The Enlightenment of the Buddha’s First Disciple # 2The Enlightenment of the Buddha’s First DiscipleFurthermore, a large number of Brahmas were able to attain the fruit of “stream-entry” at the moment the Buddha completed his teaching of the Dhamacakkapavattana Sutta. This goes further to show the superiority of the Buddha’s attainment over the teaching of other contemporary traditions the Buddha’s teaching was benefitted from by Brahmas in the Brahma world who normally were considered the zenith of attainment by adherents of contemporary traditions. It follows therefore that Brahmas themselves have not attainmed a level of Sainthood and are ignorant of the Path and Fruit of Sainthood [ariyamagga-ariyaphala]-because when they die from their existence in the Brahma world, they must still continue to be caught up endlessly in the Cycle of Existence [samsara] – just like the rest of the unattained worldlings. The only alternative is to remove all the defilements fromtheir minds and to attain liberation.The conclusion we can draw from seeing Kondanna at tain stream-entry after a relatively short teaching (and also fromseeing the rebirth of beings in heaven or the Brahma world) is that favouralble attainment comes as a result of wholesome deeds accumulated all the way from one’s distant past, possibly from previous lifetimes and in combination with the good deeds performed in one’s present lifetime. One may have accrued many good deeds in one’s past, however, if one hadn’t had the opportunity to come into contact with the Lord Buddha, or at least his undistorted teachings, then again, it would be impossible to attain the stages of liberation or Sainthood.It is thus the immense fortune of anyone who comes into contact with Buddhism in the course of their life, to have the opportunity to study and practice Buddhism until reaching a true understanding of it, to dedicate one’s life and efforts to unwavering practice in the Lord Buddha’s footsteps – at least to the point where confidence is gained that one is on the right track ultimately the speed with which one can attain one’s final goal is influenced by many factors.ordinary men can attain extraordinary stages of liberation and sainthood.Supposing you were to plant a fruit tree it is difficult to predict when you will be able to obtain fruit from the tree. All we can say is that if the tree is in good soil and is well maintained with water and fertilizer, undisturbed by weeds it will give fruit more quickly than if all these factors are neglected. Neglect of the tree will slow its production of fruit or even kill the tree before it has the chance to bear fruit. In the same way, the best we can do for our progress is to make sure that we optimize the conditions of life and mind we set for ourselves.It is interesting to consider that although the Buddha taught the same sermon to all five monks in the Pancavaggiya, it was only kondanna who attained stream-entry as a result. The reason for the difference in attainment is due to the difference in the accumulated Perfections of the monks in the group. Study of Kondanna’s past reveals that during the dispensation of Vipassi Buddha, he was born as a rice-farmer named “Mahakala”:In the crop cycle, Mahakala would find the opportunity to make an offering to Vipassi Buddha and his community no less than nine times!1. when the tips of the rice shoots could be ground into milk;2. when the rice had grown into seedlings3. at the first harvest;4. when the rice was bound into handfuls;5. when the rice was transported to the yard;6. when the rice was transported to the yard;7. when the rice was arranged in stooks;8. when the rice was threshed;9. when the rice was stored in silos;Everytime Nahakala made an offering, he would make the wish that he might forever be the first to attain the Path and Fruit of Nirvana during the dispensation of the next Buddha to come. Whenever there was the opportunity to perform a wholesome act, Kondanna would always make sure that he was the first ot do it, and cultivated Perfections in this way until it became engrained in his being. He would do everything in earnest and with dedication –never with reluctance.The Perfections which he had built up for himself from the past, together with the good deeds of his present lifetime added up to a level of Perfections superior to those of his contemporary monks.The Buddha’s First Teaching, readers will be inspired to see that through practiceConsequently, hearing the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta, Kondanna was awakened before his contemporaries he was to attain sainthood before his other four colleagues. The other four members of the pancavaggiya were not disappointed as a result of their lesser attainment – on the contrary they were all inspired to faith in the Buddha and became dedicated to practice further in earnest, according to the Lord Buddha’s teaching. Indeed, we find in the scripture of the Anattalakkhana Sutta that the remainder of the Pancavaggiya together with Kondanna were to attain Arahantship the first disciples of the Buddha to attain Arahantship.It is the author’s dearest wish that having read this edition of The Buddha’s First Teaching, readers will be inspired to see that through practice, ordinary men can attain extraordinary stages of liberation and sainthood. Knowing that by practice alone progress can be attained, one should not let the time pass fruitlessly-but get down to earnest meditation practice such as that outlined at the end of this book. Apart from purifying the mind of the practitioner, meditation serves to bring happiness in one’s everyday life, facilitates the overocoming of life challenges, enhances mindfulness and wisdom and in itself is a way of pursuing the Perfections towards Nirvana. Even if we are unable to attain Nivana in this present lifetime, we will be able to secure heaven or the Brahma world as our afterlife destination according to the merit we have accumulated for ourselves.Whenever the Buddha arises in the world and our Perfections are sufficiently developed, we too may be the first disciple to attain Sainthood in that Buddha’s dispensation, in the same way as Kondanna. Failing this, if we take rebirth in heaven or the Brahma world, we may, like the eighteen crore Brahmas of the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta, attain Sainthood along with the first disciple.
The Enlightenment of the Buddha’s First Disciple # 2
[ 13 ต.ค. 2554 ] - [ 18262 ]
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