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BOOK SIX: HE AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES
Book Six, Part IβHis Benefactors
*Book Six, Part I β His Benefactors*
1. *Gift from King Bimbisara* — 2. *Gift from Anathapindika* — 3. *Gift from Jeevaka* — 4. *Gift from Ambrapali* — 5. *Munificence of Vishakha*
Β§ 1. Gift from King Bimbisara1. King Bimbisara was not merely a follower of the Blessed Lord; he was also a great devotee, and a great supporter of his Dhamma.
2. After his becoming a lay disciple, Bimbisara asked, “Might the Blessed Lord consent to take his meal with me tomorrow, together with the fraternity of the monks?”
3. The Blessed One expressed his consent by remaining silent.
4. Then King Bimbisara, when he understood that the Blessed One had accepted his invitation, rose from his seat, respectfully saluted the Blessed One, and, passing round him with his right side towards him, went away.
5. And when the night had elapsed, Bimbisara ordered excellent food to be prepared, and at [that] time announced to the Blessed One in the words: “It is time. Lord, the meal is ready.”
6. And in the forenoon the Blessed One, having put on his under-robe, took his alms-bowl, and with his robe on, entered the city of Rajagraha, accompanied by monks who had all been Jatilas before.
7. And the Blessed One went to the palace of King Bimbisara. Having gone there, he sat down with the monks who followed him, on seats laid out for them. Then King Bimbisara with his own hands served the fraternity of monks with the Buddha at its head; and when the Blessed One had finished his meal and cleaned his bowl and his hands, he sat down near him.
8. Sitting near him King Bimbisara thought: “Where may I find a place for the Blessed One to live in, not too far from the village and not too near, suitable for going and coming, easily accessible for people who keep on seeking him, by day not too crowded, where there is little sound, little noise by night, sequestered, hidden from men, well fitted for a retired life?”
9. And King Bimbisara thought: “There is the Veluvana, my pleasure garden, which is not too far from the town and not too near, suitable for going and coming. What if I were to make an offering of the Veluvana pleasure garden to the fraternity of monks, with the Buddha at its head?”
10. And King Bimbisara took a golden vessel with water in it, to be poured over the Buddha’s hand; and made a gift to the Blessed One, saying, “I give this Veluvana pleasure garden, Lord, to the fraternity of monks with the Buddha at its head.” The Blessed One accepted the park.
11. Then the Blessed One, after having taught, incited, animated, and gladdened King Bimbisara by religious discourse, rose from his seat and went away.
12. And in consequence of this event the Blessed One, after having delivered a religious discourse, addressed the monks: “I allow you, monks, to receive this donation of a park.”1. After his conversion, Anathapindika once went to the Blessed Lord. Taking his seat on his right side, he said:
2. “The Lord knows that I dwell in Shravasti, a land rich in produce, and enjoying peace; Pasendi is the great king thereof.
3. “Now am I wishful to found a Vihar there. I pray you, of your tenderness, come to Shravasti and accept it from me.”
4. The Blessed Lord kept silent and thereby showed his willingness to accept the gift.
5. Anathapindika, the friend of the destitute and the supporter of orphans, having returned home, saw the garden of the heir-apparent, Jeta, with its green groves and limpid rivulets, and thought: “This is the place which will be most suitable as a Vihara for the fraternity of the Blessed One.” And he went to the prince and asked leave to buy the ground.
6. The prince was not inclined to sell the garden, for he valued it highly. He at first refused, but said at last: “If you can cover it with gold, then, and for no other price, shall you have it.”
7. Anathapindika rejoiced and began to spread his gold; but Jeta said: “Spare yourself trouble, for I will not sell.” But Anathapindika insisted. Thus they differed and contended, until they resorted to the magistrate.
8. Meanwhile the people began to talk of the unwonted proceeding; and the prince, hearing more of the details, and knowing that Anathapindika was not only very wealthy but also straightforward and sincere, inquired into his plans. On hearing the name of the Blessed One, the prince became anxious to share in the foundation, and he accepted only one-half of the gold, saying: “Yours is the land, but mine are the trees. I will give the trees as my share of the offering to the Lord.”
9. Having made the foundation, they began to build the hall which rose loftily in due proportions, according to the directions which the Blessed One had given; and it was beautifully decorated with appropriate carvings.
10. This Vihara was called Jetavana, and the friend of the orphans invited the Lord to come to Shravasti and receive the gift. And the Blessed One left Kapilavastu and came to Shravasti.
11. While the Blessed One entered Jetavana, Anathapindika scattered flowers and burned incense, and as a sign of the gift he poured water from a golden dragon pitcher, saying, “This Jetavana Vihara I give for the use of the brotherhood throughout the world.”
12. The Blessed One received the gift, and replied: “May all evil influences be overcome; may the offering promote the kingdom of righteousness, and be a permanent blessing to mankind in general and especially also to the giver.”
13. Anathapindika was one of the eighty chief disciples who bore the title of Chief Almsgiver.1. Jeevaka the physician visited the Blessed One twice a day, whenever the Blessed One happened to be in Rajagraha.
2. Jeevaka found the Veluvana, gifted away to the Blessed One by King Bimbisara, too far away.
3. Jeevaka had his own park in Rajagraha, known as Ambavana, which was much nearer from [=to] his place.
4. He thought of building a Vihara with all its adjuncts, and present[ing] the Ambavana and the Vihara to the Blessed One.
5. With this idea in his mind he approached the Blessed One, and requested him to let him fulfil his wishes.
6. The Blessed Lord showed his acceptance by remaining silent.1. Now the Exalted One was staying at Nadika and was wishing for a change. He addressed Ananda, and said: “Come, Ananda, let us go on to Vesali.”
2. “So be it. Lord,” said Ananda, in assent, to the Exalted One.
3. Then the Exalted One proceeded, with a great company of the brethren, to Vesali, and there at Vesali, the Exalted One stayed at Ambrapali’s grove.
4. Now the courtesan Ambrapali heard that the Exalted One had arrived at Vesali, and was staying there at her mango grove. And ordering a number of state vehicles to be made ready, she mounted one of them, and went forth with her train from Vesali towards her garden. She went in the carriage as far as the ground was passable for carriages; there she alighted, and she proceeded on foot to the place where the Exalted One was, and took her seat respectfully on one side. And when she was thus seated the Exalted One instructed her with religious discourse.
5. Then she addressed the Exalted One, and said: ” May the Exalted One do me the honour of taking his meal, together with the brethren, at my house tomorrow ? ”
6. And the Exalted One gave, by silence, his consent. Then when Ambrapali the courtesan saw that the Exalted One had consented, she rose from her seat and bowed down before him; and keeping him on her right hand as she passed him, she departed thence.
7. Now the Licchavis of Vesali heard that the Exalted One had arrived at Vesali, and was staying at Ambrapali’s grove. They too wanted to invite the Buddha to their place for a meal. And ordering a number of state carriages to be made ready, they each mounted one of them and went forth with their train from Vesali.
8. They and Ambrapali crossed on the way.
9. And Ambrapali drove up against the young Licchavis, axle to axle, wheel to wheel, and yoke to yoke, and the Licchavis said to Ambrapali the courtesan, “How is it, Ambrapali, that thou drivest up against us thus?”
10. “My Lords, I have just invited the Exalted One and his brethren for their morrow’s meal,” said Ambrapali.
11. “Ambrapali, sell this honour to us fora hundred thousand,” said they.
12. “My Lords, were you to offer all Vesali with its subject territory, I would not give it up.”
13. The Licchavis cast up their hands, exclaiming: “We are outdone by this mango girl. We are out-reached by this mango girl,” and they went on to Ambrapali’s grove.
14. Knowing that they were outdone, they still thought of approaching the Blessed One, in the hope that he might reconsider and give their invitation first preference. So they went on to Ambrapali’s grove.
15. When the Exalted One saw the Licchavis approaching in the distance, he addressed the brethren and said: “Brethren, let those of the brethren who have never seen the devas, gaze upon this company of the Licchavis, behold this company of the Licchavis, compare this company of the Licchavis–for they are even a company of next-world devas.”
16. And when they had ridden as far as the ground was passable for carriages, the Licchavis alighted there, and then went on foot to the place where the Exalted One was, and took their seats respectfully by his side.
17. Then they addressed the Exalted One, and said : “May the Exalted One do us the honour of taking his meal, together with the brethren, at our house tomorrow?”
18. “I have promised, Licchavis, to dine tomorrow with Ambrapali,” was the reply.
19. Then the Licchavis knew that they had failed. And after expressing their thanks and approval of the words of the Exalted One, they rose from their seats and bowed down before the Exalted One, and keeping him on their right hand as they passed him, departed thence.
20. And at the end of the night, Ambrapali the courtesan made ready in her mansion sweet rice and cakes, and announced the time to the Exalted One, saying, “The hour. Lord, has come, and the meal is ready.”
21. And the Exalted One who had dressed himself early in the morning, took his bowl and his robe, and went with the brethren to the place where Ambrapali’s mansion was; and when he had come there he seated himself on the seat prepared for him. And Ambrapali, the courtesan, set the sweet rice and cakes before the order, with the Buddha at their head, and waited upon them till they refused any more.
22. And when the Blessed One had quite finished his meal, and had cleansed the bowl and his hands, the courtesan had a low stool brought, and sat down-at his side, and addressed the Exalted One, and said:
23. ” Lord, I present my pleasance to you and to the order.” And the Exalted One accepted the gift; and after giving a religious discourse, he rose from his seat and took her leave.1. Vishakha was a wealthy woman of Shravasti. She had many children and grandchildren.
2. When the Blessed One stayed at Shravasti, Vishakha went up to the place where the Blessed One was, and tendered Him an invitation to take his meal at her house, which the Blessed One accepted.
3. And heavy rain fell during the night and the next morning; and the bhikkhus doffed their robes to keep themselves dry, and let the rain fall upon their bodies.
4. When the next day the Blessed One had finished his meal, she took her seat at his side and spoke thus: “Eight are the boons, Lord, which I beg of the Blessed One.”
5. Then the Blessed One said: “The Tathagatas, O Vishakha, grant no boons unless they know what they are.”
6. Vishakha replied: “Proper, Lord, and unobjectionable are the boons I ask.”
7. Having received permission to ask the boons, Vishakha said: “I desire. Lord, through all my life to bestow robes for the rainy season on the Sangha, and food for incoming bhikkhus, and food for outgoing bhikkhus, and food for the sick, and food for those who wait upon the sick, and medicine for the sick, and a constant supply of rice-milk for the Sangha, and bathing robes for the bhikkhunis, the sisters.”
8. “But,” said the Lord, “What, O Vishakha, have you in view, in asking these eight boons of the Tathagata?”
9. And Vishakha replied: “I gave command, Lord, to my maid-servant, saying, ‘Go thou and announce to the fraternity that the meal is ready,’ and my maid went, but when she came to the vihara, she observed that the bhikkhus had doffed their robes, while it was raining, and she thought: ‘These are not bhikkhus, but naked ascetics letting the rain fall on them.’ So she returned to me and reported accordingly, and I had to send her a second time.
10. “Impure, Lord, is nakedness, and revolting. It was this circumstance, Lord, that I had in view in desiring to provide the Sangha throughout my life with special garments for use in the rainy season.
11. “As to my second wish. Lord, an incoming bhikku, not being able to take the direct roads, and not knowing the places where food can be procured, comes on his way wearied out by seeking for alms. It was this circumstance, Lord, that I had in view, in desiring to provide the Sangha throughout my life with food for incoming bhikkhus.
12. “Thirdly, Lord, an outgoing bhikkhu, while seeking about for alms, may be left behind, or may arrive too late at the place whither he desires to go, and will set out on the road in weariness.
13. “Fourthly, Lord, if a sick bhikkhu does not obtain suitable food, his sickness may increase upon him, and he may die.
14. “Fifthy, Lord, a bhikkhu who is waiting upon the sick will lose his opportunity of going out to seek food for himself.
15. “Sixthly, Lord, if a sick bhikkhu does not obtain suitable medicines, his sickness may increase upon him, and he may die.
16. “Seventhly, Lord, I have heard that the Blessed One has praised rice-milk, because it gives readiness of mind, dispels hunger and thirst; it is wholesome nourishment for the healthy, and for the sick as a medicine. Therefore I desire to provide the Sangha throughout my life with [a] constant supply of rice-milk.
17. “Finally, Lord, the bhikkhunis are in the habit of bathing in the river Archiravati with the courtesans, at the same landing-place, and naked. And the courtesans. Lord, ridicule the bhikkhunis, saying, ‘What is the good, ladies, of your maintaining chastity when you are young? When you are old, maintain chastity then; thus will you be obtainers of both ends.’ Impure, Lord, is nakedness for a woman, disgusting, and revolting.
18. “These are the circumstances, Lord, that I had in view.”
19. The Blessed One said, “But what was the advantage you had in view for yourself, O Vishakha, in asking these eight boons of the Tathagatha?”
20. Vishakha replied: “Bhikkhus who have spent the rainy season in various places will come, Lord, to Shravasti to visit the Blessed One. And on coming to the Blessed One they will ask, saying: ‘Such and such a bhikkhu. Lord, has died. What, now, is his destiny?’ Then will the Blessed One explain that he has attained the fruits of conversion; that he has entered Nirvana or attained arhantship, as the case may be.
21. “And I, going up to them, shall ask, ‘Was that brother, sirs, one of those who had formerly been at Shravasti?’ then shall I arrive at the conclusion, ‘For a certainty did that brother enjoy either the robes for the rainy season, or the food for the incoming bhikkhus, or the food for the outgoing bhikkhus, or the food for the sick, or the food for those that wait upon the sick, or the medicine for the sick, or the constant supply of rice-milk.’
22. “Then will gladness spring up within me; thus gladdened joy will come to me; and so rejoicing all my frame will be at peace. Being thus at peace, I shall experience a blissful feeling of content; and in that bliss my heart will be at rest. That will be to me an exercise of my moral powers, an exercise of the seven kinds of wisdom! This, Lord, was the advantage I had in view for myself, in asking those eight boons of the Blessed One.”
23. Then the Blessed One said, “It is well, it is well, Vishakha. Thou hast done well in asking these eight boons of the Tathagata with such advantage in view. Charity bestowed upon those who are worthy of it is like good seeds sown in good soil that yields an abundance of fruits. But alms given to those who are yet under the tyrannical yoke of the passions are like a seed deposited in bad soil. The passions of the receiver of the alms choke, as it were, the growth of merits.”
24. And the Blessed One gave thanks to Vishakha in these verses: “Whatsoever donation a woman upright in life, a disciple of the Blessed One, may bestow in gladness of heart and without stint, her gift is heavenly, destructive of sorrow, and productive of bliss.” ” A blissful life does she attain entering upon the path that is from corruption and impurity.” “Aiming at good, happy does she become; and she rejoices in her charitable actions.”
25. Vishakha gave to the Order the Purva-Aram or Eastern Garden, and was the first to become a matron of the lay-sisters.
C.M. expresses serious concern over the pollution of Gomti river
Lucknow : June 14, 2008 The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Ms. Mayawati has directed for cleaning the Gomti river and making it pollution free in a high level meeting. Expressing concern over the pollution of the river, she directed for making a time-bound action plan for its cleanliness. She authorised the Chairman of U.P. State Advisory Council Mr. Satish Chandra Mishra for the implementation of this work. on the directives of the Chief Minister, the U.P. State Advisory Council, Chairman, Mr. Satish Chandra Mishra held a meeting here today at Annexe regarding the implementation of Gomti Action Plan. Presiding over the meeting, he said that a long term plan should be made for cleaning the river and availability of water in it, throughout the year. He directed for taking necessary steps immediately for cleanliness of the river and implementing the Gomti Action Plan in an effective and time-bound manner. Mr. Mishra said that presently Gomti river had become a dirty nullah and directed the District Magistrate/Municipal Commissioner, Irrigation Department and Pollution Control Board officers for improvement in the situation after making the survey of the river. He also directed for initiating the cleanliness work immediately. Mr. Mishra, while emphasising on the diversion of drains and nullahs falling into the river for making it pollution free said that there were several reasons behind the pollution. He said that study should be made for the permanent solution of the problem and he directed for making study regarding it by I.I.T. Roorkee. It was decided in the meeting that under the monitoring of Irritation Department, the Jal Nigam should make dredging of the river surface wherever necessary, besides surveying its banks with a view to developing tourism. A consultant should be immediately selected for the development of river banks by housing department, so that Gomti could again become the life line of the Lucknow city. According to the decision taken in the meeting for the permanent solution of pollution problem and linking the Gomti to Sharda river near Palia for which a technical and financial feasibility report would be presented to the Government for necessary action. For this purpose, a committee has been constituted comprising Principal Secretary Irrigation Mr. Manjit Singh, Principal Secretary Urban Development Mr. S.R. Lakha, Secretary Urban Development Mr. Navneet Sehgal and Secretary Advisory Council Mr. Raj Pratap Singh. The U.P. Pollution Control Board has been directed for regular monitoring of pollution at the origin/entry and exit points of all important rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti etc. It was also decided in the meeting that the district magistrates of those districts from where Gomti is flowing would make available their reports after assessment of river pollution level to the said committee. It was also decided in the meeting that Jal Nigam would provide the necessary amount of Rs. 37 crore to the D.M. Lucknow for acquiring the 122 hectare land for the sewage treatment plant in next 24 hours. The district magistrate would assure that the possession of the acquired land would be available to Jal Nigam at all costs by July 20 next for the construction work. Mr. Mishra directed that after the availability of land for S.T.P., the work should be completed on war-footing. The officers of Jal Nigam gave assurance in the meeting that all the works in connection of S.T.P. would be completed by July 2010, after which Gomti would become completely pollution free in Lucknow. On this occasion, the Urban Development and Environment Minister Mr. Nakul Dubey, Principal Secretary Urban Development Mr. S.R. Lakha, Principal Secretary Irrigation Mr. Manjit Singh, Secretary to C.M. Mr. Navneet Sehgal, D.M. Mr
Chief Secretary visits affected areas
Lucknow : June 13, 2008 Taking the serious note of incidents regarding land breaching in Bundelkhand area, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati called a high level meeting and directed to senior officers headed by Chief Secretary for making spot visit. Ms. Mayawati directed that large scale examination should be done regarding these incidents of land breaching, besides making necessary arrangements, so that such type of incident could not be repeated again. She also directed for taking the cooperation of experts for technical examination regarding the reasons of the incident. She said that after studying the report of inquiry team, a long term strategy should be prepared for preventing such type of incidents in the concerning areas. She said that awareness should be created among the people for not disturbing the nature and the dangers of unnecessary exploitation of the natural resources. In this connection, the Chief Secretary Mr. Atul Kumar Gupta visited the affected places of district Hamirpur and Jalaun with senior officers. It may be recalled that the incidents of land breaching occurred at 13 and 05 places in district Hamirpur and Jalaun respectively. He inspected the incident of land breaching at Hamirpur district headquarter and Kalpi village Surajpur district Jalaun (Urai). He said that an effective action plan would be made regarding the security from such natural calamities. He said that large scale discussions would be made today with the members of Geological Survey of India for preventing such incidents. During the visit, the Chief Secretary also made review of the programmes running for facing the drought situation in Hamirpur and Jalaun districts. The villagers expressed their satisfaction regarding the efforts of Government and Administration for providing foodgrains and drinking water at different places. The local administration told Chief Secretary that 15 Kg. foodgrains was made available per month free of cost to about 8,700 beneficiaries in Hamirpur district besides, providing the cooked food to more than 900 persons through community kitchen. Likewise, in district Jalaun about 13,000 beneficiaries received foodgrains free of cost and arrangement of food was done for about 600 persons under community kitchen scheme. The Cheif Secretary directed for continuing this system till the drought situation prevails. The villagers confirmed that administration had also made the arrangement of providing fodder and water for cattle. *********
Online edition of India’s National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 15, 2008
ITβs open season on the Web!
Anand Parthasarathy
| Firefox 3 will be available for free download on June 17 |
Latest Ubuntu 8.04 desktop can run from DVD drive
Firefox has a reputation for blocking viruses
OPEN HOUSE: The latest version 3 of the Firefox browser can be downloaded on June 17, while the new desktop version of Ubuntu linux is already available.
Bangalore: Within weeks of each other, the most popular Open Source operating system and one of the most used web browsers for lay users have unveiled their latest avatars β and chances are they will attract millions of first-time users. On Tuesday, the third edition of Firefox will become available for free download. Such is the build-up and hype for this Open Source web browser that 1.6 million users have already pre-registered to get the software on Download Day, June 17 β and as of Saturday, 21,300 of them are based in India.
Mozilla, which promotes Firefox, hopes to create a Guinness World Record for the highest number of downloads on a single day (downloads can be done from http://www.spreadfirefox.com /en-US/worldrecord/firefox3).
Firefox has a reputation for blocking viruses and other malware more effectively than many competing offerings, and many users whose PCs or laptops run on proprietary systems still choose to browse with Firefox.
The browser has ironed out almost all its minor glitches during months as a beta and what is offered now is a robust version.
Going by the pre-release versions, Firefox 3 will be available in the Punjabi and Gujarati versions also.
The switch to an Open Source operating system has become just a bit easier, with the recent availability of the latest version β 8.04 β of the Linux distribution, Ubuntu. A free download from Canonical, U.K., Ubuntu has become one of the most popular Linux flavours β and the latest version can be saved on a DVD and will run directly from that drive without disturbing whatever operating system one may be running. It can be downloaded from www.ubuntu.com/download but since the full software takes almost 4 GB, readers may prefer to use one of the free DVDs being offered with the June 2008 issues of the computer monthlies Digit and Chip in India. This correspondent used the Chip DVD and it opened Ubuntu in trial mode on a Windows Vista PC, allowing sampling of all its features, including the OpenOffice suite and the Open Source graphics software GIMP, which are bundled. At the end of the trial the DVD can be removed and the PC returned to the Vista desktop, without hassle.
This feature alone will give many first-time users the courage to give Open Source a try.
Lathi-charge and firing on farmers in Haveri is βthe worst treatmentβ ever meted out to them. Perhaps, the Bharatiya Janata Party has introduced the βGujarat model of governanceβ in the State in right earnest.
Who ordered the firing? The provocation for it and the procedure for opening fire were issues that should be probed. The probe was entrusted to the Divisional Commissioner as the Government wanted to cover up mistakes.
Victims belonged to the Kuruba and other castes.