be given to me. Over this urn I will erect a stupa, and in its honor I
will hold a festival.” And the urn was given to the brahman Dona.

41. Then the Moriyas of Pipphalivana
came to know that at Kusinara the Blessed One had passed away. And they
sent a message to the Mallas of Kusinara, saying: “The Blessed One was
of the warrior caste, and we are too. We are worthy to receive a portion
of the relics of the Blessed One. We will erect a stupa over the relics
of the Blessed One and hold a festival in their honor.”

“There
is no portion of the relics of the Blessed One remaining; the relics of
the Blessed One have been divided. But take from here the ashes.” And
they took from there the ashes.

42.
And the king of Magadha, Ajatasattu, son of the Videhi queen, erected a
stupa over the relics of the Blessed One at Rajagaha, and in their
honor held a festival. The Licchavis of Vesali erected a stupa over the
relics of the Blessed One at Vesali, and in their honor held a festival.
The Sakyas of Kapilavatthu erected a stupa over the relics of the
Blessed One at Kapilavatthu, and in their honor held a festival. The
Bulis of Allakappa erected a stupa over the relics of the Blessed One at
Allakappa, and in their honor held a festival. The Kolis of Ramagama
erected a stupa over the relics of the Blessed One at Ramagama, and in
their honor held a festival. The Vethadipa brahman erected a stupa over
the relics of the Blessed One at Vethadipa, and in their honor held a
festival. The Mallas of Pava erected a stupa over the relics of the
Blessed One at Pava, and in their honor held a festival. The Mallas of
Kusinara erected a stupa over the relics of the Blessed One at Kusinara,
and in their honor held a festival. The brahman Dona erected a stupa
over the urn, and in its honor held a festival. And the Moriyas of
Pipphalivana erected a stupa over the ashes at Pipphalivana, and in
their honor held a festival.

So it came about that there were eight stupas for the relics, a ninth for the urn, and a tenth for the ashes.

And thus it was in the days of old.

43. Eight portions there were of the relics of him,

The All-Seeing One, the greatest of men.

Seven in Jambudipa are honored, and one

In Ramagama, by kings of the Naga race.

One tooth is honored in the Tavatimsa heaven,

One in the realm of Kalinga, and one by the Naga kings.

Through their brightness this bountiful earth

With its most excellent gifts is endowed;

For thus the relics of the All-Seeing One are best honored

By those who are worthy of honor by gods and Nagas

And lords of men, yea, by the highest of mankind.

Pay homage with clasped hands! For hard indeed it is

Through hundreds of ages to meet with an All-Enlightened One![65]

Notes

[References
to Anguttara Nikaya (= AN) are to collection followed by sutta number;
those to Digha Nikaya (= DN) and to Majjhima Nikaya (= MN) are to sutta
number.]

1.

Bhagava:
also rendered “the Auspicious One” or “the Exalted One”; the most
frequent appellation of the Buddha, though not restricted to Buddhist
usage.

2.

Ajatasattu Vedehiputta. Comy. says that Ajatasattu’s mother was a Kosala princess and not the daughter of the Vedehi king. Hence Comy. explains vedehiputta
as “son of a wise mother.” Ajatasattu became king of the powerful state
of Magadha after murdering his father, King Bimbisara (see DN 2).

3.

Tathagata: lit. “Thus-gone” or “Thus-come”; likewise an appellation of the Buddha, which he generally used when speaking of himself.

4.

Ananda
was a cousin of the Buddha and his personal attendant for twenty-four
years. He attained arahatship after the passing away of the Buddha, just
before the commencement of the First Council, at which he was the
reciter of the Digha Nikaya and the authority for the Sutta Pitaka.

5.

The discourse referred to here is AN 7.19.

6.

The group-names, which are not in the original, are supplied from other references to the qualities concerned; here satta saddhamma,
about which see AN 7.63; MN 53. In the Comy. to MN 8 they are called
“the complete equipment required for insight” (BPS Wheel No. 61/62,
p.48).

7.

Satta bojjhanga. See Piyadassi Thera, The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (BPS Wheel No. 1).

8.

Saraniya dhamma: also at MN 48, AN 6.11, 12.

9.

Virtue (sila), concentration (samadhi), and wisdom (pañña)
are the three divisions of the Noble Eightfold Path. Our text stresses
again and again the importance of a full development of all three for
final liberation.

10.

Asava:
those defiling factors — sensual desire, craving for existence, and
ignorance — primarily responsible for maintaining bondage to the cycle
of rebirths. Also translated as “cankers” or “corruptions.” Later texts
add a fourth, the taint of wrong views.

11.

Sariputta
was the chief disciple of the Buddha and the one who excelled in
wisdom. For a full account of the life and works or this illustrious
individual, see Nyanaponika Thera, The Life of Sariputta (BPS Wheel No. 90/92).

12.

Evam-dhamma. Comy. & Sub. Comy.: This refers to concentration and to the mental qualities belonging to concentration (samadhipakkhiya dhamma) such as energy, mindfulness, etc. Comy. explains “abiding” (vihara) as abiding in the attainment of cessation (nirodha-samapatti).

13.

Evam-vimutta: their deliverance from defilements and from future rebirths.

14.

On the five hindrances, see Nyanaponika Thera, The Five Mental Hindrances (BPS Wheel No. 26).

15.

On the four foundations of mindfulness, see below, II:14. The seven factors of enlightenment are enumerated in I:9.

16.

Puta-bhedanam. Comy. explains as the breaking open, the unpacking, of boxes (puta) of merchandise for the purpose of distribution. But probably it refers to the bursting open of the seed-box of the patali flower.

17.

The
stage of arahatship, the last of the four stages of deliverance. The
next three paragraphs refer to disciples on the three lower stages,
respectively, the non-returner, once-returner, and stream-enterer (anagami, sakadagami, sotapanna).

18.

Or: “not delayed (in its results).”

19.

Animitta cetosamadhi. Comy. explains this term here as referring to the fruition-attainment of arahatship (phalasamapatti),
in which the Buddha becomes absorbed in the direct experience of
Nibbana and no longer attends to external objects or feels mundane
feelings. In another context it can mean the concentration developed by
intensive insight.

20.

Tamatagge: a difficult word. Comy. takes it to stand for the superlative form, aggatama, “highest,” but alludes also to the Pali word tama,
“darkness.” It is rather difficult to accept that a superlative suffix
should be made to precede the word it qualifies. Tibetan and Chinese
parallels (Waldschmidt, Das Mahaparinirvana-sutra Berlin,
1950-51) pp. 200 ff.) point to a meaning as “the highest.” In the
fragments of the Turfan Sanskrit version, these words are not preserved.
Comy. says: “Tamatagge = tama-agge; the ‘t’ in the middle is inserted for euphonic reasons. The meaning is: these are the very highest, the most eminent (ime aggatama tamatagga). Having cut every bondage of darkness (tama-yoga), those bhikkhus of mine will be on the very top, in the highest rank (ativiya agge uttamabhave). Among them those will be on the very summit (ati-agge) who are desirous of training; and those whose resort is the four foundations of mindfulness will be at the very top of them.”

21.

Kappam va tittheyya kappavasesam va. Comy. takes kappa not as “world-period” or “aeon,” but as ayu-kappa, “life span,” and explains avasesa (usually “remainder”) by “in excess.”

Comy.: “He may stay alive completing the life span pertaining to men at the given time. (Sub. Comy.: the maximum life span.) Kappavasesa: ‘in excess’ (atireka), i.e., more or less above the hundred years said to be the normally highest life expectation.”

Among the numerous meanings of the word kappa, there is, in fact, that of time in general (kala)
and not only the duration of an aeon; but the meaning “life span” seems
to have been ascribed to it only in this passage. Also, the meaning “in
excess” for avasesa (usually “remainder”) is unusual.

The four constituents of psychic power (iddhipada) are concentration due to zeal, energy, purity of mind, and investigation.

22.

According to Comy., Ananda’s mind had been influenced (pariyutthitacitto) by Mara’s exhibiting a frightful sight which distracted his attention, preventing him from grasping the Buddha’s suggestion.

23.

“Convincing and liberating.” This stands for the one Pali word sappatihariya,
an attempt to render the two connotations which the word has according
to the commentaries and in the context of other occurrences in the
Canon. The commentaries derive it from the verb patiharati, “to
remove,” and explain it as (1) the removal of what is adverse, e.g.,
opposition and objections (covered by “convincing”), and (2) the removal
of inner obstructions, i.e., defilements such as greed, etc., effected
by arahatship. It is probably to point to that latter meaning that the
commentary to our present text paraphrases our passage as follows:
“until they are able to preach the Teaching in its liberating (niyyanika) capacity.”

24.

Tulam atulañca sambhavam:
lit. “the measurable and immeasurable productive cause (of life),”
i.e., the volitional action causing rebirth in the confined, or limited
sense-sphere, or in the unbounded fine-material and immaterial spheres.

25.

Bhavasankhara: the formative force of becoming, in the sense of what forms existence.

26.

Kavacam iv’attasambhavam.
Comy.: “He breaks through the entire net of defilements that envelops
individual existence like a coat of mail; he breaks the defilements as a
great warrior breaks his armor after a battle.” The Sanskrit version
has “like an egg shell” (kosam iv’ anda-sambhavam).

27.

Comy.:
“Even by this much the Venerable Ananda was aware of the fact: ‘Surely,
today the Blessed One has renounced his will to live on.’ Though the
Blessed One knew that the Venerable Ananda was aware of it, he did not
give him another opportunity to ask him to stay on for the remainder of
his life span, but he spoke to him about other eight-term groups
beginning with the eight assemblies.” Sub. Comy.: “Some say that the
Buddha did so in order to divert the Venerable Ananda and to prevent
grief from arising in him.”

28.

See also the Maha-sihanada Sutta (MN 12).

29.

Abhibhayatana.

30.

That is: “perceiving forms on his own body.” This refers to preliminary concentration.

31.

This refers to the kasina-nimitta, the after-image arising with full concentration.

32.

He derives the “sign” from objects external to his body.

33.

Attha vimokkha.

34.

Rupi. This refers to form-sphere absorption (rupajjhana) obtained with form objects of one’s own body.

35.

Subhan tveva adhimutto hoti. Comy.: “Hereby, meditative absorption (jhana), obtained through blue-kasinas, etc., of very pure color is indicated.”

36.

The Comy. says that the Buddhas, when looking back, turn the whole body round as an elephant does.

37.

In the earlier edition of this work, mahapadesa was rendered as “great authorities.” It is now known that the proper meaning of apadesa
is not “authority,” but “reference” or “source.” Besides, from the
passage it is clear that there are only two real “authorities” — the
Discourses (Suttas) and the Discipline (Vinaya).

38.

Sukara-maddava: a controversial term which has therefore been left untranslated. Sukara = pig; maddava = soft, tender, delicate. Hence two alternative renderings of the compound are possible: (1) the tender parts of a pig or boar; (2) what is enjoyed by
pigs and boars. In the latter meaning, the term has been thought to
refer to a mushroom or truffle, or a yam or tuber. K.E. Neumann, in the
preface to his German translation of the Majjhima Nikaya, quotes from an
Indian compendium of medicinal plants, the Rajanigantu, several plants beginning with sukara.

The
commentary to our text gives three alternative explanations: (1) the
flesh from a single first-born (wild) pig, neither too young nor too
old, which had come to hand naturally, i.e., without intentional
killing; (2) a preparation of soft boiled rice cooked with the five
cow-products; (3) a kind of alchemistic elixir (rasayanavidhi). Dhammapala, in his commentary to Udana VIII.5, gives, in addition, young bamboo shoots trampled by pigs (sukarehi maddita-vamsakaliro).

39.

Comy.: “These verses, and several to follow, were inserted by the elders who collected the Dhamma (texts at the First Council).”

40.

Alara
Kalama was one of the Buddha’s teachers before his Enlightenment. He
taught the Bodhisatta how to attain the sphere of nothingness, but could
not show him the path to Nibbana.

41.

Comy.: “From the town of Pava it is three gavutas
(approx. five miles) to Kusinara. Walking that distance with great
effort and sitting down at twenty-five places on the way, the Blessed
One reached the Sala Grove at dusk when the sun had already set. Thus
comes illness to man, crushing all his health. As if he wanted to point
to this fact, the Blessed One spoke those words which deeply moved the
whole world: ‘I am weary, Ananda, and want to lie down.’”

42.

See The Four Sacred Shrines, by Piyadassi Thera (BPS Bodhi Leaves No. 8) .

43.

At
Lumbini near Kapilavatthu, the ancestral seat of the Sakyans in the
foothills of the Himalayas. An Asokan pillar marks the spot.

44.

At Buddha-Gaya, in Bihar.

45.

At Isipatana near Benares (modern Sarnath).

46.

Sadatthe. Comy.: “for the highest purpose, the goal of arahatship.” There is a different reading, saratthe, “for an essential purpose.”

47.

Cakkavatti-raja: the ideal king of righteousness according to Buddhist tradition.

48.

Ayasa:
generally “made of iron,” has here according to Comy. the meaning “made
of gold,” for which there is also support in the Sanskrit usage of the
word.

49.

Paccekabuddha is one awakened or enlightened for himself alone. Such Paccekabuddhas arise at times when there is no Fully Enlightened One (samma-sambuddha).
Like the latter, they attain to Enlightenment by their own effort, but
unlike them are not able to lead others to deliverance. See Ria
Kloppenberg, The Paccekabuddha: A Buddhist Ascetic (BPS Wheel No. 305/307).

50.

The word vihara, given in the text, cannot refer here to a monastery or monks’ living quarters. Comy. explains it as a pavilion (mandala-mala).
If the locality was used as a meeting place for the clan, as Comy.
states, there may well have been a kind of shelter there. The couch in
the open, which Ananda was asked to prepare for the Master, was probably
a seat for the chiefs of the Malla clan put up at that place.

51.

Sekha.
This signifies those at the three lower stages of emancipation, before
reaching arahatship. Ananda, at that time, had reached the first of
these stages, stream-entry.

52.

Anasavo: that is, an arahant.

53.

The
“seven jewels” of a universal monarch are: the magical wheel, emblem of
his sovereignty, by which he conquers the earth without the use of
force; his wonderful elephant; his horse; his beautiful wife; his
precious gem; his treasurer; and his advisor. All are endowed with
wondrous properties. For more on Maha Sudassana, see the sutta which
bears his name, DN 17.

54.

The four degrees of saintliness are the stream-enterer, the once-returner, the non-returner, and the arahant.

55.

“Friend,” in Pali is avuso, “venerable sir” = bhante, “your reverence” = ayasma.

56.

Since
Ananda, at this point, did not ask what the minor rules were, the
Sangha decided not to abolish any of the rules of the Vinaya.

57.

Channa
had been the Buddha’s charioteer while the latter was still a prince
living in the palace. Because of his prior connection with the Buddha,
he was obdurate and refused to submit to discipline. This imposition of
the “higher penalty” (brahmadanda) changed him into an obedient monk.

58.

Handa dani bhikkhave amantayami vo: Vayadhamma sankhara appamadena sampadetha. Earnestness (appamada)
is explained as “presence of mindfulness.” Comy.: “‘You should
accomplish all your duties without allowing mindfulness to lapse!’ Thus
did the Blessed One, while on the bed of his Parinibbana, summarize in
that one word on earnestness the advice he had given through forty-five
years.”

59.

Anuruddha,
the elder brother of Ananda, would have known this through the
super-normal power of reading the minds of others, which he possessed.

60.

Brahma
Sahampati was a high divinity of the Brahma-world. It was he who
originally requested the newly enlightened Buddha to teach the Dhamma to
the world. See MN 26.

61.

Sakka
is the king of the gods in the Tavatimsa heaven, and thus a lower
figure in the cosmological hierarchy than Brahma Sahampati.

62.

A
celestial flower which appears on earth only on special occasions,
particularly in connection with the chief events in the life of the
Buddha. Its appearance in the hands of the Ajivaka ascetic signaled to
the Venerable Maha Kassapa that the Buddha’s Parinibbana had already
taken place. (See below, Section 26.)

63.

He
was one of the foremost disciples of the Buddha and became the
president of the First Great Council held shortly after the Buddha’s
Parinibbana. See Helmuth Hecker, Maha Kassapa: Father of the Sangha (BPS Wheel No. 345).

64.

This Subhadda is a different person from the wanderer Subhadda who became the Buddha’s last personal disciple.

65.

Comy. ascribes these verses to the “Elders of Tambapanni Island (Sri Lanka).”


comments (0)
04/20/11
234 LESSON 21 04 2011 Pañha Sutta Questions Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 11:34 pm

           

234
LESSON 21 04 2011
Pañha Sutta Questions  Free ONLINE eNālandā Research
and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social
Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org

 THE BUDDHIST

ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER


LESSON 234

COURSE PROGRAM

Pañha Sutta: Questions

“There are these four ways of answering questions. Which
four? There are questions that should be answered categorically
[straightforwardly yes, no, this, that]. There are questions that should be
answered with an analytical (qualified) answer [defining or redefining the
terms]. There are questions that should be answered with a counter-question.
There are questions that should be put aside. These are the four ways of
answering questions.”

 

First the categorical answer,

then the qualified,

third, the type to be counter-questioned,

& fourth, the one to be set aside.

Any monk who knows which is which,

in line with the Dhamma,

is said to be skilled

in the four types of questions:

hard to overcome, hard to beat,

profound, hard to defeat.

He knows what’s worthwhile

& what’s not,

proficient in (recognizing) both,

he rejects the worthless,

grasps the worthwhile.

He’s called          one
who has broken through

to what’s worthwhile,

prudent,

wise.


comments (0)
04/19/11
233 LESSON 20 04 2011 Abhaya Sutta To Prince Abhaya Free ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 11:25 pm

233
LESSON 20 04 2011 Abhaya Sutta To Prince Abhaya  Free ONLINE eNālandā Research
and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter
  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social
Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org

THE
BUDDHIST

ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

LESSON 233

COURSE PROGRAM


 


Abhaya Sutta: To Prince Abhaya

Translator’s Introduction

In this discourse, the Buddha shows the factors that go into
deciding what is and is not worth saying. The main factors are three: whether
or not a statement is true, whether or not it is beneficial, and whether or not
it is pleasing to others. The Buddha himself would state only those things that
are true and beneficial, and would have a sense of time for when pleasing and
unpleasing things should be said. Notice that the possibility that a statement
might be untrue yet beneficial is not even entertained.

This discourse also shows, in action, the Buddha’s teaching on
the four categories of questions and how they should be answered (see
AN 4.42). The prince asks him
two questions, and in both cases he responds first with a counter-question,
before going on to give an analytical answer to the first question and a
categorical answer to the second. Each counter-question serves a double
function: to give the prince a familiar reference point for understanding the
answer about to come, and also to give him a chance to speak of his own
intelligence and good motives. This provides him with the opportunity to save
face after being stymied in his desire to best the Buddha in argument. The Commentary
notes that the prince had placed his infant son on his lap as a cheap debater’s
trick: if the Buddha had put him in an uncomfortable spot in the debate, the
prince would have pinched his son, causing him to cry and thus effectively
bringing the debate to a halt. The Buddha, however, uses the infant’s presence
to remove any sense of a debate and also to make an effective point. Taking
Nigantha Nataputta’s image of a dangerous object stuck in the throat, he
applies it to the infant, and then goes on to make the point that, unlike the
Niganthas — who were content to leave someone with a potentially lethal object
in the throat — the Buddha’s desire is to remove such objects, out of sympathy
and compassion. In this way, he brings the prince over to his side, converting
a potential opponent into a disciple.

Thus this discourse is not only about right speech, but
also shows right speech in action.

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying
near Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels’
Sanctuary.

Then Prince Abhaya went to Nigantha
Nataputta
and on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he
was sitting there, Nigantha Nataputta said to him, “Come, now, prince.
Refute the words of Gotama the contemplative, and this admirable report about
you will spread afar: ‘The words of Gotama the contemplative — so mighty, so
powerful — were refuted by Prince Abhaya!’”

“But how, venerable sir, will I refute the words of Gotama
the contemplative — so mighty, so powerful?”

“Come now, prince. Go to Gotama the contemplative and on
arrival say this: ‘Lord, would the Tathagata say words that are unendearing
& disagreeable to others?’ If Gotama the contemplative, thus asked,
answers, ‘The Tathagata would say words that are unendearing & disagreeable
to others,’ then you should say, ‘Then how is there any difference between you,
lord, and run-of-the-mill people? For even run-of-the-mill people say words
that are unendearing & disagreeable to others.’ But if Gotama the
contemplative, thus asked, answers, ‘The Tathagata would not say words that are
unendearing & disagreeable to others,’ then you should say, ‘Then how,
lord, did you say of Devadatta that “Devadatta is
headed for destitution, Devadatta is headed for hell, Devadatta will boil for
an eon, Devadatta is incurable”? For Devadatta was upset & disgruntled
at those words of yours.’ When Gotama the contemplative is asked this
two-pronged question by you, he won’t be able to swallow it down or spit it up.
Just as if a two-horned chestnut
[1] were stuck in a man’s
throat: he would not be able to swallow it down or spit it up. In the same way,
when Gotama the contemplative is asked this two-pronged question by you, he
won’t be able to swallow it down or spit it up.”

Responding, “As you say, venerable sir,” Prince Abhaya
got up from his seat, bowed down to Nigantha Nataputta, circumambulated him,
and then went to the Blessed One. On arrival, he bowed down to the Blessed One
and sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he glanced up at the sun and
thought, “Today is not the time to refute the Blessed One’s words.
Tomorrow in my own home I will overturn the Blessed One’s words.” So he said
to the Blessed One, “May the Blessed One, together with three others,
acquiesce to my offer of tomorrow’s meal.”

The Blessed One acquiesced with silence.

Then Prince Abhaya, understanding the Blessed One’s
acquiescence, got up from his seat, bowed down to the Blessed One,
circumambulated him, and left.

Then, after the night had passed, the Blessed One early in the
morning put on his robes and, carrying his bowl and outer robe, went to Prince
Abhaya’s home. On arrival, he sat down on a seat made ready. Prince Abhaya,
with his own hand, served & satisfied the Blessed One with fine staple
& non-staple foods. Then, when the Blessed One had eaten and had removed
his hand from his bowl, Prince Abhaya took a lower seat and sat to one side. As
he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One, “Lord, would the
Tathagata say words that are unendearing & disagreeable to others?”

“Prince, there is no categorical yes-or-no answer to
that.”

“Then right here, lord, the Niganthas are destroyed.”

“But prince, why do you say, ‘Then right here, lord, the
Niganthas are destroyed’?”

“Just yesterday, lord, I went to Nigantha Nataputta and…
he said to me…’Come now, prince. Go to Gotama the contemplative and on
arrival say this: “Lord, would the Tathagata say words that are unendearing
& disagreeable to others?”… Just as if a two-horned chestnut were
stuck in a man’s throat: he would not be able to swallow it down or spit it up.
In the same way, when Gotama the contemplative is asked this two-pronged
question by you, he won’t be able to swallow it down or spit it up.’”

Now at that time a baby boy was lying face-up on the prince’s
lap. So the Blessed One said to the prince, “What do you think, prince: If
this young boy, through your own negligence or that of the nurse, were to take
a stick or a piece of gravel into its mouth, what would you do?”

“I would take it out, lord. If I couldn’t get it out right
away, then holding its head in my left hand and crooking a finger of my right,
I would take it out, even if it meant drawing blood. Why is that? Because I
have sympathy for the young boy.”

“In the same way, prince:

[1] In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be unfactual, untrue,
unbeneficial (or: not connected with the goal), unendearing & disagreeable
to others, he does not say them.

[2] In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual,
true, unbeneficial, unendearing & disagreeable to others, he does not say
them.

[3] In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual,
true, beneficial, but unendearing & disagreeable to others, he has a sense
of the proper time for saying them.

[4] In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be
unfactual, untrue, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others, he
does not say them.

[5] In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual,
true, unbeneficial, but endearing & agreeable to others, he does not say
them.

[6] In the case of words that the Tathagata knows to be factual,
true, beneficial, and endearing & agreeable to others, he has a sense of the
proper time for saying them. Why is that? Because the Tathagata has sympathy
for living beings.”

“Lord, when wise nobles or priests, householders or
contemplatives, having formulated questions, come to the Tathagata and ask him,
does this line of reasoning appear to his awareness beforehand — ‘If those who
approach me ask this, I — thus asked — will answer in this way’ — or does the
Tathagata come up with the answer on the spot?”

“In that case, prince, I will ask you a counter-question.
Answer as you see fit. What do you think: are you skilled in the parts of a
chariot?”

“Yes, lord. I am skilled in the parts of a chariot.”

“And what do you think: When people come & ask you,
‘What is the name of this part of the chariot?’ does this line of reasoning
appear to your awareness beforehand — ‘If those who approach me ask this, I —
thus asked — will answer in this way’ — or do you come up with the answer on
the spot?”

“Lord, I am renowned for being skilled in the parts of a
chariot. All the parts of a chariot are well-known to me. I come up with the
answer on the spot.”

“In the same way, prince, when wise nobles or priests,
householders or contemplatives, having formulated questions, come to the
Tathagata and ask him, he comes up with the answer on the spot. Why is that?
Because the property of the Dhamma is thoroughly penetrated by the Tathagata.
From his thorough penetration of the property of the Dhamma, he comes up with
the answer on the spot.”
[2]

When this was said, Prince Abhaya said to the Blessed One:
Magnificent, lord! Magnificent! Just as if he were to
place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was hidden, to show the way
to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes
could see forms, in the same way has the Blessed One — through many lines of
reasoning — made the Dhamma clear. I go to the Blessed One for refuge, to the
Dhamma, and to the Sangha of monks. May the Blessed One remember me as a lay
follower who has gone to him for refuge, from this day forward, for life.”

comments (0)
232 LESSON 19 04 2011 Kalaka Sutta At Kalaka s Park FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 1:34 am

232
LESSON 19 04 2011
Kalaka Sutta At Kalaka s Park FREE
ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS
letter
  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for
Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate
Bliss-Through
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org

THE
BUDDHIST

ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

LESSON 232

COURSE PROGRAM

Kalaka Sutta: At Kalaka’s Park

On one occasion the Blessed One was staying in Saketa
at Kalaka’s park. There he addressed the monks: “Monks!”

“Yes, lord,” the monks responded.

The Blessed One said: “Monks, whatever in the cosmos — with
its devas, Maras, & Brahmas, its generations with their contemplatives
& priests royalty & common people — is seen, heard, sensed, cognized,
attained, sought after, pondered by the intellect: That do I know. Whatever in
the cosmos — with its devas, Maras, & Brahmas, its generations with their
contemplatives & priests, their royalty & common people — is seen,
heard, sensed, cognized, attained, sought after, pondered by the intellect:
That I directly know. That has been realized by the Tathagata, but in the
Tathagata
[1] it has not been
established.
[2]

“If I were to say, ‘I don’t know whatever in the cosmos…
is seen, heard, sensed, cognized… pondered by the intellect,’ that would be a
falsehood in me. If I were to say, ‘I both know and don’t know whatever in the
cosmos… is seen, heard, sensed, cognized… pondered by the intellect,’ that
would be just the same. If I were to say, ‘I neither know nor don’t know
whatever in the cosmos… is seen, heard, sensed, cognized… pondered by the
intellect,’ that would be a fault in me.

“Thus, monks, the Tathagata, when seeing what is to be
seen, doesn’t construe an [object as] seen. He doesn’t construe an unseen. He
doesn’t construe an [object] to-be-seen. He doesn’t construe a seer.

“When hearing…

“When sensing…

“When cognizing what is to be cognized, he doesn’t construe
an [object as] cognized. He doesn’t construe an uncognized. He doesn’t construe
an [object] to-be-cognized. He doesn’t construe a cognizer.

Thus, monks, the Tathagata — being the same with regard to all
phenomena that can be seen, heard, sensed, & cognized — is ‘Such.’ And I
tell you: There’s no other ‘Such’ higher or more sublime.

 

“Whatever is seen or heard or sensed

and fastened onto as true by others,

One who is Such — among the self-fettered —

wouldn’t further claim to be true or even false.

 

“Having seen well in advance that arrow

where generations are fastened & hung

— ‘I know, I see, that’s just how it is!’ —

there’s nothing of the Tathagata fastened.”

comments (0)
04/18/11
231 LESSON 18 04 2011 Cula Malunkyovada Sutta The Shorter Instructions to Malunkya FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 1:57 am

231
LESSON 18 04 2011
Cula Malunkyovada Sutta The Shorter
Instructions to Malunkya
FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and
Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter
  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social
Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org

THE BUDDHIST

ONLINE
GOOD NEWS LETTER

LESSON
231

COURSE
PROGRAM

 

Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta: The Shorter
Instructions to Malunkya

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying
near Savatthi at Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s
monastery. Then, as Ven. Malunkyaputta was alone in seclusion, this train of
thought arose in his awareness: “These positions that
are undeclared, set aside, discarded by the Blessed One — ‘The cosmos is
eternal,’ ‘The cosmos is not eternal,’ ‘The cosmos is finite,’ ‘The cosmos is
infinite,’ ‘The soul & the body are the same,’ ‘The soul is one thing and
the body another,’ ‘After death a Tathagata exists,’ ‘After death a Tathagata
does not exist,’ ‘After death a Tathagata both exists & does not exist,’
‘After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist’ — I don’t approve,
I don’t accept that the Blessed One has not declared them to me. I’ll go ask
the Blessed One about this matter. If he declares to me that ‘The cosmos is
eternal,’ that ‘The cosmos is not eternal,’ that ‘The cosmos is finite,’ that
‘The cosmos is infinite,’ that ‘The soul & the body are the same,’ that
‘The soul is one thing and the body another,’ that ‘After death a Tathagata
exists,’ that ‘After death a Tathagata does not exist,’ that ‘After death a Tathagata
both exists & does not exist,’ or that ‘After death a Tathagata neither
exists nor does not exist,’ then I will live the holy life under him. If he
does not declare to me that ‘The cosmos is eternal,’… or that ‘After death a
Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist,’ then I will renounce the training
and return to the lower life.”

Then, when it was evening, Ven. Malunkyaputta arose from
seclusion and went to the Blessed One. On arrival, having bowed down, he sat to
one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One, “Lord, just
now, as I was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose in my awareness:
‘These positions that are undeclared, set aside, discarded by the Blessed
One… I don’t approve, I don’t accept that the Blessed One has not declared
them to me. I’ll go ask the Blessed One about this matter. If he declares to me
that “The cosmos is eternal,”… or that “After death a
Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist,” then I will live the holy
life under him. If he does not declare to me that “The cosmos is
eternal,”… or that “After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does
not exist,” then I will renounce the training and return to the lower
life.’

“Lord, if the Blessed One knows that ‘The cosmos is
eternal,’ then may he declare to me that ‘The cosmos is eternal.’ If he knows
that ‘The cosmos is not eternal,’ then may he declare to me that ‘The cosmos is
not eternal.’ But if he doesn’t know or see whether the cosmos is eternal or
not eternal, then, in one who is unknowing & unseeing, the straightforward
thing is to admit, ‘I don’t know. I don’t see.’… If he doesn’t know or see
whether after death a Tathagata exists… does not exist… both exists &
does not exist… neither exists nor does not exist,’ then, in one who is unknowing
& unseeing, the straightforward thing is to admit, ‘I don’t know. I don’t
see.’”

“Malunkyaputta, did I ever say to you, ‘Come,
Malunkyaputta, live the holy life under me, and I will declare to you that ‘The
cosmos is eternal,’ or ‘The cosmos is not eternal,’ or ‘The cosmos is finite,’
or ‘The cosmos is infinite,’ or ‘The soul & the body are the same,’ or ‘The
soul is one thing and the body another,’ or ‘After death a Tathagata exists,’
or ‘After death a Tathagata does not exist,’ or ‘After death a Tathagata both
exists & does not exist,’ or ‘After death a Tathagata neither exists nor
does not exist’?”

“No, lord.”

“And did you ever say to me, ‘Lord, I will live the holy
life under the Blessed One and [in return] he will declare to me that ‘The
cosmos is eternal,’ or ‘The cosmos is not eternal,’ or ‘The cosmos is finite,’
or ‘The cosmos is infinite,’ or ‘The soul & the body are the same,’ or ‘The
soul is one thing and the body another,’ or ‘After death a Tathagata exists,’
or ‘After death a Tathagata does not exist,’ or ‘After death a Tathagata both
exists & does not exist,’ or ‘After death a Tathagata neither exists nor
does not exist’?”

“No, lord.”

“Then that being the case, foolish man, who are you to be
claiming grievances/making demands of anyone?

“Malunkyaputta, if anyone were to say, ‘I won’t live the
holy life under the Blessed One as long as he does not declare to me that
“The cosmos is eternal,”… or that “After death a Tathagata
neither exists nor does not exist,”‘ the man would die and those things
would still remain undeclared by the Tathagata.

“It’s just as if a man were wounded with
an arrow thickly smeared with poison. His friends & companions, kinsmen
& relatives would provide him with a surgeon, and the man would say, ‘I
won’t have this arrow removed until I know whether the man who wounded me was a
noble warrior, a priest, a merchant, or a worker.’ He would say, ‘I won’t have
this arrow removed until I know the given name & clan name of the man who
wounded me… until I know whether he was tall, medium, or short… until I
know whether he was dark, ruddy-brown, or golden-colored… until I know his
home village, town, or city… until I know whether the bow with which I was
wounded was a long bow or a crossbow… until I know whether the bowstring with
which I was wounded was fiber, bamboo threads, sinew, hemp, or bark… until I
know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was wild or cultivated… until
I know whether the feathers of the shaft with which I was wounded were those of
a vulture, a stork, a hawk, a peacock, or another bird… until I know whether
the shaft with which I was wounded was bound with the sinew of an ox, a water
buffalo, a langur, or a monkey.’ He would say, ‘I won’t have this arrow removed
until I know whether the shaft with which I was wounded was that of a common
arrow, a curved arrow, a barbed, a calf-toothed, or an oleander arrow.’ The man
would die and those things would still remain unknown to him.

“In the same way, if anyone were to say, ‘I won’t live the
holy life under the Blessed One as long as he does not declare to me that ‘The
cosmos is eternal,’… or that ‘After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does
not exist,’ the man would die and those things would still remain undeclared by
the Tathagata.

“Malunkyaputta, it’s not the case that when there is the
view, ‘The cosmos is eternal,’ there is the living of the holy life. And it’s
not the case that when there is the view, ‘The cosmos is not eternal,’ there is
the living of the holy life. When there is the view, ‘The cosmos is eternal,’
and when there is the view, ‘The cosmos is not eternal,’ there is still the
birth, there is the aging, there is the death, there is the sorrow,
lamentation, pain, despair, & distress whose destruction I make known right
in the here & now.

“It’s not the case that when there is the view, ‘The cosmos
is finite,’ there is the living of the holy life. And it’s not the case that
when there is the view, ‘The cosmos is infinite,’ there is the living of the
holy life. When there is the view, ‘The cosmos is finite,’ and when there is
the view, ‘The cosmos is infinite,’ there is still the birth, there is the
aging, there is the death, there is the sorrow, lamentation, pain, despair,
& distress whose destruction I make known right in the here & now.

“It’s not the case that when there is the view, ‘The soul
& the body are the same,’ there is the living of the holy life. And it’s
not the case that when there is the view, ‘The soul is one thing and the body
another,’ there is the living of the holy life. When there is the view, ‘The
soul & the body are the same,’ and when there is the view, ‘The soul is one
thing and the body another,’ there is still the birth, there is the aging,
there is the death, there is the sorrow, lamentation, pain, despair, &
distress whose destruction I make known right in the here & now.

“It’s not the case that when there is the view, ‘After
death a Tathagata exists,’ there is the living of the holy life. And it’s not
the case that when there is the view, ‘After death a Tathagata does not exist,’
there is the living of the holy life. And it’s not the case that when there is
the view, ‘After death a Tathagata both exists & does not exist,’ there is
the living of the holy life. And it’s not the case that when there is the view,
‘After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist’ there is the living
of the holy life. When there is the view, ‘After death a Tathagata exists’…
‘After death a Tathagata does not exist’… ‘After death a Tathagata both
exists & does not exist’… ‘After death a Tathagata neither exists nor
does not exist,’ there is still the birth, there is the aging, there is the
death, there is the sorrow, lamentation, pain, despair, & distress whose
destruction I make known right in the here & now.

“So, Malunkyaputta, remember what is undeclared by me as
undeclared, and what is declared by me as declared. And what is undeclared by
me? ‘The cosmos is eternal,’ is undeclared by me. ‘The cosmos is not eternal,’
is undeclared by me. ‘The cosmos is finite’… ‘The cosmos is infinite’… ‘The
soul & the body are the same’… ‘The soul is one thing and the body
another’… ‘After death a Tathagata exists’… ‘After death a Tathagata does
not exist’… ‘After death a Tathagata both exists & does not exist’…
‘After death a Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist,’ is undeclared by
me.

“And why are they undeclared by me? Because they are not
connected with the goal, are not fundamental to the holy life. They do not lead
to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, calming, direct knowledge,
self-awakening, Unbinding. That’s why they are undeclared by me.

“And what is declared by me? ‘This is stress,’ is declared
by me. ‘This is the origination of stress,’ is declared by me. ‘This is the
cessation of stress,’ is declared by me. ‘This is the path of practice leading
to the cessation of stress,’ is declared by me. And why are they declared by
me? Because they are connected with the goal, are fundamental to the holy life.
They lead to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, calming, direct knowledge,
self-awakening, Unbinding. That’s why they are declared by me.

“So, Malunkyaputta, remember what is undeclared by me as
undeclared, and what is declared by me as declared.”

That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, Ven. Malunkyaputta
delighted in the Blessed One’s words.



comments (0)
04/16/11
230 LESSON 17 04 2011 Avyakata Sutta Undeclared FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 9:54 pm

230
LESSON 17 04 2011 Avyakata Sutta Undeclared FREE
ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS
letter
  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for
Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate
Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org

THE BUDDHIST

ONLINE
GOOD NEWS LETTER

LESSON
230

COURSE
PROGRAM

Avyakata Sutta: Undeclared

Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One and, on arrival,
having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to
the Blessed One, “Lord, what is the cause, what is the reason, why
uncertainty doesn’t arise in an instructed disciple of the noble ones over the
undeclared issues?”

“Because of the cessation of views, monk, uncertainty
doesn’t arise in an instructed disciple of the noble ones over the undeclared
issues. The view-standpoint, ‘The Tathagata exists after death,’ the
view-standpoint, ‘The Tathagata doesn’t exist after death,’ the
view-standpoint, ‘The Tathagata both does and doesn’t exist after death,’ the
view-standpoint, ‘The Tathagata neither does nor doesn’t exist after death’:
The uninstructed run-of-the-mill person doesn’t discern view, doesn’t discern
the origination of view, doesn’t discern the cessation of view, doesn’t discern
the path of practice leading to the cessation of view, and so for him that view
grows. He is not freed from birth, aging, & death; from sorrows,
lamentations, pains, distresses, and despairs. He is not freed, I tell you,
from suffering & stress. But the instructed disciple of the noble ones
discerns view, discerns the origination of view, discerns the cessation of
view, discerns the path of practice leading to the cessation of view, and so
for him that view ceases. He is freed from birth, aging, & death; from
sorrows, lamentations, pains, distresses, and despairs. He is freed, I tell
you, from suffering & stress.

“Thus knowing, thus seeing, the instructed disciple of the
noble ones doesn’t declare that ‘The Tathagata exists after death,’ doesn’t
declare that ‘The Tathagata doesn’t exist after death,’ doesn’t declare that
‘The Tathagata both does and doesn’t exist after death,’ doesn’t declare that
‘The Tathagata neither does nor doesn’t exist after death.’ Thus knowing, thus
seeing, he is thus of a nature not to declare the undeclared issues. Thus
knowing, thus seeing, he isn’t paralyzed, doesn’t quake, doesn’t shiver or
shake over the undeclared issues.

“‘The Tathagata exists after death’ — this
craving-standpoint, this perception-standpoint, this product of conceiving,
this product of elaboration, this clinging-standpoint: That’s anguish.[1]
‘The Tathagata doesn’t exist after death’:
That’s anguish. ‘The Tathagata both does and doesn’t exist after death’: That’s
anguish. ‘The Tathagata neither does nor doesn’t exist after death’: That’s
anguish.[2]

The uninstructed run-of-the-mill person doesn’t discern anguish,
doesn’t discern the origination of anguish, doesn’t discern the cessation of
anguish, doesn’t discern the path of practice leading to the cessation of
anguish, and so for him that anguish grows. He is not freed from birth, aging,
& death; from sorrows, lamentations, pains, distresses, and despairs. He is
not freed, I tell you, from suffering & stress. But the instructed disciple
of the noble ones discerns anguish, discerns the origination of anguish,
discerns the cessation of anguish, discerns the path of practice leading to the
cessation of anguish, and so for him that anguish ceases. He is freed from
birth, aging, & death; from sorrows, lamentations, pains, distresses, and
despairs. He is freed, I tell you, from suffering & stress.

“Thus knowing, thus seeing, the instructed disciple of the
noble ones doesn’t declare that ‘The Tathagata exists after death,’ doesn’t
declare that ‘The Tathagata doesn’t exist after death,’ doesn’t declare that
‘The Tathagata both does and doesn’t after death,’ doesn’t declare that ‘The
Tathagata neither does nor doesn’t exist after death.’ Thus knowing, thus
seeing, he is thus of a nature not to declare the undeclared issues. Thus
knowing, thus seeing, he isn’t paralyzed, doesn’t quake, doesn’t shiver or
shake over the undeclared issues.”


comments (0)
229 LESSON 16 04 2011 Avijjapaccaya Sutta From Ignorance as a Requisite Condition FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org- POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE-120th Jayanti of Baba Saheb : CM pays warm tributes-Government counsels to plead cases of BPL card holders and beneficiaries of UP Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Garib Arthik Madad Yojana free of cost —Hon’ble Chief Minister ji- Hon’ble Chief Minister ji announces Rs. 60 crore assistance for Nyasi Samiti for welfare of advocates-Also announces to provide Rs. 500 crore for construction-Hon’ble C.M. greets people on Mahaveer Jayanti
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 6:32 am

           

229 LESSON 16 04
2011
Avijjapaccaya Sutta From Ignorance as a Requisite Condition  FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice
UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter 
to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic
Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org-POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE-120th Jayanti of Baba Saheb : CM pays warm tributes-Government counsels to plead cases of BPL card holders and beneficiaries of UP Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Garib Arthik Madad Yojana free of cost —Hon’ble Chief Minister ji- Hon’ble Chief Minister ji announces Rs. 60 crore assistance for Nyasi Samiti for welfare of advocates-Also announces to provide Rs. 500 crore for construction-Hon’ble C.M. greets people on Mahaveer Jayanti


THE BUDDHIST

ONLINE
GOOD NEWS LETTER

LESSON
229

COURSE
PROGRAM

Avijjapaccaya Sutta: From Ignorance as a Requisite
Condition

Translator’s note: In this
discourse, the Buddha refuses to answer the question of whether there is anyone
or anything lying behind the processes described in dependent origination. When
his interlocutor asks, for each factor in the causal process, “Which is
the X, and whose is the X?” the Buddha equates this with the
assumption that “X is one thing, and it is the X of
someone/something else.” He then equates this with the proposition, which
he has rejected many times elsewhere in the discourses, that the life-principle
is one thing, and the body is something else, i.e., that there is something
unseen lying behind the visible processes of life. However, the Buddha has also
rejected, in as many times, the proposition that the life-principle is the same
as the body, i.e., that there is nothing unseen lying behind the visible
processes of life. Avoiding these two extremes, he simply drops the question
and focuses attention on what is directly perceivable — the way one factor in
dependent co-arising functions as a prerequisite for the next. If one were to
focus on what might or might not lie behind these factors, one would be tied up
in speculations about what, by definition, can never be experienced. But by
focusing on the interplay of the factors that are directly perceivable, and —
by so doing — developing dispassion for them, one can overcome the craving and
ignorance that keep producing stress and suffering, and in that way gain
release.

Staying
at Savatthi… [the Blessed One said,] “From ignorance as a requisite
condition come fabrications… From birth as a requisite condition, then
aging-&-death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair come into
play. Such is the origination of this entire mass of stress &
suffering.”

When this
was said, a certain monk said to the Blessed One: “Which aging &
death, lord? And whose is this aging & death?”

“Not
a valid question,” the Blessed One said. If one were to ask, ‘Which aging
& death? And whose is this aging & death?’ and if one were to ask, ‘Is
aging & death one thing, and is this the aging & death of
someone/something else?’ both of them would have the same meaning, even though
their words would differ. When there is the view that the soul is the same as
the body, there isn’t the leading of the holy life. And when there is the view
that the soul is one thing and the body another, there isn’t the leading of the
holy life. Avoiding these two extremes, the Tathagata points out the Dhamma in
between: From birth as a requisite condition comes aging & death.”

“Which
birth, lord? And whose is this birth?”

“Not
a valid question,” the Blessed One said… “From becoming as a requisite
condition comes birth.”

“Which
becoming, lord? And whose is this becoming?”

“Not
a valid question,” the Blessed One said… “From clinging as a
requisite condition comes becoming.”

“Which
clinging, lord? And whose is this clinging?”

“Not
a valid question,” the Blessed One said… “From craving as a
requisite condition comes clinging.”

“Which
craving, lord? And whose is this craving?”

“Not
a valid question,” the Blessed One said… “From feeling as a
requisite condition comes craving.”

“Which
feeling, lord? And whose is this feeling?”

“Not
a valid question,” the Blessed One said… “From contact as a
requisite condition comes feeling.”

“Which
contact, lord? And whose is this contact?”

“Not
a valid question,” the Blessed One said… “From the six sense media
as a requisite condition comes contact.”

“Which
are the six sense media, lord, and whose are the six sense media?”

“Not
a valid question,” the Blessed One said… “From name-&-form as a
requisite condition come the six sense media.”

“Which
name-&-form, lord? And whose is this name-&-form?”

“Not
a valid question,” the Blessed One said… “From consciousness as a
requisite condition comes name-&-form.”

“Which
consciousness, lord? And whose is this consciousness?”

“Not
a valid question,” the Blessed One said… “From fabrications as a
requisite condition comes consciousness.”

“Which
fabrications, lord? And whose are the fabrications?”

“Not
a valid question,” the Blessed One said. “If one were to ask, ‘Which
are the fabrications, and whose are the fabrications?’ and if one were to say,
‘Fabrications are one thing, and these fabrications are something/someone
else’s,’ both of them would have the same meaning, even though their words
would differ. When there is the view that the life-principle is the same as the
body, there is no leading the holy life. And when there is the view that the
life-principle is one thing and the body another, there is no leading the holy
life. Avoiding these two extremes, the Tathagata points out the Dhamma in
between: From ignorance as requisite condition come fabrications. Now from the
remainderless fading & cessation of that very ignorance, every one of these
writhings & wrigglings & wigglings — ‘Which aging & death? And
whose is this aging & death?’ or ‘Is aging & death one thing, and is
this the aging & death of someone/something else?’ or ‘The soul is the same
as the body,’ or ‘The soul is one thing and the body another’ — are abandoned,
their root destroyed, made like a palmyra stump, deprived of the conditions of
development, not destined for future arising.”

POLITICS is SACRED with
GOOD GOVERNANCE

 

Press Information Bureau

(C.M. Information Campus)

Information and Public Relations Department, U.P.

 

120th Jayanti of Baba Saheb : CM pays warm tributes

 

Government counsels to plead cases of BPL card
holders and beneficiaries of UP Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Garib Arthik Madad Yojana
free of cost
—Hon’ble Chief Minister ji

 

Hon’ble Chief Minister ji announces Rs. 60 crore assistance
for Nyasi Samiti for welfare of advocates

 

Also announces to provide Rs. 500 crore for
construction

of new building of Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High
Court

 

Lucknow : April 14, 2011

 

The Architect of the Indian Constitution, Bharat
Ratna Baba Saheb Dr.

Bhimrao Ambedkar was remembered with honour on his
120
th
Jayanti
by the entire country. A large number of BSP workers, party office bearers,

supporters, followers, admirers and people of
Sarva Samaj led by the

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Ms.
Mayawati ji paid warm tributes to Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. The BSP also
celebrated his Jayanti at all 72 district HQs with gaiety. At these functions,
the people were also

informed about various works conducted by BSP to
honour Baba Saheb.

Similar programmes were also organised at the
capitals of all the States,

which were attended by a large number of BSP
workers.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji, at first, arrived
at the Prateek Sthal

situated on the bundh and paid floral tributes on the statue of Baba
Saheb

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. Thereafter, she arrived at
the Dr. Bhimrao

Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal and paid floral
tributes on the statue of

Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar installed at the
main premises in the

Abraham Lincoln pose. The Bauddha
Bhikshus
sang Buddha Vandana and

the Hon’ble Chief Minister ji made Cheevar Daan to them.
Thereafter, she

walked around the entire premises and paid floral
tributes on the statues of

the hero of the Bahujan Samaj Manyawar Sri
Kanshiram ji and other great

men as well.

 

Earlier, the Hon’ble Chief Minister ji addressed a
large number of the

followers of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar,
ministers and people

present at the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik
Parivartan Sthal.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister, in her address, said
that she felt proud to

inform that Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was
the Architect of the

Indian Constitution and he made efforts to ensure
that the deprived sections and victims of the
varna system could lead a better life and become self-sufficient. He
also made arrangements in the Constitution to strengthen secularism in the
country.
She said that his contribution could not be forgotten and his
name would be inscribed in golden letters in the history
of the country.

 

The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji said that keeping
the mammoth

contribution of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao
Ambedkar in view, the U.P.

Government had accorded honour to them in various
shapes. She said that

her Government had taken a huge lead over Central
Government as well as

Governments of various States as far as honouring
him was concerned. She made it clear that apart from the U.P. Government, the
Central Government and Governments of other States had made very insignificant
efforts to honour Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. She said that the history
had already evaluated the works and thought of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.
She said that he was a great man and respected all over the world.

 

Ms. Mayawati ji said that Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao
Ambedkar was a

very knowledgeable person as far as law was
concerned and he was expert

as it. She said that she was very impressed by it
and herself (Hon’ble Chief

Minister ji) studied law at Delhi University and
got a degree of LLB. She said that her Government had watched the interests of
Government and non-

Government advocates, Hon’ble Judiciary and poor
people of Sarva Samaj.

She said that few months ago the State Government
had given a lot of

facilities to Government counsels. Besides, the
State Government had also

watched the interests of non-Government advocates
of the State.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji said that the
previous Governments

talked tall but did not do anything for them. She
said that the National

General Secretary and currently the Chairman of
the U.P. State Advisory

Council Mr. Satish Chandra Mishra ji and her party
MLC Mr. Gopal Narayan

Mishra ji often said that she can do something for
their welfare.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji said that the
previous Governments made

several announcements for the welfare of
Government Counsels and non-

Government advocates, but never made honest
efforts to arrange budget for them. She said that it was evident that the
previous Governments made

these announcements just to mislead the advocates.
She said that her

Government always fulfilled its promises.

 

The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji, on the occasion,
announced that the

State Government would provide Rs. 60 crore amount
for the
Nyasi Samiti

for the welfare of advocates. This amount would be
utilised for the insurance of the advocates, to provide pension to their
widows, for the construction of new chambers of the advocates all over the
State and to provide facility of library and computer in the bar association.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji said that the
construction of new building

of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court
had been pending for long time now and the Government of India had not released
its share so

far. On this occasion, she announced to provide about
Rs. 500 crore, 70

percent of the total expenditure on the
construction of new building. She

said if needed, the State Government would also
make available the

additional amount for this construction.

 

The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji also announced to
provide about Rs. 50

crore additional amount for library and other
facilities for the judges of

High Court, which would be made final after
consultations with the Chief

Justice.

 

The Hon’ble Chief Minister ji said that Government
advocates would

plead free of cost in the pending cases and the
cases to be filed in favour of poor people in which Government is not opposite
party. This decision would help the beneficiaries of Uttar Pradesh Mukhyamantri
Mahamaya Garib Arthik Madad Yojna and BPL card holders in Uttar Pradesh. The Hon’ble
Chief Minister ji said that with these announcements on the occasion of 120
th anniversary of
Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, all advocates, Courts and poor people of Sarva
Samaj would definitely feel happy. It may be recalled that BSP Government under
the dynamic leadership of Ms. Mayawati ji with a view to making the memory of
Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar permanent had launched many important schemes
and programmes in his honour in all of her regimes. The State Government has
published the advertisements giving details in this regard on all the news
papers today.

 

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Gram Sabha Vikas Yojna was
launched for

the development and prosperity of villages
dominated by SC/ST. Under

this scheme, arrangements have been made to
provide all necessary

facilities in selected Ambedkar Villages. A
separate cell has been

constituted for the effective implementation and
monitoring of the

scheme. Besides, sodium lights are being installed
in SC bastis of 10,000 Ambedkar Villages. “Multipurpose Community
Centres” were constructed in each dalit basti of Ambedkar Gram Sabha. Dr.
Ambedkar special employment scheme is being run effectively with a view to
providing SC/ST people.

 

The State Government had named Agra University as
Baba Saheb

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University in the honour of
Baba Saheb.

Ambedkar Chair was installed in this University.
Dr. Ambedkar SC/ST

coaching centres were established in Aligarh and
Agra districts.

Ambedkar Nagar district was created under Faizabad
division. Besides,

Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Medical College in
Banda and Dr.

Bhimrao Ambedkar Multi Super Speciality Hospital
were established in

Noida and Greater Noida.

 

Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology for
Handicapped in Kanpur

and Dr. Ambedkar Building were constructed in
Azamgarh. Dr. Bhimrao

Ambedkar Government Degree College was established
in Mainpuri and

Kannauj districts. Similarly, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
International Sports

Stadium in Lucknow and Dr. Ambedkar SC/ST Hostel
was constructed in

Greater Noida. Dr. Ambedkar Park was established
in Agra and Gautam

Buddha Nagar districts. Dr. Ambedkar Environment
Museum and Dr.

Ambedkar Environment Campus were constructed in
Lucknow. Ambedkar Chair has been installed in Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
University,

 

Lucknow and administrative building complex has
been constructed.

With a view to making the memory of Baba Saheb Dr.
Bhimrao

Ambedkar permanent, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik
Parivartan Sthal,

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Vihar, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
Samajik Parivartan

Gallery, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Smarak Drishya
Sthal, Dr. Bhimrao

Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Pratibimb Sthal and
Samajik Parivartan

Sangrahalaya and Jan Suvidha Parisar were
established in Lucknow.

Besides, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Gomti Park was
constructed and

statue of Dr. Ambedkar was established. Dr.
Bhimrao Ambedkar Gomti

Vihar Khand–1, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Gomti Vihar
Khand–2, Dr.

Bhimrao Ambedkar Gomti Vihar Khand–3, Dr. Bhimrao
Ambedkar Gomti

Vihar Khand–4, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Gomti Buddha
Vihar Parking

Sthal, New Gomti Bridge for Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
Samajik Parivartan

Sthal, Over Bridge for Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
Samajik Parivartan Sthal

and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal
administrative

building–2 were also constructed. Four dimensional
statue of Baba Saheb has been installed in Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Gomti Vihar
Khand–

Hon’ble C.M. greets people on Mahaveer Jayanti

 

Lucknow: April 15, 2011

 

The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Ms.

Mayawati ji has extended her heartiest greetings
and good

wishes to the people of the State on the occasion
of

Mahaveer Jayanti.

 

In a greetings message, the Hon’ble Chief Minister
ji

said that truth and non-violence propagated by
Lard

Mahaveer were still relevant.

********


comments (0)
04/15/11
228 LESSON 15 04 2011 Avarana Sutta Obstacles FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 12:21 am

228 LESSON 15 04
2011 Avarana Sutta Obstacles FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice
UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter 
to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic
Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org


THE BUDDHIST

ONLINE
GOOD NEWS LETTER

LESSON
228

COURSE
PROGRAM

Avarana Sutta

Avarana Sutta: Obstacles

On one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Savatthi,
in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapindika’s Monastery. There he addressed the monks,
“Monks!”

“Yes, lord,” the monks replied to the Blessed One.

The Blessed One said: “These five are obstacles, hindrances
that overwhelm awareness and weaken discernment. Which five?

“Sensual desire is an obstacle, a hindrance that overwhelms
awareness and weakens discernment. Ill will… Sloth & drowsiness…
Restlessness & anxiety… Uncertainty is an obstacle, a hindrance that
overwhelms awareness and weakens discernment. These are the five obstacles,
hindrances that overwhelm awareness and weaken discernment. And when a monk has
not abandoned these five obstacles, hindrances that overwhelm awareness and
weaken discernment, when he is without strength and weak in discernment: for
him to understand what is for his own benefit, to understand what is for the
benefit of others, to understand what is for the benefit of both, to realize a
superior human state, a truly noble distinction in knowledge & vision: that
is impossible.

Suppose there were a river, flowing
down from the mountains — going far, its current swift, carrying everything
with it — and a man would open channels leading away from it on both sides, so
that the current in the middle of the river would be dispersed, diffused, &
dissipated; it wouldn’t go far, its current wouldn’t be swift, and it wouldn’t
carry everything with it. In the same way, when a monk has not abandoned these
five obstacles, hindrances that overwhelm awareness and weaken discernment,
when he is without strength and weak in discernment for him to understand what
is for his own benefit, to understand what is for the benefit of others, to
understand what is for the benefit of both, to realize a superior human state,
a truly noble distinction in knowledge & vision: that is impossible.

“Now, when a monk has abandoned these five obstacles,
hindrances that overwhelm awareness and weaken discernment, when he is strong
in discernment: for him to understand what is for his own benefit, to
understand what is for the benefit of others, to understand what is for the
benefit of both, to realize a superior human state, a truly noble distinction
in knowledge & vision: that is possible.

“Suppose there were a river, flowing down from the
mountains — going far, its current swift, carrying everything with it — and a
man would close the channels leading away from it on both sides, so that the
current in the middle of the river would be undispersed, undiffused, &
undissipated; it would go far, its current swift, carrying everything with it.
In the same way, when a monk has abandoned these five obstacles, hindrances
that overwhelm awareness and weaken discernment, when he is strong in
discernment: for him to understand what is for his own benefit, to understand
what is for the benefit of others, to understand what is for the benefit of
both, to realize a superior human state, a truly noble distinction in knowledge
& vision: that is possible.”

Ahara Sutta: Food

(For the Factors for Awakening)

translated from the Pali by

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

© 2008–2011

“Monks, I will teach you the feeding & starving of the
five hindrances & of the seven factors for Awakening. Listen & pay
close attention. I will speak…

Feeding the Hindrances

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen sensual
desire,
or for the growth & increase of sensual desire once it has
arisen? There is the theme of beauty. To foster inappropriate attention to it:
This is the food for the arising of unarisen sensual desire, or for the growth
& increase of sensual desire once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen ill
will,
or for the growth & increase of ill will once it has arisen?
There is the theme of resistance. To foster inappropriate attention to it: This
is the food for the arising of unarisen ill will, or for the growth &
increase of ill will once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen sloth
& drowsiness,
or for the growth & increase of sloth &
drowsiness once it has arisen? There are boredom, weariness, yawning,
drowsiness after a meal, & sluggishness of awareness. To foster
inappropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen
sloth & drowsiness, or for the growth & increase of sloth &
drowsiness once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen restlessness
& anxiety,
or for the growth & increase of restlessness &
anxiety once it has arisen? There is non-stillness of awareness. To foster
inappropriate attention to that: This is the food for the arising of unarisen
restlessness & anxiety, or for the growth & increase of restlessness
& anxiety once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty,
or for the growth & increase of uncertainty once it has arisen? There are
phenomena that act as a foothold for uncertainty. To foster inappropriate
attention to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty, or
for the growth & increase of uncertainty once it has arisen.

Feeding the Factors for
Awakening

“Now, what is the food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of mindfulness as a
factor for Awakening once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as
a foothold for mindfulness as a factor for Awakening [well-purified virtue
& views made straight]. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is
the food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness as a factor for Awakening, or
for the growth & increase of mindfulness as a factor for Awakening once it
has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen analysis
of qualities
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of
analysis of qualities… once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that
are skillful & unskillful, blameworthy & blameless, gross &
refined, siding with darkness & with light. To foster appropriate attention
to them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen analysis of qualities as
a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of analysis of
qualities… once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen persistence
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of persistence…
once it has arisen? There is the potential for effort, the potential for
exertion, the potential for striving. To foster appropriate attention to them:
This is the food for the arising of unarisen persistence as a factor for
Awakening, or for the growth & increase of persistence… once it has
arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen rapture
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of rapture… once
it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for rapture as
a factor for Awakening. To foster appropriate attention to them: This is the
food for the arising of unarisen rapture as a factor for Awakening, or for the
growth & increase of rapture… once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen serenity
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of serenity… once
it has arisen? There is physical serenity & there is mental serenity. To
foster appropriate attention to them: This is the food for the arising of
unarisen serenity as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase
of serenity… once it has arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen concentration
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of concentration…
once it has arisen? There are themes for calm, themes for non-distraction
[these are the four frames of reference]. To foster appropriate attention to
them: This is the food for the arising of unarisen concentration as a factor
for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of concentration… once it has
arisen.

“And what is the food for the arising of unarisen equanimity
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of equanimity…
once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for
equanimity as a factor for Awakening. To foster appropriate attention to them:
This is the food for the arising of unarisen equanimity as a factor for
Awakening, or for the growth & increase of equanimity as a factor for
Awakening once it has arisen.

Starving the Hindrances

“Now, what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sensual
desire,
or for the growth & increase of sensual desire once it has
arisen? There is the theme of unattractiveness. To foster appropriate attention
to it: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sensual desire, or for
the growth & increase of sensual desire once it has arisen.

And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen ill
will,
or for the growth & increase of ill will once it has arisen?
There is awareness-release.[1]

To foster appropriate attention to that: This is lack of food for the arising
of unarisen ill will, or for the growth & increase of ill will once it has
arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sloth
& drowsiness,
or for the growth & increase of sloth &
drowsiness once it has arisen? There is the potential for effort, the potential
for exertion, the potential for striving. To foster appropriate attention to
them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen sloth & drowsiness,
or for the growth & increase of sloth & drowsiness once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen restlessness
& anxiety,
or for the growth & increase of restlessness &
anxiety once it has arisen? There is the stilling of awareness. To foster
appropriate attention to that: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen
restlessness & anxiety, or for the growth & increase of restlessness
& anxiety once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen uncertainty,
or for the growth & increase of uncertainty once it has arisen? There are
mental qualities that are skillful & unskillful, blameworthy &
blameless, gross & refined, siding with darkness & with light. To
foster appropriate attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of
unarisen uncertainty, or for the growth & increase of uncertainty once it
has arisen.

Starving the Factors for
Awakening

“Now, what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of mindfulness as a
factor for Awakening once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as
a foothold for mindfulness as a factor for Awakening. Not fostering attention
to them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen mindfulness as a
factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of mindfulness as a
factor for Awakening once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen analysis
of qualities
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of
analysis of qualities… once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that
are skillful & unskillful, blameworthy & blameless, gross &
refined, siding with darkness & with light. Not fostering attention to
them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen analysis of qualities as
a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of analysis of
qualities… once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen persistence
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of persistence…
once it has arisen? There is the potential for effort, the potential for
exertion, the potential for striving. Not fostering attention to them: This is
lack of food for the arising of unarisen persistence as a factor for Awakening,
or for the growth & increase of persistence… once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen rapture
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of rapture… once
it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as a foothold for rapture as
a factor for Awakening. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food
for the arising of unarisen rapture as a factor for Awakening, or for the
growth & increase of rapture… once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen serenity
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of serenity… once
it has arisen? There is bodily serenity & there is mental serenity. To
foster inappropriate attention to them: This is lack of food for the arising of
unarisen serenity as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase
of serenity… once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen concentration
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of concentration…
once it has arisen? There are the themes for concentration, themes for
non-confusion. Not fostering attention to them: This is lack of food for the
arising of unarisen concentration as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth
& increase of concentration… once it has arisen.

“And what is lack of food for the arising of unarisen equanimity
as a factor for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of equanimity as a
factor for Awakening once it has arisen? There are mental qualities that act as
a foothold for equanimity as a factor for Awakening. Not fostering attention to
them: This is lack of food for the arising of unarisen equanimity as a factor
for Awakening, or for the growth & increase of equanimity as a factor for
Awakening once it has arisen.”


comments (0)
04/14/11
227 LESSON 14 04 2011 Atthinukhopariyaayo Sutta Is There a Criterion FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org-POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE-Hon’ble C.M. greets people on Ambedkar Jayanti
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 2:58 am

  227 LESSON 14 04 2011 Atthinukhopariyaayo Sutta Is There a Criterion FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org-POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE-Hon’ble C.M. greets people on Ambedkar Jayanti

THE BUDDHIST

ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

LESSON 227

COURSE PROGRAM

Atthinukhopariyaayo Sutta: Is There a Criterion?

The Pali title of this sutta is based on the PTS (Feer)
edition.

[1] “Is there, monks, any criterion whereby a monk,
apart from faith, apart from persuasion,[2]

apart from inclination, apart from rational speculation, apart from delight in
views and theories, could affirm the attainment of enlightenment:[3]
‘Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been accomplished, what was to be done
is done, there is no further living in this world’?”

“For
us, Lord, all things have the Blessed One as their root, their guide, their
refuge. It would be well, Lord, if the meaning of these words were to be made
clear by the Blessed One.[4]

Hearing it from the Blessed One, the monks will remember it.”

“There
is such a criterion, monks, whereby a monk… could affirm the attainment of
enlightenment… What is that method?

“In
this, monks, a monk seeing an object with the eye recognizes within himself the
presence of lust, hatred or delusion, knowing ‘Lust, hatred or delusion is present
in me,’ or he recognizes the absence of these things, knowing ‘There is no
lust, hatred or delusion present in me.’ Now, monks, as regards that
recognition of the presence or absence of these things within him, are these
matters to be perceived by faith, by persuasion, by inclination, by rational
speculation, by delight in views and theories?”

“No,
indeed, Lord.”

“Are
not these matters to be perceived by the eye of wisdom?”[5]

“Indeed,
Lord.”

“Then,
monks, this is the criterion whereby a monk, apart from faith, apart from
persuasion, apart from inclination, apart from rational speculation, apart from
delight in views and theories, could affirm the attainment of enlightenment:
‘Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been accomplished, what was to be done
is done, there is no further living in this world.’”

[Similarly
for ear, nose, tongue, body (touch), mind.
]

Pabbajja and Meditation
Course
1

 

Dear Upasakas and Upasikas,

Greetings from Bangalore Maha
Bodhi Society.

We have organized a 10 Day
Pabbajja and meditation program from 8 to 18 May 2011. I am herewith
enclosing the writeup and application form and rules.

We invite you to attend this
meditation course. Bada Bhante Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita will be conducting
this course. The course will conclude with celebration of Lord Buddha’s 2600 th
Enlightenment Year – SAMBUDDHATVA JAYANTI on 17th May 2011.

You are most welcome to be part
of us.

Thanking you

Yours truly,

Ananda Bhante

General Secretary

Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore,
India.

email : bhante36@yahoo.com

POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE

         


Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar 120th Jayanti

POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE

Press Information Bureau

(C.M. Information Campus)

Information and Public Relations Department, U.P.

 

Hon’ble C.M. greets people on Ambedkar Jayanti

 

Lucknow : April 13, 2011

 

The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Ms.

Mayawati ji has extended her heartiest
felicitations and

good wishes to the people of the State on the 120th

birth anniversary of the architect of the Indian

Constitution, Bharat Ratna Param Pujya Baba Saheb
Dr.

Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

 

In a greeting message, the Hon’ble Chief Minister

ji said that Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar struggled for
the

cause of SC/STs, backwards, have-nots, religious

minorities and the exploited people. He ensured
several

provisions in the Constitution to provide social
justice

and equal opportunities to all, irrespective of
their caste

and creed. She said that the contribution of Baba
Saheb

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar for the betterment and
welfare

of the people suffering from injustice and
exploitation

since centuries owing to social system based on

inequality would always be remembered.

Ms. Mayawati ji said that on the occasion of his

birth anniversary we should make resolve to fulfil
his

dreams by following the path shown by him. It
would

be a true homage to him, she added.

*********



A
grateful nation

Pays its
glowing tributes

To the
Messiah of the SC/STs,

The
Exploited and the Negleted, and the

Architect
of the Indian Constitution

 

Bharat
Ratna Parampujya

Baba
Saheb Dr. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar

On the auspicious occasion of his

“120th
Birth Anniversary (14 April, 2011)”

Notable
Steps taken by the Ms. Mayawati Ji – led Uttar Pradesh Government to perpetuate
the memory of Parampujya
Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao
Ambedkar,
till date

1.       To honour Baba
Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and

Immortalise his memory the foundation stone of a

Magnificent “ Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial” laid on 15

August, 1995 at Lucknow.

2.       Agra University
named after Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao

Ambedkar on 24 September, 1995 and financial

Assistance given to improve Dr. Ambedkar Hostel,

Gokulpura, Agra.

3.       A new district,
Ambedkar Nagar, created after the name of

Baba Saheb Dr. 
Ambedkar on 29 September, 1995 in

UP’s Faizabad division. All offices including collectorate,

Brought within a single campus for the first time in the

State.

4.       Stadium named
after Dr.Ambedkar in Varansi in 1995.

5.       Inauguration of Dr.
Ambedkar Uttar Pradesh Police

Academy, Moradabad on 6 April, 1997.

6.       Establishment
of Dr. Ambedkar Park at Saharanpur on 11

April, 1997, at Agra on 25 May, 1997 and at Gautam

Buddh Nagar on 27 August, 1997.

7.       Creation of Dr.
Ambedkar Gaurav Puraskar on 14 April,

1997

8.       Construction of
Dr. Ambedkar Ecology Museum and

Dr. Ambedkar Environmental Complex on 14 April, 1997

At Lucknow.

9.       Establishment of
Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology for

Handicapped on 10 May, 1997 at Kanpur.

10.   Decision taken
to name the state air strip at Meerut after

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar on 16 May, 1997.

11.   Establishment of
Dr. Ambedkar Government Degree

College at Unchahar, Rae Bareli and construction of

Dr. Ambedkar Inter College building on 3 June, 1997.

12           Christening
of Dr.Ambedkar Agricultural Engineering

Degree College, Etawah on 19 June, 1997

13           Installation
of a Bronze statue of Dr. Ambedkar in

Hazratganj, Lucknow on 4 July, 1997,

14.          Establishment
of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Birth Centinary

Degree College, at Dhansari, Aligarh on 12
July, 1997

15.          Installation
of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s  statue in

Kanpur (Company Bagh) on 26 July, 1997,ucknow
(Gomti

Nagar) on 16 July 1997, Gorakhpur and
Kushinagar on 1

Septemebr, 1997, Nawabganj on 26 July, 1997,
Bijnor on

2 April, 1997 and Ambedkar Sansthan, Ballia on
7

September, 1997.

16.          Creation
of a separate Ambedkar Village Development

Department (Ambedkar Gram Vikas Vibhag) to
ensure

Proper monitoring and speedy implementation
of

Schemes under Ambedkar Gram Yajana.

17.          Dr. Bhimrao
Ambedkar Hospital established at Basti on

02 September, 1997 and at Faizabad on 05
September,

1997.

18.          Ramabai
Ambedkar Government Girl’s Inter College,

Kota, Saharanpur established on 13
September, 1997.

19.          steps taken
for effective implementation of

                “Dr.
Ambedkar Vishesh Rozgar Yojna” to ensure

                Employment,
specially for the members of SC/ST.

20.          Dr.
Ambedkar Inter-state Bus Station dedicated to the

                People
at Lucknow on 25 October 2002.

21.          Establishment
of Dr. Ambedkar P.G. Hostelfor S/C

                Students
pursuing higher studies at Lucknow.

22.          Establishment
of Baba sahib Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar

                Medical
College in Banda district of Bundelkhand region

                On
29 January, 2008.

23.          Dr.Ambedkar
Community Tube Well Scheme becomes

                Operation
from 14 MARCH, 2008.

24.          In each
SC/ST basti under Dr.Ambedkar Gram Sabhas,

                Setting
up of multi-purpose community centres initiated.

                As
many as 2000 such community centres proposed to
be

                Set up
this year.

25           Dr.
Ambedkar Samajik Partvartan Sthal, Gomti Nagar,

                Lucknow
dedicated to the people on 14 April, 2008.

26.          Unveiling
of the statues of Baba sahib Dr. Bhimrao

                Ambedkar
and ramabai Ambedkar installed at Samajik

                Parivartan
Prateek Sthal, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow on

                14
April, 2008.

27.          Unveiling
of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s ststue installed

in Bauddh Vihar Shanti Upvan, Bijn0r Road,
Lucknow on

14 April, 2008.

28.          Establishment
of  Multi-super Speciality Hospital
after  the

Name of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar  at Noida in gautam

Buddh Nagar district on 13 May, 2008.

29.          Establishment6
of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Government

                Degree
College, Odanya, Padariya, mainpuri on 13 May,

2008.

30.          establishment
of Dr. Bhimrao ambedkar Government

Degree College, Anaugi, Kannauj on 13 May,
208.

31.          Located
in Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar samajik Parivartan

Sthal, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow,  Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar

Vihar, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar samajik Parivartan
Gallery,

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Smarak Drishya Sthal,

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan
Pratibimb

Sthal, Samajik Parivartan Sangrahalay and
public utility

Premises dedicated to the people on 25 June,
2009.

32.          Construction
of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar International

                Sports
Stadium at Gomti Nagar, Lucknow.

33.          Construction
of a 50-seat Dr. Ambedkar SC/ST Hostel in

                Greater
Noida.

34.          Inauguration
of ‘Dr.Ambedkar Krishi Urja Sudhar Yajna’

                On 15
January, 2010.

35.          Named after
Baba Sahib Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, free-of-

                Charge boring
scheme becomes operational.

36.          ‘Dr. Ambedkar
Dalmau Ganga Setu’, the newly

                Constructed
bridge in Rae Bareli district over the Ganga

River dedicated to the people on 4 March, 2010.

37.          Dr. Bhimrao
Ambedkar Gomti park dedicate to the

                People on
6 December, 2010 in Lucknow.

38.          Dedication
of one of country’s largest, Dr. Bhimrao

Ambedkar auditorium in Lucknow on 15
January, 2011 to

The people and unveiling of the statue of
hon’ble Baba

Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar installed in the
auditorium

Premises.

Every
policy of Uttar Pradesh Govt. is based on
‘ Sarvajan
Hitay & Sarvajan Sukhay’

ZESTCaste]
Cong, BJP trying to do away with SC/ST reservation: Maya

Cong, BJP trying to do away with SC/ST
reservation: Maya

Madurai : BSP leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has
alleged that both Congress and BJP were trying to do away with
reservation system introduced by B R Ambedkar for the uplilftment of
SCs and STs.

Accusing the two parties of failure to
improve the socio-economic
conditions of SC/STs and other oppressed classes, she claimed BSP was
the only party that followed the footsteps of Ambedkar and fulfilled
his dreams of social transformation in general and SC/ST emancipation
in particular.

Addressing an election meeting in
support of her party candidates in
the April 13 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, she said her government had
done a lot for economically poor among the upper castes in Uttar
Pradesh besides helping the oppressed classes.

In Uttar Pradesh, there was reservation
for poor people of the upper
caste also. Her party was dependent on not only SC/STs, but poor and
middle class people of all the castes, Mayawati said.

She asked the people of Tamil Nadu to teach a lesson to the Congress,
DMK and AIADMK and make BSP a force in the state.

 

Will the RSS cooperate to handover the MASTERKEY to
Ms Mayawati as the Prime Minister of PraBuddha Bharath as desired by
Dr.Ambedkar, the father of the Constitution by wholeheartedly accepting the
same. Instead of talking about merit, they must accept distribution of wealth
to all sections of the society, including, land, healthy seeds, education, job opportunities,
with good governance without corruption.

 


UP government claimed that the
data issued by the National Crime Records
Bureau had proved that crimes against SC/ST and women in UP had
substantially decreased.

Uttar Pradesh is the most
populous state in the country and has a large number of SC/ST population.
The state government is taking effective action under prevention of crimes
against SC and ST Act in the cases of harassment of these sections,” an
official statement issued by the government on Saturday said.




Sarvajan Hitay Sarvajan Sukhay



Vote for BSP in Elephant Symbol



ind.jpg

Oust Dravidian parties from TN: Mayawati
CHENNAI: BSP national
president Mayawati has appealed to the people of
Tamil Nadu to reject Dravidian parties and put the BSP in power in the
State. Claiming that all the other parties in India were intent on
doing away with the reservation that Ambedkar had given the SC/STs,
she said that the BSP was the only party that would be able to stop
them from doing so
.

She claimed the BSP was the only party that could
establish a rule
blind to caste divisions.

She also promised the people of TN that she would
commission statues
of SC/ST/OBC icons, such as Ambedkar, Jothibha Phule and Narayan Guru, if
her party were to form the government in Tamil Nadu after the coming
Assembly elections.

“If awareness and revolution have to come to the
people of Tamil Nadu,
they have to vote the BSP into power in the State,” said Mayawati. The
Congress, BJP and all other parties were trembling as her party had
chosen to contest elections in Tamil Nadu, she added. “That the BSP
would capture power in the State was only a matter of time”, she said.

Mayawati also said she would bring to Tamil Nadu
the political
practice of convincing the upper castes to give reservations and
concessions to people from poor backgrounds, irrespective of their
caste, like she had done in UP.




BSP supporters at the Ambedkar Centre for Social
Changes on Sunday.
Built during Mayawati’s first tenure on 23 acres at a cost of Rs 150
crores. In 2007, she started building it afresh in 150 acres in Gomti
Nagar for Rs 500 crores. It has an elephant gallery with 60 stone
statues.





The
March Of The
BSP Elephants

WELCOME ELEPHANT SYMBOL



2. Dr. Ambedkar Vihar, Lucknow;






3. Samta Mulak Chauraha and Ambedkar
Chauraha:
Having two roundabouts and 2 crossings at Samtamulak
Chauraha; statues of SC/ST icons to be installed





Samajik
Parivartan Prateek Sthal, Lucknow;


2 acres on Gomti embankment for Rs 7 crores.
Kanshiram Sanskritik Sthal Area

:
LDA carves out 80 acres from Smriti Upvan, built for Kargil martyrs
which costs Rs 90 crores.


4. Kanshi Ram Smarak Sthal
(Memorial), Lucknow;


Over 42 acre for Rs 370 crores


The Hindu
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati pays floral tribute to her mentor
and Bahujan Samaj Party founder, Kanshi Ram, at the newly built Kanshi
Ram memorial in Lucknow 






5. 13 Mall Avenue, Lucknow;


Manyawar Kanshi Ram Yaadgar Vishram
Sthal: Guesthouse on 13, Mall Avenue, initially allotted to
Mayawati. 2 halls, 12 rooms, garden which cost Rs 12 crores.


6. Manyavar Kanshi Ram
Eco Garden, Lucknow;


Over 4,800 square meters for Rs 4 crores.

7. Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, Lucknow;


51 acre, for Rs 54 crores. Construction began in August 2007.



8. Gautam
Buddha Samta Moolak Sthal, Gautam Buddha Nagar;


Buddha Sthal and Sharda Canal Front
Development Area: 6,000 square meters on VIP Road in Alambagh
which costs Rs 90 crore. Statue of Buddha under a canopy 100 stone
columns, each with an elephant head
.
Eco
Park Area
: 30 acres which costs Rs 50 crores.Noida


9. Buddha Vihar Shanti
Upvan, Lucknow;


http://static.indianexpress.com/m-images/Saturday%20,%20Jun%2027,%202009%20at%200310%20hrs/M_Id_90932_memorials.jpg

Buddha Shanti Upwan Area: 18
acre at Kanpur Road which cost Rs 15.15 crores.



10. Smriti Upvan, Lucknow.



See<br /><br />
 full size image


See<br /><br />
 full size image



Prerna Sthal:



U.P. to have special
force for monuments, parks


LUCKNOW: A well-equipped special security
force is to be constituted
now to protect the Mayawati Government’s monuments, parks, statues and
memorials erected in memory of SC/ST icons in Lucknow and Gautam Buddha
Nagar (Noida). A Bill to this effect, titled State Special Zone Security
Force Bill, 2010, was tabled in the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on by
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma.


The “special zone” in the Bill has been
defined as areas where the
memorials, parks and statues have been erected by the State Government.
These are:


1. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
Samajik Parivartan Sthal (Centre for Social Change), Lucknow


BSP
supporters at the Ambedkar Centre for Social
Changes on Sunday.
Built during Mayawati’s first tenure on 23 acres at a cost of Rs 150
crores. In 2007, she started building it afresh in 150 acres in Gomti
Nagar for Rs 500 crores. It has an elephant gallery with 60 stone
statues.




WELCOME
ELEPHANT SYMBOL


2. Dr. Ambedkar Vihar,
Lucknow;


 


3. Samta Mulak Chauraha and
Ambedkar
Chauraha: Having two roundabouts and 2 crossings at Samtamulak
Chauraha; statues of SC/ST icons to be installed


 


Samajik
Parivartan Prateek Sthal, Lucknow;


2 acres
on Gomti embankment for Rs 7 crores
.
Kanshiram Sanskritik Sthal Area
:
LDA carves out 80 acres from Smriti Upvan, built for Kargil martyrs
which costs Rs 90 crores.


4. Kanshi Ram Smarak Sthal
(Memorial), Lucknow;


Over 42
acre for Rs 370 crores




The Hindu
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati pays floral tribute to her mentor
and Bahujan Samaj Party founder, Kanshi Ram, at the newly built Kanshi
Ram memorial in Lucknow 


5. 13 Mall Avenue, Lucknow;


Manyawar
Kanshi Ram Yaadgar Vishram
Sthal: Guesthouse on 13, Mall Avenue, initially allotted to
Mayawati. 2 halls, 12 rooms, garden which cost Rs 12 crores.


6. Manyavar Kanshi Ram
Eco Garden, Lucknow;


Over
4,800 square meters for Rs 4 crores.


7. Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan,
Lucknow;


51 acre,
for Rs 54 crores. Construction began in August 2007.


8. Gautam
Buddha Samta Moolak Sthal, Gautam Buddha Nagar;


Buddha
Sthal and Sharda Canal Front
Development Area: 6,000 square meters on VIP Road in Alambagh
which costs Rs 90 crore. Statue of Buddha under a canopy 100 stone
columns, each with an elephant head
.
Eco
Park Area
: 30 acres which costs Rs 50 crores.


 


9. Buddha Vihar Shanti
Upvan, Lucknow;




Buddha Shanti Upwan Area: 18
acre at Kanpur Road which cost Rs 15.15 crores.


10. Smriti Upvan, Lucknow.









Prerna
Sthal
:


Ms Mayawati is not
just a politician, but a leader who leads a movement for Social Transformation
and for economic emancipation. She practices these through the Dhamma of the
Buddha.She will be called as the Mother Maha Mayawati when she gets the
MASTERKEY to rule PraBuddha Bharath. It is just a matter of time

Vote
BSP Elephant for Change
offering the MASTER KEY for the peace, happiness and Welfare of Entire
People.< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
“urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

BSP will return to power by
winning still more seats in the next Vidhan Sabha elections.

This will only enthuse
BSP workers.

According to the union home
ministry Uttar Pradesh ranks very low in the matter of crime against women and
the people of SC/ST.

The present government
has reduced poverty and unemployment and given impetus to industrialisation.

It is popular for its Development
works and enforcement of law and order.

Situation all over the
country remained calm because of things under control in the State following
the Ayodhya Verdict.

Central government
requested to take the strictest measures to root out terrorism.

The Rule of Law

Law and order situation
state, frightened by the jungle-raj of the previous S.P. government, people
elected the absolute-majority govt. of BSP by placing total faith in its
policies and programmes. It was then and there it was chosen to have a govt. Of
the rule of law for every situation because of the belief that there was no
alternative to it to ensure the progress of the state. Therefore, the moment
after getting into power the first task was to improve the law and order
situation at every level; and it could be said with confidence that there has
been a very notable improvement in the law and order situation, with efforts in
comparison to those of all previous governments. The living proof of it is the
continuous of peace and order in the state in the wake of ‘Ayodhya/Babri Masjid
Judgement’. Its positive corollary was peace and order throughout the country
and no violence occurred anywhere in this regard.

Ayodhya, Ayodhya verdict, security, Uttar Pradesh

'Kar Sevaks' stand atop the demolished Babri Masjid

Further, while a major
part of the country is grappling with the problem of ‘Naxalism’ just the
reverse of it, peace prevails in Uttar Pradesh on this score. The reason of it
is; the govt. of BSP has not looked at this problem only as a law and order
problem but given complete attention to its social and economic aspects i.e.,
it was responded to militancy with development. With several solid measures
taken by the govt., the forecast corporation has been instructed to give back
50% of the net revenue obtained from Tendu leaves
  to their pickers in order to bring about
improvement in their economic status. Besides instructions have been issued to
give the utmost priority to improving facilities of health, education,
electricity, drinking water, lease allotment, ration distribution etc in the
naxal-affected areas.

GREEN WEED BACKROUNDBSP government has decided
to declare the remaining villages in naxal-affected areas as Dr.Ambedkar
village in order to link them with all development activities. The BSP state
govt. Is fully sensitive to the SC/ST and the ‘vanvasis’ and benefited about
10,000 eligible persons by allotting leases under the Forest Rights Act.

In addition, another serious
problem viz. Namely is ‘terrorism’. Terrorism is nation-wide problem, for the
extermination of which the central govt. Have to adopt the strictest of
measures. It is believed that it will not be possible to put a check on acts of
terrorism unless; the borders of our country are secured. BSP govt. Is fully
aware of its responsibility to tackle the problem but the central govt. ought
to furnish correct and uncontested intelligence on terror and offer full
support to states instead of being just content with giving some general type
of information or advice. It is further believed that all state govt. Will not
be able to check terrorist activities, until and unless the central govt. lifts
itself up the party politics and equips every
 
state with the most modern arms and implements to match the weapons held
by the terrorists.

            Not this alone, in view of the sensitivity of a huge
state like Uttar Pradesh the centre should earmark sufficient companies of
central security forces to protect important places of religious and tourist
interests. BSP govt. has written several times to the centre about it. Further
the UP state has not been provided with the means like central security forces
and other facilities etc. As has been done by the central govt. In respect to
Maharashtra following that Mumbai terror incident, which has not happened till
date despite repeated request.

            Hon’ble members of opposition parties, who have been
raising questions regarding law and order under BSP govt., especially certain
criminal incidents of the last few days, must peep inside their fearts before
interrogating the govt. On its methods of administration.

            BSP govt. Has established the rule of law in every sphere.
It is sincerely expected to know from the hon’ble member of the opposition
whether they can cite the instance of any govt. Present or earlier in power
which has thrown its own ministers, MPs or legislators behind the bars, without
delay found violating the law. They won’t say anything about it because if they
do they will have to point  to the BSP
govt. of Uttar Pradesh only which has taken strict legal actions against its
own party members in defence to the law without fear or favour.

            As far rape and other recent incidents, during BSP govt.
Are concerned, it could only be said that regardless of the status of the
persons involved, it is the matter of the flawed traditions and upbringing
where mothers and sisters  are not
respected and dishonoured. However, it has been the govt. of BSP only which has
adopted harsh legal measures against the ‘principle criminals’ however powerful
and influential people belonging to opposition party they might have been.
There are several such instances before you which is not repeated her. Not only
this, corrupt officers, found shielding criminals or being casual about it have
not been spared, whereas governments of other parties have made scapegoats of
mostly innocent persons. Even if the criminal is apprehended, the legal
proceedings are so dilatory or defence is so jejune that the criminal gets out
of the jail in a short period and justice is meted out to the aggrieved
after  a fairly long period. As a result,
the victim is sometimes persuaded to take the law into his own hands. There are
several examples before you. It is also added that most of the cases which have
occurred, so far, in Uttar Pradesh are, somehow or other rooted in personal enemity
or may be attributed to the recent Panchayat elections, against which the govt.
has taken timely action.

            So far as statistics of crime are concerned, UP figures
very low in comparison to most of the states in the country.  In fact, even according to the data released
by the ‘National Criminal Documentation Bureau, Home Ministry’ on account of the
rapes for the year 209, Uttar Pradesh ranks very low. Statistical data reveal
that while the rate of rate is 1.4 per lakh of population in congress-ruled
Andra Pradesh, 5.3 Assam 2.5 Haryana 2.6 Delhi and 2.6 Chandigarh; in the BJPruled
states Chhatisgarh the crime rate was 4.3, Madhya Pradesh 4.2 and Orrisa 2.5.
However, comparatively this rate is only 0.9 in Uttar Pradesh, whereas the
average national rate is 1.8. It is explicitly clear that the incidence of rape
is even less that half of the total such incidents occurring all over the
country.

            Why, indeed if the congress-ruled state of Delhi were to
be compared with victimisation of women in Uttar Pradesh it would clearly show
that the rapes commissioned in Delhi in 2010 as pre one lakh population the
rate of the crime works out to 2.83 whereas in Uttar Pradesh 0.67. Similarly,
molestation of women during 2010 in Delhi was 3.39 as against 1.38 in Uttar
Pradesh. Despite all this, the din being raised by the leaders of the opposition
party and different organisations and commissions over certain incidence of
rape , to say the least, most unfortunate. 
While BSP government has taken prompt and harsh steps against those committing
rapes and such like crimes it may be reminded the leaders of the opposition
parties of ‘Phoolan Devis’ belonging to the mallah community who continued to
be subjected to all kinds of exploitation during the rule of the Congress party
and other feudal forces for a very long period. Governments of all opposition
parties remained mute and blind to all this, which forced Phoolan Devi to take
the law into he own hands leading tro the ‘behmani massacre’ in 1981 under
congress rule and leaving behind a trail of many dead and a number of widows in
subsequent criminal activities.

            Later, in time, after the formation of the NDA
government, ‘this woman’ was murdered in Delhi in broad daylight and the
perpetrators of this crime are still roaming free. Clearly, all the governments
of the opposition parties are to be blamed for this. So also, why have the
leaders who are indulging in all kinds of dramatics for the protection/security
of women’s rights not come forward to see that full justice is done in such
cases like Tandoor affair and the murders of Jessica Lal, Priyadarshini Mattoo
and Ruchika? Indeed, it has been the general public which has had to get down
to the streets to advocate their cause.

            Apart from this you may be aware that a few days back in
the Bihar state, the BJP-supported government failed to provide justice to the
victim of a BJP legislator’s exploitation, due to which the victim has to take
the matters in her own hands. But as opposed to this, the BSP government has
left no stone unturned to punish the culprits as per the law. The recent
example of it the “Allahabad Karelli case”. Asa soon as the BSP Government took
charge in 207, strict actions were taken against those culprits. Today all the
criminals involved in the act are behind the bars. The reason of putting these
facts is to prove that the BSP government is fully capable of providing justice
to the persecuted. BSP government never forgives the culprits, however high and
holding important positions whether in the opposition or in the ruling party.
Even in the police and administration, as in the case of Banda and Kanpur,
those who failed to fulfil their duties were subjected to strict action against
them. The responsibility of this lies with the previous governments whose
officers and representatives misused the government missionary to serve their
own selfish, political and personal ends, turning corrupt, careless and
irresponsible. The impact of losses caused by them are now being faced by BSP
government. BSP govt. However, dare say that it will convert these corrupt
officers in to honest ones. It might take sometime to deal with the amlady as
thw disease has taken deep roots in the system.

            The people in the opposite parties have been raising
questions that despite having a Scheduled Caste Chief Minister at the head of
the government, the SC/STs are not safe, whereas the BSP government has shown
better results in the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. As per the report
from the National Crime Research Bureau, in UP, the crimes committed against
SC/ST are much lower in comparison to other regions.

            In UP the crime rate against the SC/ST is 3.8 per lakh
population, whereas the crime rate in Rajastan is 7.5, Orissa 4.2, MP 4.3,
Bihar 4.0 & AP 5.4. In UP the disposal of the cases have been 94.8%,
whereas all the other regions combined have registered only 74.1% cases. As
many as 3217 known criminals, involved in crimes against SC/ST were punished as
against 5934 throughout the country.

            The crime committed against SC/ST were instantly registered,
pursued and disposed off in time. During BSP governance, no cases  against SC/ST have been withdrawn. BSP
government has also not spared any miscreant who have been found forcing
themselves on the SC/ST, minorities and other tribes. Judgements on these cases
number much higher in BSP government in comparison to other governments.

Development based on
“Sarvajan Hitay – Sarvajan Sukhay” policy.

Along with the law and
order, BSP government has been honouring the Great Saints, Gurus and leaders
from the SC/ST Samaj, specially – Mahatma Joyiba Phule, Chatrapati Sahu ji
Maharaj, Narayana Guru, Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimarao Ambedkar & Manyawar Shri
Kashiram Ji. BSP government has been following their teachings & has also
been running administration based on the policy of “Sarvajan Hitay – Sarvajan
Sukhay”. BSP has nade progress in all directions and regions specially with the
cooperation
  of the poor, deprived, SC/ST
and cultural minorities. They have been given preference in all matters and
schemes such as : 1. Dr.Ambedkar Gram Sabha Vikas Yojna. 2. Savutribai Phule
Balika Shiksha Madad Yojna. 3. Mahamaya Garib Balika Ashirvad Yojna “Sarvajan
Hitay”. 4. Shahri Garib Makan (slum area) Malikana Haq Yojna. 5. Manyawar Shri
Kashiram Ji Shahri Garib Awas Yojna. 8. Niji Nalkoopon Ke Urjikaran ki
NayiYojni. 9. Dr. Ambedkar Nihsulk Boring Yojns. 10. UP Mukhyamantri Mahamaya
Garib Artik Madad Yojna. 11. Dr. Ambedkar Krishi-Urja Sudhar Yojna. 12. UP
Janhit Guarantee Kanoon. 13. Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Sachal Aspatal Yojna. 14.
Gram Panchayat Sachivalaya Sthapna.

Manawar Shri Kanshi Ram Ji

Shri Narayana Guru


 

            Along with this, important decisions to eradicate poverty
and unemployment, encourage various small and large scale industries to benefit
farmers, labourers, workers, layers, youth, women, businessmen, and people from
various fields have been taken.

            A buffer stock of all kinds of fertilizers has been
maintained for farmers and cane farmers so that particularly these farmers do
not face any inconvenience in occupying seeds and fertilizers. Besides, seeds
of progressive breeding have been supplied. Along with this, an arrangement for
kisan credit card to the farmers for farming loan has been made on priority
basis. In this regard, on the occasion Ms.Mayawati’s birthday under the
Jan-kalyankai Karyakram, this year 70226 Kisan Cridit Cards have been distributed
throughout the state, by means of which a combined loan of Rs.206 crores has
been made available to the farmers.

            At the same time, for irrigation and farming purposes,
electricity, on fixed rosters, is being provided, canals and tube wells are
being run on full capacity. During the current crushing season, BSP government
has given historical and never before raise in sugarcane prises by
Rs.40/quintal to the cane farmers. According to thisn for early maturing
varities Rs.210, normal varieties Rs.205 and non competent varieties  Rs.20 per quintal has been fixed. Sugar mills
have been instructed to keep running till the sugar cane crops stand in the
field. Along with it is ensured that timely payment to the farmers is being
made for their harvest. Cases have been registered against those sugar mill
owners who ahve failed to run their mills on due time.

            Similarly, under the cases of land acquisition BSP
government has taken few historical decisions under which the policy of
rehabitaliization of the affected farmers is also under process. The affected
farmers will get Rs.20,000/ acre annually for 33yrs, along with araise of
Rs.600 which will be exclusive of the compensation. An arrangement of giving a
one time amount of Rs.2,40,000/ acre has been made for the affected farmers,
who have denied the annual payment. On the condition of acquiring land an
option of obtaining 25% of equity shares has been given to the farmer. 0.7% of
the acquired land will be allotted to the related farmers for housing purpose.
The area of the said land either 120 sqmtr or more will be decided by the
concerned department. A provision has been made for the affected farmers under
which they are given a reservation of 17.5% under the plot allotment scheme.

Honouring the saints,
Gurus, & Great Leaders.

BSP government
has felicitated the various Saints, Gurus & Lraders born under the SC/ST
and Other Backward Castes. But opposite parties having communal mentality are
not able to digest this.

Power Development

            The opposition parties have
raised some questions on the power supply in the state. In this reagard it
cleared that the problem of power supply is not new to the state which actually
is a result of the ignorance of the previous long time ruling parties & their
supporting parties. It is due to this that the government is suffering with
less supply than the daily demand. But inspite of limited resources it is tried
to fulfil the demands of the farmers, common people & industries, we are
buying power on a rate of Rs.7 to 8 per unit. The main reason being that the
previous government did not establish any power units. Moreover the BJP
government, during their rule, sold out :Unchahaar & Tanda Thermal Power
Projects” to NTPC for peanuts. But after BSP 
government took the charge, it took effective measures to eradicate the
problem of power were taken in the state.

            In this regard the process of establishing new power
houses and refurbishing of the old ones with better capacities is going on. As
a result of the efforts being made in this direction, by the end of 11th
Five Year Plan, there will be sure rise of 6151 megawatt in power generation.

            Under this the new units to be established in the state,
i.e., the “Parichcha Tepeeya Vistar Yojns”, Hardus Ganj Pariyojana (500 MW),
Anpara-D (1000 MW), along with these in Private sector, Anpara-C(1200MW), Sri
Nagar Jaleeya Pariypjna (330 MW) & under MOU route (450 MW) are included.

            Besides these, under the 12th Five Year Plan
scheme, a decision has been taken to establish the following new units in the
state government sector. Panki Tapeeya Vistar Yojna (250MW), Hardua Tapeeya
Vistar – stage II (660 MW), Obra-C Tapeeya (1320MW) & Anpara E Tapeeya
(1320MW), total 3550MW.

            Similarly, under the 12th Five Year Plan, in
the joint sector 2 new units of 3300 MW & in private sectors, under various
models units of 19540 MW are being worked upon.

            Under all the above said measures taken, in the coming
days, the state government is fully functional to resolve the people’s power
cut problem from the state.

Strategy of Total
Development

Fast progress has been
registered in regard to development of villages and cities under ‘Dr.Ambedkar
Geam Sabha Vikas Yojna’ and ‘Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji Shehri Samagra Vikas
Yojna’ and other schemes. Besides, govt. Of BSP has strived to create in the
state an environment, free from injustice, free from crime, free from fear,
free from corruptionand prone to development in all matters and had requested
the central govt. For a special economic package of ‘80 thousand crore’., in
view of the shattered economy under the earlier govt. About which the centre
has been negative so far – for the development of the most backward regions of
the state such as Poorvanchal, Bundelkhand and other backward areas so that
education, electricity, water, health could be procided to the people living
below the poverty line here. And yet, BSP govt. Has sufficiently developed the
backward regions in the state. BSP govt. Has completed many historic improvement
tasks of public welfare, which have  also
been referred to in large measures in the address of the Governor that is is
not repeated.

            BSP govt. Has always been serious about the all-round
development of the state. However, UP being still one of the largest states ,
has written several times to the Central govt. To carve out Poorvanchal,
Bundelkhand and western UP as separate states for a comprehensive development
of their backward areas, but no reply 
has been received from Central govt. To make these regions separate
states. Immediately   a  special session will be convened of Vidhan
Sabaha to approve the proposal for onward transmission to the Central govt. In
short the BSP govt. Will exercise not a moment’s delay in this matter.

Disaster’s Relief

            Every year UP state,
especially the Poorvanchal region is devastated by floods, the main cause of
which is Nepal. BSP govt. Has been exhorting the Centre by writing repeatedly
to find out a permanent solution to the problem but no action has been taken
till adte. In fact, last year some neighbouring states had released large
quantities of water during the monsoons.

Demand For Central Aid

            Assistance was also solicited  from the Centre, after the Mumbai pattern, to
deal with terrorist activities, but the Centre’s response has been negative
here also. The Centre’s attitude has been the same about the naxal menace.

            Decision was also taken to include certain castes
belonging to backward classes in the satate such as Scheduled Castes such as 1)
Kahar, Kasyap, 2) Kewat, Mallah, Nishad 3) Kumhar, Prajapati 4) Dheevar 5) Bind
6) Dhar, Rajdhar 7) Dheemar 8) Batham 9) Turha 10) Goda 11) Manjhi 12) Macchua
13) Loniya 14) Noniya 15) Loniya-Chauhan 16) Dhankar, Pal etc. The Central
govt. Has been approached several times to extend reservation to them but even
here the Centre is silent. Here it is mentioned, especially, about the SP govt.
Which had made only a sham effort (drama) to include these castes in the list
of SCs. Consequently, neither these castes be included in the SC list nor could
they avail themselves of the benefits earmarked for the backward classes.

Social Harmony

            It is among the
priorities of BSP govt. to protect the life, limb and faithof the religious
minority, especially Muslim community. Immedeately BSP got into power the first
time in 1996, a separate ‘Uttar Pradesh Minority Welfare Department’ – a first
time in the country for the uplift of minorities .BSP govt. as well, accorded
the benefit of reservation in education and govt.services to the backward
sections among the Muslims. For the first time, again, the ‘UP Madarasa
Education Board’ was constituted by BSP govt. and so far 100 Madrasas have been
brought on to grant-in-aid list. Many more schemes to enhance their educational
and economic status have been introduced. An ‘Urdu Arabic and Persian
University’ has also been established by the govt. in Lucknow but for the
reason of financial constraints the govt. cannot do much more, though it
feverently wishes to do so.

            But when it comes to the govt. of the other parties the
number in govt.services has come down from 33 to 1 or 1.5. The maximum number
of Hindu-Muslim riots was during the congress rule. In fact during BJP rule
behind the curtain of communal riots a climate of fear has been created for
them. As far as SP party, on coming into power in UP it pocketed their votes
but did nothing tangible to further their interests except wind-beggary.

            On the other hand BSP govt. from the beginning of its
rule took note of the uplift of SC/STs and other neglected classes, setting up
separately three departments namely ‘Uttar Pradesh SC/ST Welfare Department’,
‘Uttar Pradesh Backward Class Welfare Department’ and ‘Uttar Pradesh Disabled
Welfare Department’. Ministers were also appointed separately for these dept.
And many historic steps were conceived 
and implemented for the good of these sections of the society.

Control of Price-rise-

            For the galloping dearness
throughout the country, it is not the state govt. but the Congress lead UPA
government’s wrong economic and import-export policies which are entirely
responsible. Along with Uttar Pradesh the people all over the country are
suffering on account of the flawed policies of the Central govt. intended to
benefit the capitalists and the rich. Not only this, tghe irresponsible
statements of the hob’le ministers of the Centre from time to time have also
fanned the fire of price-rise, giving full opportunity to unscrupulous  ‘hoarders and profiteers’  to hike prices  of food grains and other edibles. It would be,
thus, more appropriate for the opposition parties to raise voice against the
Central govt. instead of making uncalled for comments on the state govt.

            All concerned officers in the state have been given
strict instructions to keep the prices of edibles under control in the state
and to take condign measures against hoarders and profiteers, a fact, known to
all. A drive is on against hoarders profiteers. During the current financial
year, ended December about 31,000 shops were raided and more than 120 FIRs
registered. About 50 people were arrested. 0.4 thousand ration shops suspended
and licences of about 2500 cancelled.

Reality of Central Aid

            About the reality of the Central and about which a good
lot has been said  during the decisions,
especially by the hon’ble members of the Congress party. The Centre does no
favour by providing aid to the states. Indeed, under the constitutional system
it is the Centre’s obligation to give the assistance. It is the rights of the
states to obtain such aid. It si known to all that the Central taxes flowing
from the states are made available to the states under the prescribed formula.

            It may also be noted, in this connection, that the
maximum contribution to the Central revenue s and yet the Centre is not giving
the state government its due share. The Central government has not given any
extra assistance which might have helped the development of state. The truth is
that a sizeable share of the amount on account of centrally sponsored schemes
has not been paid to Uttar Pradesh during the last three years. Insistent and
persistence entreaties have been assiduously ignored.

            As against a total of Rs.33,000 crores due to the state
by war of central assistance, during the current financial year, only about
Rs.18,800 vrores have been released until December 2010 by the Centre while the
fiscal year is just about to end. Thus, even if the due share were to be made
available by the Central government, it would necessarily take time to spend it
and if it were not possible to utilize this amount, it would be adjusted by the
Centre in the amount earmarked for allotted the next year. Evidently. Uttar
Pradesh will have to pay for the centre’s non-cooperative policy.

           

Likewise the Central
government has not taken any positive decision, till date on BSP government’s
demand for a special economic assistance package of Rs.80,000crore to achieve
total development of the state and speed up the pace of progress in Poorvanchal
and Bundelkhand with a view to removing regional imbalances.

            There are, in fact several such schemes/projects in which
the Centre has discriminated against the govt.of BSP. For example, many
irrigation related projects of several states are being implemented as central
projects, whereas notwithstanding BSP’s reperated requests not one single
irrigation project has been included in central agenda. Not only this, under
PMGSY the work to access bustees, with a population of more than one thousand,
with link roads has been completed in the state . Thereafter, BSP govt. decided
to provide road linkage to bustees with a population  with one thousand.Proposals to the effect
were made available to the Central govt. quite sometime back which have not
been approved till date. On the contrary, linkage of suchmajras in other states
has already received the go-ahead signal form the Centre.

            Frankly, there are many more schemes/projects, on account
of which the Central Govt. pats its own back, claiming their implementation but
the burden of the expenditure thereon is shoved onto the shoulders of the state
govt. For example, disbursement of scholarships to OBC students is the
responsibility of the Centere. But the required amount is not forthcoming from
the centre. Thus, the central commitment to reimburse the amount of these
schiolarships to the state has not been honoured.

Quality of Construction
Works-(to be contd.)

            Quality parameters have been kept in mind during the
large scale constructions of road & bridges. Not only this, but strict and
immediate actions have been taken against the culprits, as and when complaints
were received.

            In relation with the same issue, it is also reminded that
the quality of all the construction work done by the collusion of engineers,
contractors & the people close to the govt. under the previous SP rule,
which is quite clear in front of the people of entire state.

            Along with this, the construction work being done under
the govt. of Congres party fell off the face when in September 2008, the bridge
under construction by the National Highway Authority in the capital city
Lucknow on Faizabad road suddenly collapsed leaving behind innumerable
casualities. BSP govt. provided every help to the accident victims, alongwith
which we demanded thorough investigation of the accident from the Central govt.
Till date no one has a clue about the investigation report on the same issue.
Similarly, under the flagship of the BJP, govt. of NDA was constructing roads
by the National Highway Authority, when an honest engineer tried to put the
corruptions going on, into then Prime Minister’s knowledge, in November 203,
the engineer was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Bihar.

Special Component Plan (SC
sub-plan)

            Everyone is aware that
BSP has been very sensitive about the development of the SC/ST people. This is
the reason why , during the previous govt. session 2002-03, BSP designed the
budget in such a way that the amount fixed for the special component plan is
spent in the development of the SC/ST people & is non transferable to any
other account or for any other purpose. In the similar regard, that ever since
BSP govt. came into rule constant measures have been taken for the Five Year
planning schemes, in the year 2007-08 BSP spent 82.1%, in the year 2008-09 it
spent 98.7% & in the year 2009-10 it spent 96.1% of the total budjet allotted
under the Special Component Scheme. In contrast, to our figures during the 10th
Five year planning scheme, only a total expenditure of 60.7% were made. Exactly
opposite to this, the behaviour & treatment 
of other oppositie parties, toward the SC/ST people is not hidden from
the common people. The public cannot forget how the congress party transferred
the Lump sum amount of Rs.750 crore from the Special Component Plan to the
Common Wealth Games.

            Similarly, UPA govt. ruled by Congress party
conspired  & tried to discontinue the
reservation for the SC/ST in the Higher Educational Institutions & also
tried to impose an Anti SC/ST reservation bill in Lok Sabah. But in both cases
, due to the strict objections raised by BSP government, the Congress
conspiracies wre washed away.

            In regards to the SC/STs, the thinking of other parties
is similar to the Congress. The creator of the Constitution Baba sahib Bhimrao
Ambedkar, arranged a reservation bill for the progress/betterment of the
SC/STs. To change this bill, the then BJP ruled NDA, by all means set up a
commission against the bill, which BSP party did not let happen.

Justification of Change in
the State Guest Manual

            Regarding certain
amendments  introduced in the state guext
manual that the matter has been under consideration for a long time. Different
states have adopted different policies in this regard, in the process of
amendments to the UP guest manual, perusal of manuals of other states was
undertaken including those of Kerala and Karnataka, only after which amendments
were finalised which had been overdue. It appears that hon’ble members of the
opposition have not gone through the manuals attentively of other states as wel
as the amendments incorporated in the state manual else, they would have not
have raised such objections.

            A program for inspection by visiting every district in
the state  have been formulated with
effect from 1st February, to review the status of law and order,
development and public welfare works to maximise benefits to the people.
Instead of appreciating this, the opposite parties are insinuating and engaging
in abominable politics. With nothing more to say, now they have come to the
level of  Chief Minister’s sandals.
Through the press/media the answer has already been given to them by the Chief
Minister. Some of the members of the media, newspapers and channels with
castiest mentality, unhappy with BSP and govt. have greatly exaggerated the
issue to be quits. Even before this, when the Chief Minister was in her review
tour of Aligarh and Mahamayanagar districts, all antagonists went, hammer and
tongs after tow of her ministers, namely Thakur Jaiveer Singh form Aligarh and
Sri Jaiveer Singh from Mainpuri even as the allegations against both these Ministers,
according to reports till date, have been found devoid of facts and baseless.
Actually, the allegations against BSP’s two ministers appear to be a conspiracy
by the opposition to defame BSP and govt.

            Conspiracies of these kind prove that the opposition has
been left with nothing tangible to say against the govt. Perhaps, the
opposition parties do not realise that whenever opposition has attempted to
pull down BSP it has, emerged more invigorated at the grass roots.

            The leader of the main opposition party, while speaking
on the motion of thanks to the address of the Governer had said something about
the presence of the leader of the house in order to maintain the tradition. To
this, the response is that instead of dishing out advice to others, he had
better learn to follow the advice himself. It would have suited him well that
when the budget was presented in the house he had been present in the house
keeping with the tradition. It is guessed his answer would be : if  he could be away to do some work why couldn’t
the Chief Minister have some important govt. work to do ! Her advice to the
leader of the opposition would be : before complaining of dust on other’s shoes
look at his own unclean doorsteps.

            Among other things, criticism of BSP’s govt. by the
opposition parties during the motion of thanks to the address of the Governor
in the hon’ble house has been fully answered and rebutted on all important
issues point by point in order to enlighten the people of the state about the
reality.  Before conclusion, Chief
Minister appealed all the hon’ble members of the opposition parties to desist
from levelling fictitious and baseless charges against the government’s goal of
speeding up the rate of development and offering to the people better law and
order.

            Finally,  The Chief
Minister welcomed the motion of thanks to the address of the Governor and
prayed to the Nature that the heinous act by the opposition parties of
violating parliamentary dignity, this time and before, is not repeated and may
the Elements bestow wisdom on them, for the future with this, now it is
stopped.

Thanks

 

 

LUCKNOW: The month-long statewide
inspection drive to assess the progress of developmental projects and
implementation of various schemes by chief minister Mayawati
was not only an administrative exercise. If sources are to be believed, the
drive in fact is part of her five point strategy to romp home in the 2012 UP assembly polls.

During her visits, Mayawati also took feedback of the performance of sitting
MLAs and the candidates short-listed for the 2012 assembly polls before making
final announcement. The Ambedkar villages selected for visit also had
substantial Muslim population, sources said and added that she has already
constituted bhaichara (brotherhood) committees at the booth level in districts
to bring castes and communities other than SC/STs, close to the BSP.

Party insiders also said that the BSP supremo is aiming to build an alliance of
SC/ST, most backward classes and Muslims without upsetting the upper castes,
particularly the Brahmins.

According to sources, Maya has chalked out a five point programme for her
mission 2012.

First: If in 2007 BSP’s focus was on SC/ST-brahmin-muslim alliance, which
brought it to power with absolute majority, for 2012, the party is aiming at
the combination of SC/ST-muslims-most backward classes. At the same time, BSP
will not say or do anything, which could antagonise any caste or community.

Secondly, Maya wants to declare party candidates one year in advance for polls
due in April-May 2012, so that the latter get enough time to groom their
constituencies.

Maya is of the view that a candidate should not be barred from contesting
election on the basis of criminal record, but party sources said that she is
taking extra care to verify credentials of the candidates selected for 2012
assembly elections before announcing their names.

“We won 2007 election on law and order issue, hence extra care is being taken
to improve the situation,” said a senior BSP leader.

The third point in Maya’s agenda is to find out a detailed caste configurations
of every constituency, as delimitation has changed the demographic profile and
old equations in comparison to 2007 assembly elections.

Fourth: Maya wants all development work sanctioned for SC/ST dominated areas to
be completed by July this year. Committed SC/ST leaders have been given
important positions at district level in party organisation and have been told
to convince SC/STs that the BSP is the only party they can trust on.

PWD minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui, has been asked to build an alliance of
Muslim-SC/ST-backward classes to score in 89 reserved assembly seats in the
state out of 403 assembly constituencies.

Maya’s close confidant and Brahmin face of the party, SC Mishra will continue
to focus on the Brahmins. Swami Prasad Maurya and backward leader Babu Singh
Kushwaha are working among non-Yadav backward classes and most backward classes
(MBCs) close to the BSP



fireworks animationanimated fireworksfree fireworks animationfree fireworksfree fireworks gif clip artfireworks clipart

LESSON 
225

About Dr B R Ambedkar

Dr B R Ambedkar was born in a caste
which was considered as the lowest of the low. People said that it was a sin it
they offered him water to drink, and that if he sat in a cart it would become
unclean. But this very man framed the Constitution for the country. His entire
life was one of struggles. And his personal life was too sad; he had lost his
first wife and sons. But even though he did not lose his dareness for the
social welfare of people of India. The boy who suffered bitter humiliation
became the first Minister for Law in free India, and shaped the country’s
Constitution.


Dr B R Ambedkar

 

It
is no wonder that everyone called him ‘Babasaheb’, out of love and admiration. Bhimrao
Ambedkar
was the lion-hearted man who fought for equality, justice and
humanity.

Visit http://www.ambedkar.org/ for more detail.

VOICE OF SARVAJAN LUCKY LEAKS

“You must have firm belief in the sacredness of yourgoal.
Noble is your aim and sublime and glorious is your mission. Blessed are those
who are awakened to their duty to those among whom they are born. Glory to
those who devote their time, talent and their allto the amelioration of
slavery. Glory to those who would keep on their struggle for the liberation of
the enslaved despite of heavy odds, carping humiliations, storms and dangers
till the downtrodden secure their human rights”. -Babasaheb Dr.Ambedkar. Best
wishes of Baba’s 120th Jayanti. – Gopinath, BSP

Son of Soil..Pioneer of Social Justice… Voice of
humanity…We salute the true father of ore nation dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.- BSP
Dr. Rahul

For a Special person
Its day of celebrations,
Its day to value a special person,
Who taught world the lesson of Self Confidence
Its Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar..
The Father of Indian Constitution !
May the spirit of Self Confidence and Fight against oppression be with us in this Ambedkar Jayanti.
Wish you all the Happy Ambedkar Jayanti 2011
With Regards
Sandip Patil

Mumbai, 8149645674
comments (0)
04/12/11
226 LESSON 13 04 2011 Atthasatapariyaya Sutta One Hundred Eight Feelings FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 7:21 pm
comments (0)
225 LESSON 12 04 2011 An Island to Oneself Mallikaa Sutta FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE-Oust Dravidian parties from TN: Mayawati
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 3:14 am

225 LESSON 12 04 2011 An Island to Oneself Mallikaa Sutta FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE-Oust Dravidian parties from TN: Mayawati
THE BUDDHIST

ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

225 LESSON 12 04 2011 An Island to Oneself
Mallikaa Sutta
FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY
and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter
  to VOTE
for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain
Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
POLITICS is SACRED with GOOD GOVERNANCE-Oust Dravidian parties from TN: Mayawati

COURSE PROGRAM

Attadiipaa Sutta: An Island to Oneself

The Pali title of this sutta is based on the PTS (Feer)
edition.

“Monks,
be islands unto yourselves,[1]
be your own refuge, having no other; let the Dhamma be an island and a refuge
to you, having no other. Those who are islands unto themselves… should
investigate to the very heart of things:[2]
‘What is the source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair? How do
they arise?’ [What is their origin?]

“Here,
monks, the uninstructed worldling [continued as in
SN 22.7.] Change occurs in this man’s body, and it becomes
different. On account of this change and difference, sorrow, lamentation, pain,
grief and despair arise. [Similarly with ‘feelings,’ ‘perceptions,’
‘mental formations,’ ‘consciousness’].

“But
seeing[3]
the body’s impermanence, its change-ability, its waning,[4]
its ceasing, he says ‘formerly as now, all bodies were impermanent and
unsatisfactory, and subject to change.’ Thus, seeing this as it really is, with
perfect insight, he abandons all sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair.
He is not worried at their abandonment, but unworried lives at ease, and thus
living at ease he is said to be ‘assuredly delivered.’”[5]
[Similarly with ‘feelings,’ ‘perceptions,’ ‘mental formations,’
‘consciousness’].

Mallikaa Sutta: Mallikaa

The Pali title of this sutta is based on the PTS (Feer)
edition.

[The
Blessed One was at Saavatthii
]

At this
time King Pasenadi of Kosala was on the upper terrace of the palace with Queen
Mallikaa. And the king asked her: “Mallikaa, is there anyone dearer to you
than yourself?”
[1]

“Your
Majesty, there is no one dearer to me than myself. And you, sire, is anyone
dearer to you than yourself?”

“Nor
is there anyone dearer to me, Mallikaa, than myself.”

Then the
king went down from the palace and visited the Blessed One [and told him the
whole story.
] And the Blessed One, understanding, thereupon uttered this
verse:

Though in thought we range throughout the world, We’ll
nowhere find a thing more dear than self. So, since others hold the self so
dear, He who loves himself should injure none.

157

If you hold yourself dear then guard, guard yourself
well. The wise person would stay awake nursing himself in any of the three
watches of the night, the three stages of life.



comments (0)
04/11/11
224 LESSON 11 04 2011 Attarakkhita Sutta Self protected FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Filed under: General
Posted by: site admin @ 12:37 am


224 LESSON 11 04 2011 Attarakkhita Sutta Self protected FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter  to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT for Social Transformation and Economic Emancipation to attain Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org

LESSON 
224

COURSE PROGRAM

THEBUDDHIST




ONLINE GOOD NEWS LETTER

Atta-rakkhita
Sutta: Self-protected

At
Savatthi
. As he was sitting to one side, King Pasenadi Kosala said
to the Blessed One: “Just now, lord, while I was alone in seclusion, this
train of thought arose in my awareness: ‘Who have themselves protected, and who
leave themselves unprotected?’ Then it occurred to me: ‘Those who engage in
bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct leave themselves
unprotected. Even though a squadron of elephant troops might protect them, a
squadron of cavalry troops, a squadron of chariot troops, a squadron of
infantry troops might protect them, still they leave themselves unprotected.
Why is that? Because that’s an external protection, not an internal one.
Therefore they leave themselves unprotected. But those who engage in good
bodily conduct, good verbal conduct, & good mental conduct have themselves
protected. Even though neither a squadron of elephant troops, a squadron of
cavalry troops, a squadron of chariot troops, nor a squadron of infantry troops
might protect them, still they have themselves protected. Why is that? Because
that’s an internal protection, not an external one. Therefore they have
themselves protected.’”

“That’s
the way it is, great king! That’s the way it is! Those who engage in bodily
misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct leave themselves
unprotected. Even though a squadron of elephant troops might protect them, a
squadron of cavalry troops, a squadron of chariot troops, a squadron of
infantry troops might protect them, still they leave themselves unprotected.
Why is that? Because that’s an external protection, not an internal one.
Therefore they leave themselves unprotected. But those who engage in good
bodily conduct, good verbal conduct, & good mental conduct have themselves
protected. Even though neither a squadron of elephant troops, a squadron of
cavalry troops, a squadron of chariot troops, nor a squadron of infantry troops
might protect them, still they have themselves protected. Why is that? Because
that’s an internal protection, not an external one. Therefore they have
themselves protected.”

That
is what the Blessed One said. Having said that, the One Well-Gone, the Teacher,
said further:

 

Restraint with
the body is good,

good
is restraint with speech.

Restraint
with the heart is good,

good
is restraint
  everywhere.

Restrained
everywhere,

conscientious,

one
is said to be

protected.

comments (0)