The described appearance and true nature of the Gauthama Buddha from Tripitaka (original pali cannon )

Once a prominent Brahmin named Sela with the three hundred young men approached the Blessed One and exchanged friendly greetings, sat on a side, and examined the thirty two marks of a Great Man, and praised the Blessed One by saying these verses. These verses indicate the appearance and true nature of the Blessed One:

1. Paripuṇṇakāyo suruci sujāto cārudassano,

Suvaṇṇavaṇṇosi bhagavā susukkadāṭhosi viriyavā.

.

"O! Blessed One, you are handsome, is pleasant, Is well born, lovely to look at, has a golden hue, and strong white teeth.

2. Narassa hi sujātassa ye bhavanti viyañjanā,

Sabbe te tava kāyasmiṃ mahāpurisalakkhaṇā.

.

To those born well, there are marks, All the marks of a Great Man are evident on your body

3. Pasannanetto sumukho brahā3 uju patāpavā,

Majjhe samaṇasaṅghassa ādiccova virocasi.

You have pleasant eyes a beautiful mouth, a straight and majestic body In the midst of the community you shine like the sun.

4. Kalyāṇadassano bhikkhu kañcanasannibhattaco,

Kinte samaṇabhāvena evaṃ uttamavaṇṇino.

The Monk with good looks is like a statue of gold, What is the use of your recluseship when so handsome.

5. Rājā arahasi bhavituṃ cakkavattī rathesabho,

Cāturanto vijitāvī jambusaṇḍassa issaro.

You should be a universal monarch, the leading charioteer Winning over the four quarters, should be the monarch of Jambudvīpa (India).

6. Khattiyā bhogi rājāno5 anuyuttā bhavantu te,

Rājābhirājā manujindo rajjaṃ kārehi gotama.

.

Should have warrior subordinate kings attached to you, O! Gotama, king of kings, win over the humans and rule".

Then Blessed One said:

7. Rājāhamasmi selā’ti dhammarājā anuttaro,

Dhammena cakkaṃ vattemi cakkaṃ appativattiyaṃ.

“Sela, I am the righteous king, incomparable, Righteously I turn the wheel, not ever to be stopped.”

Then brahmin Sela said:

“Acknowledges, complete Knowledge, and incomparable righteous ruler ship, Says will turn the wheel of the Teaching righteously. Who are the good one’s generals, the disciples following the Teacher, For the wheel of the Teaching to roll on, who would roll it afterwards.”

Then Blessed One replied:

8. Mayā pavattitaṃ cakkaṃ(selāti bhagavā) dhammacakkaṃ anuttaraṃ,

Sāriputto anuvatteti anujāto tathāgataṃ.

“Sela, this incomparable wheel of righteousness rolled by me, Will be rolled afterwards by Sāriputta, born after the Thus Gone One.

9. Abhiññeyyaṃ abhiññātaṃ bhāvetabbañca bhāvitaṃ,

Pahātabbaṃ pahīnaṃ me tasmā buddhosmi brāhmaṇa.

Brahmin, I realized what should be realized, developed what should be developed, Dispelled what should be dispelled, therefore I’m enlightened.”

(Sela Sutta – Majjima Nikaya )

May all beings be well and happy & attain the fruit of Nibbana.

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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The Six Virtues of the Dhamma

1. Svakkhato - The Dhamma is not a speculative philosophy, but is the Universal Law found through enlightenment and is preached precisely. Therefore it is Excellent in the beginning (Sila or Moral principles), Excellent in the middle (Samadhi or Concentration) and Excellent in the end (Panna or wisdom),

2. Sanditthiko - The Dhamma is testable by practice and known by direct experience,

3. Akaliko - The Dhamma is able to bestow timeless and immediate results here and now, for which there is no need to wait until the future or next existence.

4. Ehipassiko - The Dhamma welcomes all beings to put it to the test and to experience it for themselves.

5. Opaneyiko - The Dhamma is capable of being entered upon and therefore it is worthy to be followed as a part of one's life.

6. Paccattam veditabbo vinnunhi - The Dhamma may be perfectly realized only by the noble disciples who have matured and enlightened enough in supreme wisdom.

May all beings be well & happy and attain the fruit of Nibbana.

Suranda Weediyage

BA, Tripitakachariya, Dip in Pali/ Buddhism (Pali & Buddhist University of Sri Lanka), HNDBF,

surandalk@gmail.com

http://www.thebuddhadhamma.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebuddhadhamma

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The Nine Virtues of Sanga

The eight kinds of noble ones are collectively known as the Sangha. The non-ariya ones (Sammuti Sangha) who have the same view and the same moral practice as the noble ones (Ariya Sangha) are also included in the Sangha. The Sangha being endowed with nine supreme attributes, should be highly honored and venerated. Sanga community has the nine qualities as follows:

(1) Supatipanno Bhagavato Savakasangho – The disciples of the Blessed One practice well the threefold training of morality, concentration and wisdom,

(2) Ujuppatipanno Bhagavato Savakasangho – The disciples of the Blessed One practice righteously the threefold training,

(3) Nayappatipanno Bhagavato Savakasangho – The disciples of the Blessed One practice to realize nibbana,

(4) Samichipatipanno Bhagavato Savakasangho – The disciples of the Blessed One practice to be worthy of veneration,

(5) Ahuneyyo – being worthy of receiving offerings brought even from afar,

(6) Pahuneyyo -Being worthy of receiving offerings specially set aside for guests,

(7) Dakkhineyyo – being worthy of receiving offerings offered with the belief that the offering will bear fruits in future existences,

(8) Anjalikaraniyo – being worthy of receiving reverential salutation,

(9) Anuttaram Punnakkhettam Lokassa – being an unsurpassed (incomparable) fertile field for planting the seeds of merit in the world.

The Benefits of Reflecting upon Qualities of the Sangha:

As long as someone reflects upon qualities of the Sangha, his mind is invaded neither by greed, nor by anger, nor by delusion. He has a right state of mind being inspired by the Sangha. And when he has suppressed the hindrances, the Jhana-factors arise in a single mind-moment. Furthermore, when a person reflects upon qualities of the Sangha, he is respectful and deferential towards the Sangha. He attains faithfulness and has much happiness and gladness. He also overcomes fear and dread. He is able to bear pain and comes to feel as if he were living in the Sangha’s presence. The body of who dwells in the reflection of Sangha’s qualities becomes as worthy of veneration as Uposatha house (a chapter house) where the Sangha assembles. When he encounters an opportunity for wrong-doing, he has a strong awareness of conscience and shame as if he were in the presence of the Sangha. If he comprehends no higher, he will be at least born in a happy state.

May all beings be well & happy and attains the fruit of Nibbana.

Suranda Weediyage

BA, Tripitakachariya, Dip in Pali/ Buddhism (Pali & Buddhist University of Sri Lanka), HNDBF,

surandalk@gmail.com

http://www.thebuddhadhamma.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebuddhadhamma

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The five stages of disappearance (Antaradhana) of the buddhist order (Sasana)

(1) First, there will be the disappearance of attainment (Adhigama): which include four types of disciples in Nibbana, stream winner (Sovan), once returner (Sakadagami), non returner (Anagami), Arahant.

(2) The second disappearance is of the practice (Patipatti): which include the disappearance of practice in morality (Sila), concentration (Samadhi), wisdom (Panna).

(3) The disappearance of accomplishment in the texts (Pariyatti): it corresponds to the age of learning & disappearance of Tripitaka pali.

(4) The fourth disappearance is of the signs (Linga): During this period, the only good action left is making offerings to those monks who wear a yellow strip of string around their wrist, These monks are known as "Kasawakantaka".

(5) The disappearance of the relics (Dhatu) : When the relics no longer receive honour, they will disappear after assembling at the seat where the Buddha attained Awakening under the Great Bodhi tree. This will mark the end of Gauthama Buddha's era.

May all beings be well and happy & attain the fruit of Nibbana.

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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The Five Factors to be developed for the destruction of desires/ Defilements (Asavas)

1. Seeing and contemplating the loathsomeness in the body (Asuba sanna),

2. Seeing and contemplating the loathsomeness in food (Aahare patickula sanna),

3. Disenchanted with all the world (Sabba loke anabhiratha sanna),

4. Seeing and contemplating the impermanence in all determinations (Anichcha sanna),

5.  Developing the perception of death thoroughly, established to him internally (Marana sanna),

When these five dhammas are developed and made much, it conduces to the destruction of desires.

Anguttara Nikaya – Panchaka Nipatha - Asavakkhaya Sutta.

May all beings be well and happy and attain the fruit of Nibbana.

Suranda Weediyage

BA, Tripitakachariya, Dip in Pali/ Buddhism (Pali & Buddhist University of Sri Lanka), HNDBF,

surandalk@gmail.com

http://www.thebuddhadhamma.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebuddhadhamma

https://www.facebook.com/suranda.weediyage