Daily Mirror - Print Edition

Sublime path towards self-realization

13 Sep 2019 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

 

 

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma-Sambuddhassa!

Sakyamuni Tathagata Gautama is the Buddha of this era.  Gautama Buddha is a unique and radiant personality who appeared in this World 2643 years ago.

The appearance of a Buddha, in the world is one of the most rare and significant occasions.  To attain this supreme status a “Bodhisatva” (a Buddhahood), engages in untold efforts and innumerous meritorious sacrifices during the unaccountable life cycles, during the Sansarik journey. 
A glimpse of such experience is evident through the “550 Jataka stories”, relating the past births of Gautama Buddha.
The Buddha’s of the past, in the present or in the future teaches the same Golden principle.  
They appear to awaken the dormant minds of millions of human and divine beings to attain the Supreme bliss Nibbana.
Most scientifically the Buddha’s doctrine explains the unfailing guidelines to eradicate eternal suffering of life all beings. 
The Buddha declared that all beings are subjected to suffering during their long Sansarik journey.
The maiden words the Buddha uttered on the day of his Enlightenment in his bliss and in Paean of Joy was the “Udana Vakya”.

“Anekajati Sansaram Sandhavissam Anivvisam” 

Gahakarakam Gavesanto Dukkha Jati Punuppunam 
Gaha Karaka Ditto’si Punageham Na Kahasi
Sabba te Phasuka Baggha Gahakutam Visamkhitam 
Visamkharagatam Cittam Tanharam Khayam Ajjaga
“Through many a birth in existence wondered I. 
Seeking but not finding, builder of this house. 
Sorrowful is repeated birth.   
O house builder thou art seen.  
Thou shall build no house again. 
All thy rafters are broken thy ridge-pole is shattered.  
Mind attains the unconditioned, achieved is the end of craving!”


The Buddha declared that beings are subjected to suffering during their long “Sansarik journey” and are “All in all flames”.
A true devotee or an Arya disciple takes refuge in the sublime Dhamma.  The Buddha declared “one thing only, does the Buddha teach, namely, suffering and cessation of suffering”.  One can achieve defilement or ceasation of suffering by self practice of “Sila, Samadhi, Panna”.    
This doctrine of reality the Buddha explained “Oh monks! the mighty ocean is of one flavour, the flavour of salt, even so, oh monks this Dhamma is of one flavour, the flavour of deliverance (Vimukthi), ‘úuqla;s’ which means Buddha Dhamma is the principle which upholds and sustains one to act in conformity with its principles and thus prevent one from falling in woeful states.  Due to the ignorance of the four Nobel Truths.  The Buddha has very clearly explained in ‘Patticcasamupada’, the process of dependent origination.
Whether the Tathagatas appear or not, oh Bikkhus, it remains a fact, an established principle a natural law that all conditioned things are transient (Anicca), sorrowful (Dukkha), and that everything is soulless (Anatta).

 

 

"Most scientifically the Buddha’s doctrine explains the unfailing guidelines to eradicate eternal suffering of life all beings"


Time and again Buddha, the Enlightened One! appears to reveal this reality which remains ignored by the ignorant or unconditioned eyes and minds.
The Buddha exhorts that the sublime Dhamma, is not something apart from oneself.  It is purely dependent on oneself and is to be realized by oneself 
“Attadipa Viharatha Attapattisarana” (Abide with one self as an Island)   
“Dhammadipa Viharatha, Dhamma Patissarana “(Abide with the Dhamma as refuge.  Seek not for external refuge).”  By one alone is evil done, By one also done is one defiled, By one alone is evil avoided.
According to the Buddha’s 2nd discourse, He adviced  to “Seek Thyself” meaning to “Look within thyself”.

Truth

On realizing the Truth of the doctrine of reality mindfully, one gets distant and disgusted with factors involving Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue, and contact (stimuli).
The eye, the form of eye, the eye consciousness, the eye contact, whatever feeling either pleasurable painful or neither pleasurable non painful that arises from contact with the eye.
He gets disgusted with the ear (sounds), nose (odeure), tongue (taste), body, contact mind, mind mental objects, mind consciousness, mind contacts, whatever feeling (pleasurable, painful or otherwise) that arises from contact with the mind.
Thereupon one gets detached with such detachment he is delivered he realizes that birth is ended, lived the Arya life, done what should be done and that there is no more of this self or state again.  
Upon Enlightenment the Exalted One analyzed how the theory of Cause and Effect (Dependent Arising – Paticca Samuppada), the beings are led to continuous suffering in life and its origination step by step.  He also reflected the same process in reversible order explaining how this whole mass of suffering be eradicated (cessation). 

01. Dependent on ignorance arise (Avijja) moral and immoral conditioning activities (Sankara).
02. Depending on Conditioning Activities arise consciousness (Vinnana).
03. Depending on consciousness arise mind and matter (Nama – Rupa).
04. Dependent on mind and matter arise the Six Spheres of Sense (Salayathan).
05. Dependent on Six Spheres of Sense arise Contact (Passa).
06. Depending on Contact arises Feeling (Vedana).
07. Dependent on Feeling arise Craving (Tanha).
08. Dependent on Craving arise Grasping (Upadana).
09. Dependent on Grasping arise Becoming (Bhava).
10. Dependent on Becoming arise Birth (Jati).
11. Depending on Birth arise Decay (Jara), death (Marana), sorrow (Soka), lamentation (Parideva),  pain (Dukkha), grief (Domanssa), despair (Upadyava).

If the ‘Cause’ exists the ‘Effect’ too exists.  If the Cause does not exist there won’t be Effect.  Therefore in order to Cease Effect Cause has to be eradicated.  Accordingly with the ceasation of ignorance, conditioning activities cease. 

  • With the ceasation of conditioning activities (Relinting) consciousness (Vinnana) cease. 
  • With the ceasation of consciences mind and matter cease.  
  • With the ceasation of mind and matter six spheres of sense cease.
  • With the ceasation of six spheres contact cease. 
  • With the ceasation of contact feeling ceases.  
  • With the ceasation of feeling, craving ceases. 
  • With the ceasation of craving grasping ceases. 
  • With the ceasation of grasping becoming ceases. 
  • With the ceasation of becoming birth ceases.  
  • With the Ceasation of Birth, decay death sorrow, lamentation pain, grief and despair cease.

There upon no more ‘cause and effect.’  This means the end of life cycle.  In the absence of Disappearance and Reappearance of life process is the attainment of Sublime State.    
In life thoughts, speech and action generate “Kamma”
The person who observes the five precepts abstinence from killing, stealing, illicit sexual indulgence, speech such as falsehood obscene expressions, abuse and gossip, from partaking alcohol, narcotics etc. are mastering the three factors which are right livehood, right speech, right actions, it is the stepping stone to Nibbana.  
In the whole universe the highest treasure is the Nobel Triple gem.  The Ratana Sutta explains that “Yan kinchi vittam idha va huramva suggesu va yam Ratanum panitam na no saman atthi tathagathena”  Nothing anywhere, in any World, equals in greatness to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.  
To a Buddhist there is no other worshipful object human or divine source to take refuge.  Any foolish attempt to gain eulogy outside the Sublime pathway only reduces such a person to the level of a religious outcast, literally a pariah (Upasaka Candala).  
Secretly springing up artificial Brahmin Organizations make sugar coated promises to meet demands of anybody from any faith.  
Such, indeed, is that Blessed One: Exalted, Omniscient, Endowed with knowledge and virtue, Auspicious, Knower of worlds, a Guide incomparable for the training of individuals, Teacher of gods and men, Enlightened, and Supreme. 

 

 

Homage to the Enlightened One !
The Buddhas of the ages past,                                                                                                         
The Buddhas that are to appear in future,
The Buddhas of the present age,
Most worshipfully I adore every day.
No other Refuge do I seek 
Buddha is my unique Refuge;
By might of these truthful words,
May joyous victory be mine! 
With my brow I humbly venerate,
The blest dust on His Sacred Feet;
If Buddha I have wronged in aught, 
May I not do it e’er again.
To life’s end, my Refuge is the Buddha.   


Well-expounded is the Dhamma (Doctrine) by the Blessed One, to be self-realized, with immediate fruit, to be but approached to be seen, capable of being entered upon, to be attained by the wise, each for himself.  
Homage to that Dhamma (Doctrine) which leads to final Emancipation! 

 

 

The Dhammas of the ages past,
The Dhammas that are yet to come, 
The Dhammas of the present age,
Most worshipfully, I, each day, adore!
No other Refuge do I seek,
Dhamma is my unique Refuge;
By might of these truthful words,
May joyous victory be mine!
With my brow, I humbly venerate 
The Dhamma threefold and supreme,
If Dhamma I have wronged in aught 
May Dhamma’s acquittance be mine!


 To life’s end, my Refuge is the Dhamma. 
Of good conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One, of upright conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One.  This Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One – namely, these worthy of offerings, is worthy of hospitality, is worthy of gifts, is worthy of reverential salutation, is an incomparable field of merit to the world. 
Homage to that Great Order which is constituted of Eight Noble Individuals.  

 

 

The Sanghas of the ages past,
The Sanghas that are yet to come,
The Sanghas of the present age,
Most worshipfully, I, each day, adore!
No other Refuge do I seek, 
Sangha is my unique Refuge,
By might of these truthful words,
May joyous victory be mine ! 
With my brow, I humbly worship, 
The Sangha triply unrivalled,
If Sangha I have wronged in aught 
May Sangha forgive me such ill!


To life’s end, my Refuge is the Sangha.

(The article is based on facts gathered from the texts of noted authors Ven Narada, Ven Kassapa, Ven K. Dhammananda, Rhys Davids Dr Ambedkar, Alex Robertson etc.

Buddhists are taught that if cause does not exist there won’t be effect