09. Meditation - Ven Udairiyagama Dhammajeewa Thero - Upekka Sambojjanga 01

DHARMA DESHANA - 59 Most Ven.Wattegama Dhammawasa Nayaka Thero, VERIYA PARAMITHAWA

THE FOUR SUPREME ACQUISITIONS

                THE FOUR SUPREME ACQUISITIONS

“Arogyaparama labha santhutthiparamam danam

Vissasaparama nati nibbanam paramam sukham.” 

"Health’s the greatest gain,

Contentment, best of wealth

Trusting’s best of kin,

Nibbana bliss supreme."

The Story of King Pasenadi of Kosala (Dhammapada Verse – 204)

While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to king Pasenadi of Kosala. 

For at a certain period of his life King Pasenadi Kosala used to eat boiled rice cooked by the bucketful, and sauce and curry in proportion. One day after he had eaten his breakfast, unable to shake off the drowsiness occasioned by over eating, he went to see the Buddha and paced back and forth before him with a very weary appearance. Overcome with a desire to sleep, but not wanting to lie down and stretch him-self out, he sat down on one side.

Thereupon the Buddha said to him, “did you come, great King, before you were well rested?” “Oh no, Venerable, but I always suffer greatly after eating a meal.” “Then said the Buddha to him, “Great King, over - eating brings much suffering.” So saying, the Buddha gave the following stanza:

If a man gives a way to indolence, eats much, spends his time in sleep, and lies and rolls about like a great hog fed on grain, such a simpleton will endlessly be reborn.” After admonishing the king with this stanza, the Buddha continued, “Great King, one ought to observe moderation of eating, for in moderate eating there is comfort. And admonishing him further, the Buddha gave the following stanza:

“If a man be ever mindful, if he observe in moderation in taking food, his suffering will be but slight; he will grow old slowly, preserving his life.” The King was unable to memorize this stanza. So the Buddha said to the Kin’s nephew, Prince Sudassana, who stood near, “Memorize this stanza.” Sudhassana asked the Buddha, “Venerable, after I have memorised this stanza, what shall I do with it?” The Buddha replied, “When the king eats his meal, just as he about to take the last lump of boiled rice, you must recite this stanza. The King will understand its purport and will immediately throw a way that lump of rice. When it is time to boil the rice for the King’s next meal, you must fetch just as many grains of fresh rice as there  and grains of boiled rice in that lump rice.”

“Very well, Venerable, “replied Sudassana. So both evening and morning, when the King eats his meal, his nephew would recite the stanza just as the King was about to take the last lump of boiled rice, and would fetch for his next meal just as many grains of fresh rice as there were grains of boiled rice in the lump of boiled rice which the King had thrown away. And every time the King heard that stanza recited, he gave away a thousand pieces of money in alms. The King contented himself with a pint-pot of boiled rice a day, never exceeding that amount. After a time he became cheerful and lean.

One day the King went to pay his respects to the Buddha and having saluted the Buddha, said to him, “Venerable, now I am happy. Once   more I am able to follow the chase and to catch with beasts and horses. I used to quarrel with my nephew. But recently, however, I gave my nephew my daughter, the Princess Vajira, to wife. I have given her this village, that she may have a pool wherein to bathe. My quarrels with my nephew have ceased, and for this reason also I am happy. The other day a precious stone, the property of royal household was lost; this has but recently returned to my hand, and for this reason also I am happy.” 

“The Buddha replied, Great King, health is the greatest blessing  one can ask for, contentment with whatever one has received is the greatest wealth, confidence the best relative. But there is no happiness that can be 

compared with Nibbana.”

Of acquisitions, good health is the foremost. Of wealth, the greatest is peace of mind. Of kinsmen, the trustworthy are the Supremes’. The highest bliss is Nibbana.

 

   Vissa parama natti:

The trustworthy are the greatest relatives. Relatives are generally the most trusted. Relationship stands in the foundation of trust. The traditional commentary has this to say:

“Mata va hotu pita va tena saddhim vissaso natthi, yena annatakena pana saddhim vissaso atthi so asambandhopi paromo uttmo nati.”

 “if one has no trust even in one’s mother, father or other relatives, they are not relatives in reality. But on the other hand, if one can  place one’s trust in someone who may not be related, he is truly a great relation. Trust implies agreement, intimacy, and confident. As it is difficult at times to fathom the motives of some people and, as some are vicious, trust place in those types of person – whether related or unrelated – is likely to bring about evil results on one. This way it is difficult to come upon a person who could be implicitly trusted. Good results ensure from true and genuine trust. There are three things that are conducive to one’s downfall.:

“Loba paramada visvasana purusho nashayate thribhi: tasma lobo nakartavyam pramado navishvaset.” 

The three things that bring about man’s downfall are miserliness, slothfulness and wrong trust.

THE BUDDHA'S GREAT DISCIPLE, UPPALAWANNA MAHA ARAHAT THERI

THE STORY OF VENERABLE UPPALAWANNA MAHA ARAHAT THERI

The Story of Arahat Uppalawanna Maha Theri

(One of The Buddha’s Two Chief Female Disciples)

Dhammapada Verse 401

“Like water on a lotus leaf, or mustard seed on needle point,

Who so clings not to sensual things, that one I call a Brahmin True.”

This religious instruction was given by the Buddha while the Buddha was in residence at Jetawana with reference to Arahat Bhikkhuni Uppalawanna. The story has been related at length in the Commentary beginning with the words, ”As sweet as honey thinks a fool an evil deed,” For it is there said: 

When the Arahat Bhikkhuni Uppalawanna was raped by a kinsman of hers the monks began wondering whether Arahats are susceptible to sensual pleasures. It was said, “To be sure those that have rid themselves of the depravities gratify their passions. Why should they not? For they are not Kolapa trees or ant-hills, but are living creatures with bodies of moist flesh. Therefore they also like the pleasures of love.” 

At that moment the Buddha drew near and after hearing this the Buddha said,” No monks, they that have rid themselves of the depravities neither like the pleasures of love nor gratify their passions. For even as a drop of water which has fallen upon a lotus-leaf does not cling thereto or remain thereon, but rolls over and falls off, even as a grain of mustard- seed does not cling to the point of a needle or remain thereon, but rolls over and falls off, precisely so two- fold love clings not to the heart of one that has rid himself /herself of the depravities or remain there.” And Buddha, joining the connection, preached the Dhamma with the above stanza.

The Story of Arahat Uppalawanna Maha Theri

Uppalawanna, the other Chief disciple of the Buddha, was a very beautiful young Princess.  She was named after the “blue lotus” flower—Uppala - Vanna, Uppalawanna, because of her beautiful complexion. 

Uppalawanna was born in a wealthy family and when she came of age, proposals for marriage came from all quarters. Many princes were interested in marrying her and came to take her hand. But the parents found it too difficult to decide on which one. The harassed father did not wish to offend any suitor by a refusal.  To the father, ordination in the Noble Sangha was the only solution. They, with the consent of Uthpalawanna, decided to ordain her as a nun. The daughter, true to her destiny, agreed.  She became the highest Bikkuni amongst all who perform Miracles using the astral body. 

Upon being ordained, she was kept in charge of the convocation room where the nuns assembled for the confession of lapses. She had to tend the lamps. She observed that the light was sustained by the wick and the oil. Sometimes, the light goes out by going short of either or by a gust of wind. So life was due to karmic force. This kept her thinking till she became an Arahat. She remembered her former past lives.

It was while living alone in a forest, a young shepherd named Nanda, kinsman of hers, got infatuated with her and committed a sexual offence as soon as she returned from a round of alms. Coming from the noon day glare to the dark cave where her abode was, she could not see hence, she was taken by surprise despite her protests. He committed the dire deed and was immediately born in the hell (niraya) when the earth yawned and swallowed the foolish young man. He was however, dead before the yawning of the earth.

It was after this incident the Blessed One prohibited the female disciples of the Noble Sanga to live in isolation in the forest.

Not long afterwards, the Buddha addressing the monks, declared Arahat Uppalawanna  Maha Theri,  foremost for psychic power who performs miracles using the astral body.

as Venerable Maha Moggallana was among the Maha Arahats.

  

Just as the Buddha had appointed two chief disciples in the order of monks, Venerable Maha Arahat  Sariputta Thero and  Venerable Maha Arahat Moggallana Thero, Buddha likewise named  two women his foremost disciples in the Bhikkhuni Sanga, the order of nuns. These  two were the  Bhikkhunis, Venerable Uppalawanna Maha Arhat Theri and Venerable Maha  Arahat  Khema Theri the former excelling in psychic power, the latter in wisdom (AN1, chap14). 

The Buddha has held up these two as the models and examples for all the nuns to emulate, the standard against which other nuns could evaluate themselves. (SN17:24)