Teacher incomparable

Ven Horowpothane Sathindriya Thera

"Monks, there is one person who arises in the world for the welfare of the multitude, for the happiness of multitude, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare and happiness of devas and humans. Who is that one person? It is Tathagata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One. This is that person''

"Monks, there is one person arising in the world who is unique, without a peer, without counterpart, incomparable, unequalled, matchless, unrivalled, the best of humans. Who is that one person? It is the Tathagata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, This is that one person.'' "Monks, the manifestation of one person is the manifestation of great vision, of great light, of great radiance; it is the manifestation of the six things unsurpassed; the realization of the four analytical knowledges; the penetration of the various elements, of the diversity of elements; it is the realization of the fruit of knowledge and liberation; therealization of the fruits of stream-entry, once-returning, non-returning, and arahantship. Who is that one person? It is the Tathagata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One. This is that one person."
(Anguttara Nikaya)

Twenty Six Centuries ago an unprecedented and memorable epoch was dawn in the globe with the Perfect Enlightenment of Siddhartha Gotama Buddha. We are so fortunate to commemorate and remember this remarkable event in our life time as human beings as well as followers of the great master, the Gotama Buddha.

Royal family

This is the 2602nd anniversary of the Gotama Buddha's Full Enlightenment. 2637 years ago as a prince he was born into a royal family. He was named Siddhartha and was raised in luxury.

Though the environment and ecological atmosphere is very poor and arid in this New Millennium, both socially and environmentally the era which the Buddha lived was very rich and prosperous in India.

Though his beloved father, king Suddhodana was extremely careful and exceptionally circumspect to avert and preclude him from encountering the reality and the true nature of things, his pre-destined wholesome karmic - spiritual energy acquired for aeons and aeons, opened the crystal clear path to understand and perceive the true characteristics of the inner world and the outer world.

Prince Siddhartha in the prime of his youth, he comfortably left and simply renounced all wealth, treasures and facilities which ordinary people desirously pursue to multiply and accumulate with insatiable desire and voracity.

Remarkable and significant

The perseverance and the firm resolution he made, is indescribable and inexplicable that he persistently maintained and continued till his remarkable and significant goal was accomplished.

At the age of thirty five, at the climax of his spiritual growth and advancement, he became a Buddha, Awakened One by eradicating all defilements and mental impurities which continuously and enormously make us suffer and also pave the way to be reborn in another dreadful destination and catastrophic realm.

He is the only Master who revealed, pointed out and underscored the danger of defiled mind and the perils of samsara - the cycle of birth and death. The Buddha wandered from town to town in the Ganges plain, instructing his monks and nuns, giving sermons to the various householders who flocked to hear him speak, answering questions of curious inquirers, and engaging in discussions with people from all classes of society.

The Blessed One's remarkable Dhamma Mission offered an extraordinary and matchless treasure to people who sought his guidance in the past and people who seek his guidance in the present, as well in the future. He addressed different individuals and groups of people over a period of more than forty five years.

Technologically advanced

His incomparable and unsurpassed teachings are always fresh and compatible. Although the modern science and technology are exceedingly advanced and extremely flourished, unfortunately there is no any therapy or remedy for mental agony and many problems as well as the complex conditions of human life in our globalized society. Even though it is twenty six centuries old, teachings of the Gotama Buddha have numerously taught and prescribed many facts and principles that any scientific progress and technological advancement can not challenge.

The Buddha has perfectly emphasised the ability and the capability of human mind which certainly could be trained, tamed and developed up to Buddhahood - Full Enlightenment.

As a human being, a seeker of Perfect Enlightenment, the Bodhisatta, physically and mentally met and experienced innumerable challenges, impediments and hindrances, as well as eight vicissitudes of human life which today we unavoidably meet and inextricably experience.

Perseverance, effort, perfect letting-go, determination, mindfulness, clear-comprehension, many other spiritual energies and constant practice of accumulation of wholesome energy and vivacity are the crucial and key spiritual factors that he enthusiastically cultivated and developed.

Clear emphasis

He is the only Master who guided others to examine and scrutinize one's own mind. He is the only teacher who asked and encouraged others to enquire, investigate and inspect his own words impeccably uttered and profoundly expounded for four and a half decades without any condition and proviso.

The Blessed One openly and clearly emphasised others not to accept his teaching without doubt and sceptical viewpoint.

Not only his personal distinctive characteristics and worthy qualities but also the marvellous qualities and astounding characteristics of his teaching are incomparable and paramount. This wonderful teaching is always beyond modern science, modern psychology and nano-technology. The Supreme Master never uttered a single word to condemn or let down any being. And furthermore he did not even encourage anyone to hurt or harm anybody in the name of his teachings or personal salvation.

By encouraging others to be virtuous and highly appreciating the value of moral discipline, the Buddha led and persuaded humans to make a very free and fair environment for others to live without fear, danger or conflict.

The Fully Enlightened One's profound words are endowed with true nature ofinner peace and innermost tranquillity.

Spiritual goal

The Great Teacher taught others to avoid the two extremes which ordinary people desire to follow and that many unwisely have pursued to achieve their spiritual goal. He compassionately taught and encouraged all to follow the Noble Eightfold Path, the middle way - the ancient path of the Buddha which securely and directly guides everyone to achieve the innermost peace - Nibbana.

"Monks, these two extremes should not be followed by one who has gone forth into homelessness. What two? The pursuit of sensual happiness in sensual pleasures, which is low, vulgar, the way of worldlings, ignoble, unbeneficial; and the pursuit of self-mortification, which is painful, ignoble, unbeneficial. Without veering towards either of these two extremes, the Tathagata has awakened to the middle way, which gives rise tovision, which gives rise to knowledge, and leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbana.

" and what monks, is that middle way awakened to by the Tathagata? It is this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This monks, is that middle way awakened to by the Tathagata, which gives rise to vision, which gives rise to knowledge, and leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbana.Ó(Samyutta Nikaya)

Commemoration and celebration of 2602nd anniversary of the Gotama Buddha's enlightenment is unique and commendable. As we know, all Buddhists in the globe perform various religious activities along with rites and rituals in the name of commemoration. But we should not forget the great master's compassionate advice. We should commemorate this unique event by honestly practising and genuinely cultivating inner qualities that unfortunately have eroded from the hearts of many in our human society today.

I hope, at least intellectuals, scholars and some other wise members in our human family may reflect upon the essence of the teaching of the Buddha and his pragmatic advices which certainly direct and assuredly lead us to cleanse and purify the impurities and tendencies of the mind to become true followers and sincere disciples of the Supreme Master, the Buddha.

Blind following

Nowadays, spiritually blind and short sighted followers and pseudo Buddhists have unwisely infatuated and obsessed with modified personal viewpoints of various preachers.

This is the horrendous threat and danger. The significance and meaningfulness of perfect enlightenment and other spiritual achievements are being degraded and disparaged by some preachers who blindly guide people to become enlighteninstantly and quickly. Unfortunately, the name of the Gotama Buddha and His great teaching have been dramatically changed and drastically modified into commercial acquisition for their own material sake and personal interest. This incomparable teacher's supreme advice was not to commit unwholesome deeds, to cultivate and develop wholesome deeds and cleanse one's own mind.

"He who is friendly amidst the hostile, peaceful amidst the violent, and unattached amidst the attached - him do I call a holy man." (Dhammapada)