337 LESSON 07 08 2011
Pasura Sutta To Pasura FREE ONLINE eNΔlandΔ Research and Practice
UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST GOOD NEWS letter to VOTE for BSP ELEPHANT to attain
Ultimate Bliss-Through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org- Free Buddhist Studies for
Young Students- Lesson 3: Life Story
of the Buddha β Married Life
Pasura Sutta: To Pasura
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
“Only here is there purity” β that’s what they
say β “No other doctrines are pure” β so they say. Insisting that
what they depend on is good, they are deeply entrenched in their personal
truths. Seeking controversy, they plunge into an assembly, regarding one
another as fools. Relying on others’ authority, they speak in debate. Desiring
praise, they claim to be skilled. Engaged in disputes in the midst of the
assembly, β anxious, desiring praise β the one defeated is chagrined. Shaken
with criticism, he seeks for an opening. He whose doctrine is [judged as]
demolished, defeated, by those judging the issue: He laments, he grieves β the
inferior exponent. “He beat me,” he mourns. These disputes have
arisen among contemplatives. In them are elation, dejection. Seeing this, one
should abstain from disputes, for they have no other goal than the gaining of
praise. He who is praised there for expounding his doctrine in the midst of the
assembly, laughs on that account & grows haughty, attaining his heart’s
desire. That haughtiness will be his grounds for vexation, for he’ll speak in
pride & conceit. Seeing this, one should abstain from debates. No purity is
attained by them, say the skilled. Like a strong man
nourished on royal food, you go about, roaring, searching out an opponent.
Wherever the battle is, go there, strong man. As before, there’s none here.
Those who dispute, taking hold of a view, saying, “This, and this only, is
true,” those you can talk to. Here there is nothing β no confrontation at
the birth of disputes. Among those who live above confrontation not pitting
view against view, whom would you gain as opponent, Pasura, among those here
who are grasping no more? So here you come, conjecturing, your mind conjuring
viewpoints. You’re paired off with a pure one and so cannot proceed.
Lesson 3: Life Story of the Buddha β
Married Life
1.
a) Why and whom did Siddhattha marry?
b) Describe the ancient Sakya marriage customs.
2. Why was Siddhattha not content with comfortable life in the
palace?
3. What 4 sights did he see on his travels outside the palace,
and how
did they affect him?
4. Why did he decide to leave his family? Do you think he loved
his
family?
1. What do all living creatures (beings) have in common?
2. What do you do when you get sick?
3. What do you feel when you see sick or very old people?
4. Has anyone you know recently died? If so, how did you feel
about
that?
Life is dear to all living beings and many have
much
shorter lives than people do.
1. What do you value most in your life and why? What do your
parents and friends value most?
2. How long does each of the creatures pictured below live?
Describe
their life cycles.
3. How long do people live and what does it depend on?
4. Describe a typical human life cycle.