The Mirror of the Dhamma (Dhamma Dasa)
During the last days before Parinibbana (80th year of the
Lord Buddha, as mentioned in the Maha Parinibbana Sutta in Digha Nikaya ), when
the Blessed One was staying at Kotigama and one day he spoke to the Venerable
Ananda, saying: "Come, Ananda, let us go to Nadika." "So be it,
Lord." ,Ven Ananda replied and on visit the Blessed One took up his abode
in Nadika together with a large community of bhikkhus, staying in the Brick
House.
Then the Venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One and,
after greeting him respectfully, sat down at one side. And he said to the
Blessed One: "Here in Nadika, Lord, there have passed away the bhikkhu
Salha and the bhikkhuni Nanda. Likewise there have passed away the layman
Sudatta and the lay woman Sujata; likewise the layman Kakudha, Kalinga, Nikata,
Katissabha, Tuttha, Santuttha, Bhadda, and Subhadda. What is their destiny, Lord?
What is their future state?"
"The bhikkhu Salha, Ananda, through the destruction of
the taints in this very lifetime has attained to the taint-free deliverance of
mind (Arahantship) and deliverance through wisdom, having directly known and
realized it by himself. "The bhikkhuni Nanda, Ananda, through the
destruction of the five lower fetters (that bind beings to the world of the
senses), has arisen spontaneously (among the Suddhavasa deities) and will come
to final cessation in that very place, not liable to return from that world (Anagami).
"The layman Sudatta, Ananda, through the destruction of the three fetters
(self-belief, doubt, and faith in the efficacy of rituals and observances), and
the lessening of lust, hatred, and delusion, has become a once-returner
(Sakudagami) and is bound to make an end of suffering after having returned but
once more to this world. "The lay woman Sujata, Ananda, through the
destruction of the three fetters has become a stream enterer(Sotapanna), and is
safe from falling into the states of misery, assured, and bound for
Enlightenment. "The layman Kakudha, Ananda, through the destruction of the
five lower fetters (that bind beings to the world of the Senses), has arisen
spontaneously (among the Suddhavasa deities), and will come to final cessation
in that very place, not liable to return from that world. "So it is with
Kalinga, Nikata, Katissabha, Tuttha, Santuttha, Bhadda, and Subhadda, and with
more than fifty laymen in Nadika. More than ninety laymen who have passed away
in Nadika, Ananda, through the destruction of the three fetters, and the
lessening of lust, hatred, and delusion, have become once-returners and are
bound to make an end of suffering after having returned but once more to this
world. "More than five hundred laymen who have passed away in Nadika,
Ananda, through the complete destruction of the three fetters have become
stream-enterers, and are safe from falling into the states of misery, assured,
and bound for Enlightenment.
"But truly, Ananda, it is nothing strange that human
beings should die. But if each time it happens you should come to the Tathagata
and ask about them in this manner, indeed it would be troublesome to him.
Therefore, Ananda, I will give you the teaching called the Mirror of the
Dhamma, possessing which the noble disciple, should he so desire, can declare
of himself: 'There is no more rebirth for me in hell, nor as an animal or
ghost, nor in any realm of woe. A stream-enterer am I, safe from falling into
the states of misery, assured am I and bound for Enlightenment.'"
"And what, Ananda, is that teaching called the Mirror
of Dhamma, possessing which the noble disciple may thus declare of himself?
1. "In this case, Ananda, the noble disciple possesses
unwavering faith in the Buddha thus: 'The Blessed One is an Arahant, the Fully
Enlightened One, perfect in knowledge andconduct, the Happy One, the knower of
the world, the paramount trainer of beings, the teacher of gods and men, the
Enlightened One, the Blessed One.'
2. "He possesses unwavering faith in the Dhamma thus:
'Well propounded by the Blessed One is the Dhamma, evident, timeless, inviting
investigation, leading to emancipation, to be comprehended by the wise, each
for himself.'
3. "He possesses unwavering faith in the Blessed One's Order
of Disciples thus: 'Well faring is the Blessed One's Order of Disciples,
righteously, wisely, and dutifully: that is to say, the four pairs of men, the
eight classes of persons. The Blessed One's Order of Disciples is worthy of
honor, of hospitality, of offerings, of veneration — the supreme field for
meritorious deeds in the world.'
4. "And he possesses virtues that are dear to the Noble
Ones, complete and perfect, spotless and pure, which are liberating, praised by
the wise, uninfluenced (by worldly concerns), and favorable to concentration of
mind.
"This, Ananda, is the teaching called the Mirror of the
Dhamma, whereby the noble disciple may thus know of himself: 'There is no more
rebirth for me in hell, nor as an animal or ghost, nor in any realm of woe. A
stream-enterer am I, safe from falling into the states of misery, assured am I
and bound for Enlightenment.'"
Note: The Mirror of Dhamma denote a way to self learn about
whether an individual is a stream winner (Sotapanna) or not. In other words,
those four Dhammas are the characteristics of Sotapanna Individual (Stream
winner).
May all beings be well and happy & attain the fruits of
Nibbaba.
Suranda Weediyage
BA, Tripitakachariya, Dip in Pali/ Buddhism (Pali & Buddhist University of Sri Lanka), HNDBF,
surandalk@gmail.com
http://www.thebuddhadhamma.wordpress.com
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