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Mihintalava - The Birthplace of Sri Lankan Buddhist Civilization

Vesak 2549 - 2005


Gleanings from the Parayana


The way to the Beyond

The parayana Vagga, constitutes the final chapter of the Sutta Nipata, which is one of the Sections of the Khuddaka Nikaya. It comprises of a series of questions addressed to the Buddha by sixteen Brahamin students of a learned Brahmin named Bavari.

The Epilogue (Theri Gatha) goes on to state "Anyone whose life accords with what the Buddha taught in these answers goes across the ocean, from here to the beyond".

"From this shore to the other is crossing the ocean, this is travelling on the highest path. It is a path that leads to that other shore; that is why it is called Prayana. "The way to the Beyond".

The question posed by three of the Brahamins who themselves were learned men and teachers in their own right are set out for contemplation and reflection during this period of vesak.

The questions of Ajita

"What is it', said Ajita, 'that smothers the world? What makes the world so hard to see? What would you say pollutes the world, and what threatens it most?'

"It is ignorance which smothers', said the Master," 'and it is carelessness and greed which make the world invisible.

"The hunger of desire pollutes the world, and the great source of fear is the pain of suffering'.

"In every direction', said Ajita, 'the rivers of desire are running. How can we dam them and what will hold them back? What can we use to close the flood-gates?'

'Any river can be stopped with the dam of mindfulness', said the Buddha, 'I call it the flood-stopper. And with wisdom you can close the flood-gates.''Sir, said Ajita, 'where there is wisdom and mindfulness there is also the hybrid of mind and matter (the generation of individuality).

"What brings it all to a half?'

"This is the answer to your question, Ajita', said the Master. 'Individuality can be brought to a total end by the cessation of consciousness.' 'Sir', said Ajita, 'there are people here who have mastered all the teachings, and there are students and apprentices, and ordinary people too. "Tell me how these people should live and work.' 'Let them be like a wanderer, a monk', said the Buddha. 'Mindful and skilful in every way, they should free themselves from pleasure hunger and make their minds (calm and) undisturbed'.

Mogharaja's question

'Man of Sakya', he said, 'I have asked about this twice before without receiving an answer from the Wisdom-Eye. But I have heard that if a wisdom-god is asked a third time, then, he will give an answer.

I do not know, famous Gotama, what attitude you take towards this world and towards the other world, the world of Brahma and the gods.

So, because of your insight into excellence, I have come to ask you about this. What is the best way for a person to regard the world so that the King of Death won't see him?

If you are always aware, Mogharaja, you will look at the world and see its emptiness. If you give up looking at yourself as a soul (as a fixed and special identity), then you will have given yourself a way to go beyond death. Look at the world like this and the King of Death will not see you'.

Finally Pingiya posed his questions.

Then the brahmin Pingiya spoke:

Pingiya's question

'I am old and decaying. My body is weak and my skin is pale. I can hardly see and I only hear with difficulty. Don't let me die while I am still in confusion but teach me about the Way Things Are so that I shall know how to leave birth and ageing behind me.'

'Look', replied the Buddha, 'look how many people are tormented by pain.

Look how careless they are, and how greatly they suffer, because of body and forms. If you do not want to go on and on becoming, Pingiya, you must let go of the body and forms'.

'In all the ten directions', said Pingiya, 'above, below, and in every quarter of the compass, there is not a thing that you have not heard, seen, known, or understood. '

'Can you see', replied the Buddha, 'how people are oppressed by desire? Can you see how they are racked and worn by ageing? If you do not want to go on and on becoming, Pingiya, you must let go of craving.'

(Translation of Ven. Hammellawa Saddhatissa)

May all beings be well and happy!

- J.C. Boange

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