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Tuesday, 26 March 2013

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MEDIN POYA

Meeting kith and kin

It was on this Poya Day, Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, along with a retinue of monks, trecked from Veluwanaramaya, Rajagaha, to Kimbulwathpura – City of Kimbulwath to meet his father King Suddhodana, relatives, friends of the Sakya clan, a highly distinguished class of men and women living in North India in which Gotama or Sakyamuni Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha.

After, Prince Siddhartha attained Samma Sambuddha - Buddhahood, on Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, after delivering his First sermon “Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta”, wheel of Dhamma on Esala Purapasalosvaka Poya Day, he continued to reside in Rajagaha for sometime. His father, King Suddodana, desirous to see his beloved son Gautama Buddha, sent many emissaries, delegates. Ministers pleading Buddha to visit his birthplace, city of Kimbulwath. They did not return. They became disciples of the Buddha. Therefore, it was a big disappointment for king Suddodana.

As all his plans failed, king Suddodana as a last resort, decided to send a distinguished Minister Kaludai, Prince Siddhartha’s play-mate. Both of them were born on the same day. Kaludai agreed to undertake the “mission” on one condition, the king granting him permission to be a monk under Buddha. The king was so desperate, he agreed.

The “Mission operation” began. Kaludai and his delegation met Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. Arahat Kaludai, after spending about a week as a monk, conveyed the message of king, Suddodana, invitation to the Blessed one. By this time, Buddhas disciples swelled to over 20,000, out of which about 10,000 consisted were members of the Royalty Sakya Clan. Gautama Buddha accepted the invitation to his birth place, city of Kimbulwath and to meet his beloved father and kinsmen, friends.

The visits of Gautama Buddha to Kimbulwathnuwara took place on a Medin Full Moon Poya Day. Atmosphere was pleasant, lovely. The Royalty at the city of Kimbulwathpura, made elaborate arrangements to welcome their Great Son Siddhardha Gautama Buddha.

The Royalty, Ministers and other VIPs of the city were a proud lot. Those who were elder to Siddhartha Gautama were so proud, they decided to retrained from paying obeisance to Buddha and caused the younger ones to do the honours. The Blessed one, knowing the mentality of the Royalty and proud Sakyans, performed the Twin-fold Miracle - “Yamamaha Pelahera”. It is known as double miracle, where Buddha causes a stream of fire from one part of his Body and a stream of water from the other at one and the same time, together from His Eyes and Nostrils.

This was a unique occasion. Seeing this Miracle King Suddodana, worshiped his beloved son Siddhartha Gautama Buddha for the third time. The other princes, princesses, ministers, nobles, fell down on their knees worshiped the Blessed one. Later, Buddha expounded Vessanthara Jatakaya to the multitude.

On the following day, surrounded by the retinue of Bhikkus – monks, Gautama Buddha went from house to house, begging for alms.

The king Suddodana taken aback. He was very upset. He was depressed, met Buddha, and informed not to insult their “Sakyan Royal Clan”.

Buddha replied.

“Great King! Our clan is the “Buddha clan”. It is customary of Buddha clan to beg for food in this manner.” After listening to the brief sermon by Buddha, King Suddodana attained the “Path of Sakurudhagami – Once Returner, while Maha Prajapathi Gotami attained the “Path of Sovan”. While all these things were happening taking place Princess Yasodhara, wife of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, stayed in her palace. Buddha knew how devoted and pious Yasodhara.

The Blessed one paid a courtesy call with his father and met princess Yasodhara. It was a very sentimental and a moving scene. This great lady Yasodhara fell down at the feet of her husband, and cried. She clasped to his ankles, placing her head on his feet and worshiped Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. Buddha returned after partaking Alms at the majestic Royal Palace, where he grew up. Before Buddha left, he delivered a sermon relating to Sanda Kinduru Jataka Tale.

Later, Buddha gave his bowl to Prince Nanda, his step brother, heir to the throne, who was to be wedded on the following day. Prince Nanda accompanied Buddha to the Temple and he was ordained. This gave a shock – waves to Suddodana as well as to the entire kingdom.

On the seventh day of his arrival, Buddha again visited the Royal Palace with the retinue of the Sangha. At that time, Siddhartha Gautama Buddha’s only son, Prince Rahula was seven years old. Princess Yasodhara seen Siddhartha Gautama, recited the Narasheeha Gathas – where Pricness Yasodhara extolled the Physical characteristics and virtues of Siddhartha Gautama and requested his son, Rahula, to ask for the wealth that he should inherit from father, Gautama Buddha. It was a moving tale. Rahula followed his illustirous father, Greatest of all Men, Gautama Buddha, to the Temple. Buddha advised one of his chief disciples – Sariputta to ordained seven year Prince Rahula. His Uapadyaya – Advisory Teacher was Venerable Mahakassapa.

Now, King Suddodana has lost both Prince Nanda and his only grandson Rahula, and he was badly heart broken and depressed.

King Suddodana met Gautama Buddha and made a very special request.

“Most Veverable Gautama Buddha! For Parents, their children are their greatest assets. It’s their life blood. They are so attached to their children. They are like their two eyes. I appeal to you not ordain any child without the prior permission of their parents.” The Blessed One, Gautama Buddha was the Greatest Democrat the world have ever seen. He was never an Autocrat. He never swelled his Sasana by force or by Blood-shed. This great philosopher, religious Leader, very kindly accepted the reasonable request made by His Beloved Father king Suddodana and acceded to his father’s request. Gautama Buddha instructed and directed that in the future, no child should be ordained in the Sasana, without the prior permission, approval or consent of the parents. This principle is practised even today. This shows the great quality of humility professed by Buddha.


Gnati Sangahanang The grand occasion

Sakyamuni Siddhartha Gauthama, the fountain of love and compassion gifted the world the doctrine and the discipline to relive humanity from sansaric suffering. While lying on his death bed addressing the disciples he said “the doctrine and the discipline which I have set forth and laid down for you, let them after I have gone, be your teacher.”

(Parinibbana Sutta)

These sacred words convey the message of the Great Master indicating the path to liberation. This noble path, is referred to as the Eightfold path which Buddha in his first discourse mentioned it as the Middle Path. He wanted the entire humanity to be relieved of Dukka – the essence of truth realized by following the Middle Path.

Living in the palace amidst luxury and entertainment the Bosath knew by experience that enjoyment does not lead mankind to true happiness and liberation. Six years of rigorous mortification observed brought him no reward. It was a vain effort. Avoiding these two extremes he discovered the Middle Path and the bliss of Enlightenment dawned upon him. He realized the real truth underlying human existence. His doctrine and the message constituted the Dhamma. The gist of Buddhism.

His first sermon to the five ascetics at Isipathana - “Dhammachakka Pavaththana Sutta” meant the inauguration of the Dhamma achieved through his clear vision. After Enlightenment he could have led a life of ease and comfort, but the emancipation and the welfare of the people was preferred to his physical comforts. He therefore, walked the highways and byways throughout North India to propagate his doctrine.

Anxious Invitation

King Suddhodhana of Sakya dynasty occupying a unique place in the Royal cities had not been blessed with the opportunity of hearing Dhamma though majority in the area had already listened to the preachings of the Buddha. Unfortunately he had not seen his son for six years since renunciation and when he heard that the Buddha was at Weluwanarama while on his sansaric tour, the anxious king sent a Minister accompanied by thousand followers to invite him to Kimbulwathpura. As there was no response nine ministers were dispatched one after the other to invite him again.

The impatient king was disappointed as none of them returned to his kingdom after being blessed by the doctrine. The disappointed king in dismay turned to the Minister Kaludai who had been Prince Siddhartha’s playmate born on the same day and requested him to perform the great task which others had failed to fulfill. He did comply with the request on condition that he, be given permission to enter the order.

He too, set out with thousand followers and informed the Buddha of the honoured invitation saying “Oh, Lord of heroes, the time has come for you to visit the Sakyans coming down from Bhageeratha generation for their emancipation.” The Buddha with no hesitation started from Weluwanarama to Kimbulwath on Medin Full Moon Day. But the Sakyans with their false pride did not venerate him considering him to be junior to them. Then moved by the amazing performance of Yamaka Prathihara – the Twin Miracle, the king wordshipped Buddha at once followed by the ‘Sakyans’.

Sandakinduru Jathaka

Amidst the Sakyan crowd the absence of queen Yasodhara was a prominent factor which drew the Buddha to approach her and console her by narrating the sermon of the Sandakinduru Jathaka reflecting the devotion of a faithful wife. The grief stricken Yasodhara was praised for her exemplary behaviour and finally she attained Sothapanna.

The Buddha’s teaching of happiness is not meant to be experienced in an after life or in the next world only, but in this very life itself. Here the Buddha at Kimbulwathpura, made King Suddhodhana free from the worries and anxieties that tormented him. So was Queen Yasodhara and thereby “Gnati Sangahanang” was fully accomplished.


Buddhism to the fore

Despite being an Islamic country, Oman houses many non-Muslim institutes. Many Sri Lankans are employed in this country, enjoying the freedom to follow their respective religion and carry out various religious activities.

It has given them a motherland feel.

As Ajith, a Sri Lankan now settled in Oman, recounts, Buddhists have been living in Oman for 75 years. He is organizing a number of events to gather the Buddhists scattered around the country.

A Buddhist temple, located in Muscat, operates without a Buddhist monk. The authorities use the premises to celebrate important events in the Buddhist calendar such as Vesak and Poson. This is the only temple to be found in a Middle East country.

The temple, named as Sri Budhdha Jayanthi Viharaya Oman, located quite closer to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman. The temple has every feature a traditional temple must have: Bo tree, Dagoba, Budumedura, meditation hall, library and Dining. The temple can easily accommodate around 500 people. It was previously known as Dhammarama Vihara.

Friday is the second holiday in Oman. Buddhists visit the temple on most Fridays to carry out their religious activities. Laymen are willingly conducting their meditation programmes. Young Buddhists are also among this crowd. They hold Sil observation religious activities and meditation programmes too.

Sri Lankan Ambassador Girihagama and his wife Sudharma Girihagama always assist such religious activities and other social activities. On a special occasion, a few Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka will be invited too.

The ambassador is the patron of all these events with his residence available all the time for religious activities.

One of the chief devotees in Oman temple, Lakshman Piyasiri, told Daily News that Atavisi Buddha Pooja and Asu Maha Shrawaka Pooja will also be held in the near future. Buddha Pooja and Bodhi Pooja are held every poya day.

The temple is now 32 years. It was shifted to the current location eight years ago. According to archives, the Middle East has around 900,000 Buddhists. These Buddhists have migrated from Asia to the Middle East during the last 20 years. Many of them have come from the countries in which Buddhism is the majority religion: China, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. A small number of engineers, company directors, and managers from Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea have also moved to the Middle East.

Although the temple is run by Sri Lankans, many Buddhists from China, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan visit this temple to worship and perform other rituals.


The Buddha visits his relatives

When the Buddha visited Kapilavatthu for the first time after his Enlightenment he stayed at the Nigrodharama monastery. There he expounded the Dhamma to his relatives. King Suddhodana thought that the Buddha, being his own son, would not go anywhere, but would surely come to the palace for almsfood the next day; but he did not specifically invite the Buddha. However, the next day, he ordered almsfood to be prepared for him and his bhikkhus.

As there was no special invitation for almsgiving on that day, the Buddha and his bhikkhus went on their almsround. Before proceeding he considered within himself, ‘Did the Buddhas of the past, upon entering the city of their kinsfolk, straightaway enter the houses of the relatives, or did they go from house to house to receive alms?’ Perceiving that they did go from house to house, the Buddha went along the streets of Kapilavatthu seeking alms.

On hearing of this seemingly humiliating conduct of the Buddha from his daughter-in-law, Yasodhara, the King greatly perturbed, went to the Buddha and said, ‘Son, why do you ruin me? I am overwhelmed with shame to see you begging alms. Is it proper for you, who used to travel in a golden palanquin, to seek alms in this very city? Why do you put me to shame?’

Whereupon the Buddha replied, ‘O King, I am not putting you to shame. I am following the custom of my Buddha lineage. All previous Buddhas have lived by seeking alms.’

The King understood that this was the way of the Buddhas and accepted it.

The Buddha preached the blessings of monkhood and listening to that both Pajapathi Gothami and King Suddhodana attained Sotapanna stage.

Missing princess

The Buddha discovered his wife in his lay life Yasodhara was missing in the crowd. He came to know she is residing in the balcony, and he chose to go up himself to see her. Then he preached the Sandakinduru Jataka. Listening to the Buddha, Yasodhara developed an interest to become a nun. But the Buddha had other plans. So he wanted Yasodhara to wait a little.

It was a show of grandeur when the Buddha visited his hometown. Not only humans, but many types of deities had also visited to witness the arrival of the Buddha. The Conqueror preached the nature of the Buddhahood. He taught the importance of following percepts.

Pajapathi’s son Nanda and Yasodhara’s son Rahula became monks too during this eve. These two sons, especially his own grandson Rahula was much consolation for King Suddhodana in the absence of Prince Siddhartha. He became much crestfallen. So the Buddha issued an act not to make children monks without consent of their parents. He preached Dharmapala Jataka during this event, and the King became Anagami.

This was coordinated by Minister Kaludai. The Buddhas never visit their hometown without invitation. Kaludai, on the other hand, had done so much merits in previous existences so he could maintain good relationship among relatives.


How to reach a good existence !


Picture by Ishara S. KODIKARA. AFP

The Buddha in the Sattipattana Sutta, discoursed on the Five Hindrances of the Mind, which prevent you from achieving excellence. Out of these “neevarana”, Three have to be dealt with resolve, if you want to be successful in your day-to-day life.

The first to be tackled is doubt, which has to be dispelled. You must be extremely self-confident. It is also advisable to have confidence in your teachers, and the information that is imparted. Therefore it is important to choose the best school (in today’s context, the best tuition class !) to study in.

The next hindrance that must be removed from your mind is indecision. Once you have decided on a course of action, be it at school, at work, at a competition or at home, go for it with enthusiasm. Don’t be restless and half-hearted. The mind has to be trained to stay focused. The energy with which your task is tackled at the beginning, has to be sustained right up to the end. That is the Buddhist way of undertaking any kind of project.

The last of the hindrances for the purpose of reaching the top, is laziness. The mind is ever willing to be slothful ! So you have to be extremely alert, to take in the full picture. Otherwise nothing will be done successfully.

Therefore by training your mind to be confident, decisive and alert, it is guaranteed that you will reach the highest position; your heart’s desire. But that alone is not sufficient for total success. The Road to the Top if mishandled, leads to enemies and may even land you outside the Law !

To prevent yourself from taking short cuts and tramping rough shod on the way up, you should stay within certain parameters. By keeping the simple but all encompassing 5 Precepts (pansil), you can make the home-run to your goal without a fuss.

No one can point their finger at you, for you would have done nothing illegal, immoral, hurtful, thoughtless or underhand, if you have not killed (or caused to kill) anyone, stolen, two timed your partner, lied or been under the influence of drugs and intoxicants.

Your well trained and disciplined mind will bring you happiness, because now you can rest on your laurels, right at the Top of the Pile, without having to constantly look over your shoulder !!

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