Today’s show celebrates the birthday of the Worshipped Shakyamuni (Gautama) Buddha (vegan). We are pleased to present selections from the Pabbaggasutta and the Padhanasutta in the Mahavagga, which are part of the Sutta Nipata, translated in the book The Sutta Nipata by V. Fausböll.
MAHÂVAGGA PABBAGGÂSUTTA
“King Bimbisâra, feeling interested in Buddha, tries to tempt Him with wealth but is mildly rebuked by Buddha. I will praise an ascetic life such as the clearly-seeing (Buddha) led, such as he thinking (over it) approved of as an ascetic life. ‘This house-life is pain, the seat of impurity,’ and ‘an ascetic life is an open-air life,’ so considering he embraced an ascetic life. Leading an ascetic life, he avoided with his body sinful deeds, and having (also) abandoned sin in words, he cleansed his life.
Buddha went to Râgagaha, He entered the Giribbaga in Magadha for alms with a profusion of excellent signs. Bimbisâra, standing in His palace, saw Him, and seeing Him endowed with these signs, He spoke these words: ‘Attend ye to this man, He is handsome, great, clean, He is both endowed with good conduct, and He does not look before Him further than a yuga (the distance of a plough). With downcast eyes, thoughtful, this one is not like those of low caste; let the King’s messengers run off, (and ask): “Where is the Bhikkhu going?”’ The King’s messengers followed after (Him, and said): ‘Where is the Bhikkhu going, where will He reside? Going begging from house to house, watching the door (of the senses), well restrained, He quickly filled His bowl, conscious, thoughtful. Wandering about in search of alms, having gone out of town, the Muni repaired to (the mountain) Pandava; it must be there He lives.’
Seeing He had that entered His dwelling, the messengers then sat down, and one messenger, having returned, announced it to the King. ‘This Bhikkhu, O great King, is sitting on the east side of Pandava, like a tiger, like a bull, like a lion in a mountain cave.’ Having heard the messenger’s words, the Khattiya, in a fine chariot hastening, went out to the Pandava mountain. Having gone as far as the ground was practicable for a chariot, the Khattiya, after alighting from the chariot, and approaching on foot, having come up (to Him), seated Himself.
Having sat down, the King then exchanged the usual ceremonious greetings with Him, and after the complimentary talk, He spoke these words: ‘Thou are both young and delicate, a lad in His first youth, possessed of a fine complexion, like a high-born Khattiya. I will ornament the army-house, and at the head of the assembly of chiefs (nâga) give (Thee) wealth; enjoy it and tell me Thy birth, when asked.’
Buddha: ‘Just beside Himavanta, O King, there lives a people endowed with the power of wealth, the inhabitants of Kosala. They are Âdikkas by family, Sâkiyas by birth; from that family, I have wandered out, not longing for sensual pleasures. Seeing misery in sensual pleasures and considering the forsaking of the world as happiness, I will go and exert myself; in this, my mind delights.’ Pabbaggâsutta is ended.”
PADHÂNASUTTA
“Mâra tries to tempt Buddha but, disappointed, is obliged to withdraw. To me, whose mind was intent upon exertion near the river Nerañgarâ, having exerted myself, and given myself to meditation for the sake of acquiring Nibbâna (yogakkhema), Came Namuki [Buddha] speaking words full of compassion: ‘Thou are lean, ill-favored, death is in thy neighborhood. A thousand part of thee (is the property) of death, (only) one part (belongs to) life; living life, O thou venerable one, is better; living thou will be able to do good works. When thou live a religious life, and feed the sacrificial fire, manifold good works are woven to thee […].’”
