Cultivating the good
Ceasing to do evil, Cultivating the good, Purifying the heart: This is the teaching of the Buddhas. ~The Buddha
Ceasing to do evil, Cultivating the good, Purifying the heart: This is the teaching of the Buddhas. ~The Buddha
9. The future Buddha cutting his hair to become a monk
The Future Buddha who left the city at midnight on his Great Renunciation came to the bank of the Anoma (Illustrious) River at day-break. He gave the signal to his horse with his heel, and the horse sprang over the river, which had a breadth of eight usabhas (an usabha is 140 cubits or 210 feet), and landed on the opposite bank. He handed over to Channa his ornaments and the horse, Kanthaka, and asked him to go back home with them. He then cut his hair with the sword on the sandy beach of the Anoma.
Then the Future Buddha seized hold of his top-knot and threw it into the air, saying— “If I am to become a Buddha, let it stay in the sky; but if not, let it fall to the ground”. And Sakka, the King of the gods, received it in a golden casket, and established it in the Heaven of the Thirty-three Gods as the Culamani Ceti (Shrine of the Diadem). After that, the Future Buddha put on the robes, the symbol of asceticism, brought by the Maha-Brahma god, Ghatikara, and became an ascetic. His garments, made of Benares cloth, were taken away by Ghatikara, and established in the realm of the higher gods as the “Dussa Shrine”.
THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF BUDDHISM
by ASHIN JANAKA BHIVAMSA (Aggamahapandita)
Artist: U Ba Kyi | Link to this post
Meditation students in master Toum Vachana’s class
8. Mara, the evil one, persuading the future Buddha to turn back on the point of his departure from the city
Coming away from Yasodhara’s chamber, the Future Buddha descended from the palace and rode on the mighty steed, Kanthaka, already saddled and bridled for the journey, with Channa holding on by the tail. He issued forth on the Great Renunciation and arrived at midnight at the great gate of the city. At this moment came Mara, the Evil One, with the intention of persuading the Future Buddha to turn back; and standing in the air, he said, “Sir, go not forth! On the seventh day from now the Wheel Treasure will appear to you. Sir, turn back!”
The Future Buddha replied as follows: “Mara, I know that the Wheel Treasure was on the point of appearing to me ; but I do not wish for sovereignty. My sole desire is to become a Buddha and save the world of gods and men”. He then departed from the city in great splendor surrounded by higher and lower deities on all sides, the divinity that guarded the city-gate having opened it for them.
THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF BUDDHISM
by ASHIN JANAKA BHIVAMSA (Aggamahapandita)
Artist: U Ba Kyi | Link to this post
Great compassion makes a peaceful heart. A peaceful heart makes a peaceful person. A peaceful person makes a peaceful family. A peaceful family makes a peaceful community. A peaceful community makes a peaceful nation. A peaceful nation makes a peaceful world. ― Maha Ghosananda
លោកយាយ រីណា អាយុ៧៩ឆ្នាំ រស់នៅភូមិព្រែកតាច្រែង ឃុំព្រែកនរិន្ទ ស្រុកឯកភ្នំ ខេត្តបាត់ដំបង. Source: Seangmeng Kpt