Buddha's Attitude to Miracles!

When the Buddha was once living at Nalanda in the Pavarika Gorve, a man by the name of Kevaddha went up to the Buddha paid homage to him and said; My Lord, Nalanda is a successful city. The people living in Nalanda are prosperous and they have confidence in the blessed one! Lord, it would be good, if the blessed one appointed a Bhikku to work a marvel of supernormal power, So that the people of Nalanda might become much more confident in the Blessed one. The Buddha replied, "Kevaddha, I do not teach the law to Bhikkus in that way "the Buddha gave the same reply when the question was put to him the second and the third time. after the third question the Buddha replied that there were three kinds of supernormal marvels;

The marvel of supernormal power to appear as many persons to pass through walls, to fly through the air, walk on water, all these are physical actions the ordinary people can't perform. 

The supernormal power to read other people's minds.
The supernormal power to be able to guide people according to their mental development, for their own good using suitable methods to fit these people.

The first 2 supernormal powers if displayed for their own sake in order to impress people are no different from the performance of magicians.

A Bhikku who practices such worldly miracles is a source of shame, humiliation and disgust. Such, actions may impress & win converts followers, but they do not bring enlightenment to help them put an end to suffering. The 3rd kind of supernormal power though which may be called a miracle helps people to get rid of suffering. This is the only supernormal power that is fit to the practice.

The only miracles that should be performed are these. When you see a man full of passion, craving & greed you teach him to free from passion, craving & greed. When you see a man is a slave to hatred & anger you teach him to free from those. When you come across a man who is ignorant & who can’t see the true nature of the world (everything in this world is not the way we want and that cause to suffering when there is continuous suffering exists we become destitute) you use your powers to help him overcome his ignorance. There are worthy miracle you can perform.

The advice to Kewaddha was also offended to the Vinaya Rules, which forbid performing miracles to impress people & gain comforts, without helping them to be enlightened.

Who ever do such supernormal miracles which includes to the first 2 facts Buddha was so displeased about those demonstrations. He always said anyone with these powers must never show off powers just to impress simple ignorant people.

May all wolds all beings attain Nirvana!

Where is Nirvana!

"THINKING, SPEAKING, PRACTICING there is NO Nirvana...

NO THINKING, NO SPEAKING, NO PRACTICING there is No Nirvana...

NO THINKING, NO SPEAKING, NO PRACTICING there is Nirvana"

When out Lord Samma Sambuddha alive there was a young Brahman boy named Wangeesha. He had a marvelous ability to tell someone’s rebirth place & as whom that person has born again by knocking to the skull of the dead person. His job was this and he earns money through this ability. Once he got to know about Lord Samma Sambuddha also has the same ability and he even know how to explain someone’s rebirth without knocking to the skull. So young Wangeesha wanted to show his ability to Lord Samma Sambuddha and went to Jethawanarama where Lord Samma Sambuddha stayed.

Once he explained the reason he visit, Lord Samma Sambuddha has given 7 skulls to the young man to show his ability.

The young man knock each skull and explained that one person is reborn in hell, another person born in heaven as a god, one as a Brahman in Brahma World, one has become an animal, one is a human etc…

Then Lord Samma Sambuddha was very impressed and said “you are correct & very impressive and also can you tell me where this person is now?” The Lord Buddha has given a skull of a Greatest Arihat who has passed away to the young man.

The Wangeesha was knocking knocking & knocking but he couldn’t find even a clue. So “Please my Lord please, explain me what happen to this person… I never found such a skull before in my life… so please teach me the way to know where he born again now…please”

Then Lord Samma Sambuddha said “Sure I know what happen to this person but I can’t teach you the way to know that easily… first you have to become a Bhikku in my place and follow the path which I explain to you… then you will know what really happen to this person.”

So the young Brahman Wangeesha was agreed and become a Bhikku. Lord Samma Sambuddha has given this puzzle to the Bhikku Wangeesha to solve it and find the way to the Nirvana. And it was the method given to him for meditation (Karmasthana).

Although the phrase has a deep meaning it was simply said like this “If someone is Thinking, Speaking, Practicing there is NO Nirvana, If someone Don’t Think, Don’t Speak, Don’t Practice there is NO nirvana, and Also if someone Don’t Think, Don’t Speak, Don’t Practice there Is Nirvana.”

The Wangeesha Bhikku has solved the puzzle and become a Greatest Arihat finally. Then what is the deep meaning hidden in this great puzzle. I will try to explain this in my best in a short & simple way. And also I like to start explain this with a wish in my heart that everyone including me be able to realize the deep meaning behind this and achieve Nirvana soon.

“If someone is Thinking, Speaking, Practicing there is NO Nirvana” there is a wonderful meaning for this simple phrase. Do you think you can find a Nirvana with the bunch of thoughts which full of Desire / Hope (Raga)? Do you think you can find a Nirvana with the bunch of thoughts which full of Anger / Hatred (Dweshaya)? Do you think you can find a Nirvana with the bunch of thoughts which full of Ignorance / false vision (Mohaya)? And same for those what you speak… if you speak with Desire / Hope (Raga), Anger / Hatred (Dweshaya) and Ignorance / false vision (Mohaya) do you believe that you can find Nirvana? And same for what you do… or practice… if you practice your life style Desire / Hope (Raga), Anger / Hatred (Dweshaya) and Ignorance / false vision (Mohaya) do you believe that you can find Nirvana?

Think for the Lord Samma Sambuddha’s teaching… and revise it with your own wisdom… Think think & think again & again!

“If someone Don’t Think, Don’t Speak, Don’t Practice there is NO nirvana”

I believe this is the most important thing which we should understand clearly. Because if we fail to understand this we can end up with a totally blanked mind in a level call “Asannya” and that is also for 500 kalpas which is uncountable time period for us.

The above phrase has a highly important value for those who follow the path or for those who just begin the path… when someone decide to follow the path to Nirvana without any Dharma knowledge or Dharma understanding about the real path he may end up with this blank mind situations which is very dangerous.

In this situation what is someone doing? When someone is keep ignoring the causes without get riding of those by understanding he end up with this blank mind.

Think of a rubber ball which float on the water… someone need to keep this ball under the water… there are 2 ways for do it.

1. Keep the ball by force under the water by hand with a high effort to push it down.
2. Make the ball go down water by itself by clearing the cause for floating it in the water.

Which one is most suitable? I believe you give the second answer which has the best result. Because when we do the first method as soon as we release our hand the ball again float on the water as there is no reason for the ball to stay down in the water.

The blanked mind situation call “Asannya” is happening when someone do something like the first answer. The Nirvana which shown by Lord Samma Sambuddha is a result of the cause which happen by get rid of Desire / Hope (Raga), Anger / Hatred (Dweshaya) and Ignorance / false vision (Mohaya) and that is NOT by ignoring the cause {Desire / Hope (Raga), Anger / Hatred (Dweshaya) and Ignorance / false vision (Mohaya)}.

As a result of ignorance someone can select this path where he or she thinks that ignoring the cause is the best way to find the Nirvana. Let’s think with an example.

We know that when our body is getting used to some actions or things the body react very differently. Like someone who has a house & stay near a rail way has used to the sound of train and he don’t care how many times he or she listen to that heavy sound and they have no worries also as they used to it… also there is a saying which we use mostly in Sri Lanka… “Like a dog who staying in a smithy” all these meant that when our ear get used to some sounds we don’t react much and we don’t take the noise as an annoyance or pain. Here we simply ignore the cause for the “Vinnana” ('consciousness', is one of the 5 groups of existence aggregates or clusters) without finding the reasons for it. And that is NOT what Lord Samma Sambuddha has said.

And also the person who practicing the path this way, is escape from the things which cause to Desire / Hope (Raga), Anger / Hatred (Dweshaya) and Ignorance / false vision (Mohaya).

Let me explain it this way. If a person has to fight with others for living or in the society or etc… he or she might think “I have to be in anger or Hatred or I have to fight with others because I am with them… if I am alone and away from these things I will not get angry or hatred so better to be alone…” and that person will escape to jungle or somewhere else where he or she can be alone. He or she also escapes from the cause which gives anger or hatred as an effect. So do you think it the correct way? NO. I explained in other articles also that Buddhism or Buddha’s teaching is not something escape to jungle by ignoring the causes. It is a way to get rid of the cause and effect with a high understanding.

Then if I explain this whole “Asanna level” in short, “If someone ignore the thought as soon as it comes to his or her mind… if someone ignore the intention as soon as he or she got it… and that person become a blank minded person (Asanna) if this path practice continuously. He got reason to being blank. And if someone meditates by practicing this way and ignoring thoughts and without thinking they even can lose their memory… they can become mentally disordered people… etc…

According to the Paticcasamuppada (dependent origination, is the doctrine of the conditionality of all physical and psychical phenomena. It shows the conditionality and dependent nature of that uninterrupted flux of many physical and psychical phenomena of existence conventionally called the ego, or man, or animal, etc.) These people have practice the manner of living blank and as a result of that manner they get a birth as a blank person in the world level of Asanna. And as they practice the manner highly that energy will keep them to stay in the same manner for about 500 kalpas as the way they are… and as soon as the causes ends they again join to the normal life circle and continue it again.

Same way the rubber ball floats on the water as soon as we release the energy given to it for stay under the water.

Lord Samma Sambuddha never ask anyone to stop thinking, talking, or practicing… he never ask anyone to stay or sit where ever you are without thinking, talking or doing nothing… Lord Samma Sambuddha was the person who thought than anyone else in this universe… he spoke more than anyone else in this universe… he practice things more than anyone else in this universe. He ask to get rid from the cause not ignore the cause. When cause does not exist the effect also vanished. When cause ignored the effect also ignored and as soon as they got a chance they will come back.

So time to think again… again… & again… understand the correct path not the path to be blank.

Then the other phrase; “if someone Don’t Think, Don’t Speak, Don’t Practice there Is Nirvana.”

I believe you already understood the meaning of this.

When someone realize the eternal truth which is this world is “not the way we want and suffering comes through it and as the result of suffering we become destitute…” means Anicca, Dukka, Anatta he or she understand there is nothing suitable enough to be attract to this world. They understand there is nothing to gain by desire, hatred. With the knowledge of Dharma they get the exact path to Nirvana.

We should be very careful in each seconds… moment we live… and When we realizes that the thought we got is WITH Desire / Hope (Raga), Anger / Hatred (Dweshaya) and Ignorance / false vision (Mohaya) BE QUICK work out to get rid of those thoughts at the very same moment we received it. When we are with the understanding of Dharma this is more easy and practical when you practice by heart.

Also We should be very careful in each seconds… and When we realizes that the words we speak WITH Desire / Hope (Raga), Anger / Hatred (Dweshaya) and Ignorance / false vision (Mohaya) BE QUICK work out to get rid of those sayings… those useless speeches at the very same moment we started to spread them out.

And we should be very careful in each seconds… and When we realizes that the things we do are WITH Desire / Hope (Raga), Anger / Hatred (Dweshaya) and Ignorance / false vision (Mohaya) BE QUICK work out to get rid of those practices & stop doing those with the understanding of the bad results we gain through those useless activities at the very same moment we started to do or practice.

In the Sootra “Mano Nivarana” also explained this way of practice to get rid of defilements by staying in high concentration for what we do, say and think.

So my dear friends, DO NOT stop thinking! Always think what are useful to complete the greatest eight fold path and to attain Nirvana. When your purposes come to realize the truth of this world which is Anicca, Dukka, Anatta make sure you increase the thinking which is helpful to increase your wisdom! DO NOT stop talking which are helpful for complete the Arya Path! DO NOT stop practicing the pure things away from defilements which are helpful to save yourselves.

When you realize the eternal truth when you attain the Nirvana you will realize that there is truly nothing to talk, think or practice and that is purity…that is peace… that is a pleasant relaxation which only comes through the loads of wisdom and the eternal truth. That is the relaxation of get rid of Desire / Hope (Raga), Anger / Hatred (Dweshaya) and Ignorance / false vision (Mohaya)!

Now THINK… THINK… THINK… BE OPEN MINDED & THINK… open yourself and let the eternal truth to cover you!

Think again & again… but that thinking shouldn’t be for arguments… fights… or to down someone else or the social views. That thinking should be for you. Only for yourself! Lord Buddha said don’t take what I said as it is… think and examine them for yourself and when you understand that is the correct way then follow it and save yourself… no one or nothing can save you. It’s you who can save yourself… only you!

When dogs bark the strong mountains are not going to fall. Likewise when we shout or argue the eternal truth is not going to be change… that will exists in this universe whether you follow it or not… whether you save yourself or not… I thought and made my decision… and also I thought to share as a true Kalyana Mitta, what I grab & decide as the correct things to do, with people who only interest to grab and follow them for the freedom.

By thinking that you win by arguing or fighting with someone else for what you belief don’t close your mind for the eternal truth. That is only a kind request and accepts it or not is all up to YOU only. As a true follower of this path I kindly send my blessings to all those who really work out for your freedom to be more & more open and understand the eternal truth! I always wish all of you may grab the idea behind all these topics discuss here and forget the words and the grammatical rules in languages.

May all worlds all beings end this endless suffering forever!

"කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නම් නිවනක් නොමැත...

කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නැතිනම් ඒත් නිවනක් නැත...

කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නොමැතිව නිවනක්ද ඇත."

බුදු පියාණන්වහන්සේ වැඩසිටින කාලයේ වංගීෂ කියන බ්‍රාහ්මණ තරුණයෙක් සිටියා. ඒ තරුණයා බොහෝම අපූරු ශාස්ත්‍රයක් හදාරා බොහෝම සාර්ථකව එය කරමින් මුදල් සොයාගෙන ජීවත් වූ අයෙක්. එයාගේ ශාස්ත්‍රය තමයි, මිය ගිය පුද්ගලයන්ගේ හිස්කබලට තට්ටු කරලා ඒ පුද්ගලයා නැවත ඉපදී සිටින ස්ථානය කියන්න තියෙන හැකියාව. ගම් නියම් ගම් සැරිසරමින් තමන්ගේ හැකියාව පෙන්වන මේ තරුණයාට බුදු පියාණන්වහන්සේ ගැනත් උන්වහන්සේටත් මෙලෙස යම් අයෙක් මියගිය විට නැවත උපදින අයුරු සහ ස්ථානය කියාපෑමට හැකියාවක් ඇති අයෙක් ලෙස දැනගන්න ලැබුණා. මේ තරුණයා තමන්ගේ හපන්කම් පෙන්වීමට සිත් ඇතිව ජේතවනාරාමයට බුදු රදුන් හමුවීමට ගියා.බුදු පියාණන්වහන්සේට මේ බව දැනුම් දුන් විට උන්වහන්සේ හිස් කබල් 7ක් ගෙන්වා මේ තරුණයාට තමන්ගේ හැකියාවන් පෙන්වන්න ඉඩ සලසා දුන්නා. මේ තරුණයාද බොහෝම අපූරුවට හිස් කබල් එකින් එකට තට්ටු කොට මේ පුද්ගලයා අපායේ ඉපදිලා... මේ පුද්ගලයා දෙවියෙක් වෙලා... මේ අය බ්‍රහ්මයෙක් වෙලා... මේ අය අහවල් ස‍තා ලෙසින් තිරිසන් අපායේ ඉපදිලා... මේ අය මනුස්සයෙක් වෙලා ආදී ලෙසට නිවැරදිව තමන්ගේ හපන්කම් පෙන්වන්නට වුණා...

බුදු පියාණන්වහන්සේත් බොහෝකොට ප්‍රශංසා කොට එහෙනම් මේ හිස්කබල අයත් පුද්ගලා කොහේද ඉපදිලා ඉන්නේ කියලා කියන්න කියලා ඒ තරුණයාට අරිහතුන් වහන්සේ කෙනෙකුගේ හිස් කබලක් දුන්නා...ඒ තරුණයා කොපමණ තට්ටු කලත් ඒ හිස්කබලට අයත් පුද්ගලායා සිටින ස්ථානයක් හෝ උපත ලබා ඇති ආකාරයක් හෝ දැනගන්නට නොහැකි වුණා. “අනේ ස්වාමීණි මෙච්චර කාලෙකට මට මෙහෙම හිස්කබලක් නම් හමුවෙලා නැහැ... මේ තැනැත්තා කොහෙද ඉන්නේ කියලා ඔබ වහන්සේ දන්නවාද?” කියලා බුදු පියාණන්ගෙන් විමසුවා...

“මේ පුද්ගලයාට වෙච්ච දේ මම නම් දන්නවා” කියලා බුදු පියාණන් තරුණයාට පැවසුවා. එතකොට ඒ තරුණයා “අනේ ස්වාමීණී, මටත් ඕනේ ඒ ක්‍රමය දැනගන්න... මටත් කියලා දෙන්න...” කියලා ඇවිටිලි කලා. එතකොට බුදු හිමියන් කිව්වා... “ඒක එහෙම කියලා දෙන්න බැහැ... ඒකට ඔබත් මේ ආර්ය විනයේ පැවිදි බවට ‍පත්වෙලා මේ කියන සිරිත් මාලාව අනුගමනය කරන්න එතකොට පුළුවන් එය දැනගන්න” කියලා කිව්වා.ඒ තරුණයාත් එලෙසම පැවිදි බවට පත්වූ අතර බුදු හිමියන් විසින් දුන් කර්මස්ථානය තමයි “කෙනෙක් කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නම් නිවනක් නොමැත... කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නැතිනම් ඒත් නිවනක් නැත... කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නොමැතිව නිවනක්ද ඇත." ලෙසින් ඉතා ගැඹුරු අර්ථයක් ගැබ්වූ වැකියක් පැටලුම ලිහාගෙන නිවන් අවබෝධය ලැබීම සදහා.

එම අර්ථය අවබෝධ කරගෙන උන්වහන්සේ අරිහත්වයට පත්වූ බවත් සදහන්වෙනවා. එහෙනම් ඒ ගැඹුරු අර්ථය යම් තරමකට සරලව කෙටියෙන් මට හැකි උපරිම උත්සාහයක් දරමි. ඔබටත් මටත් මේ අර්ථය අව‍බෝධය පූර්ණයට පත්වී නිවනින්ම සැනසීමට හැකිවේවා යන සිතුවිල්ලද ඇතිව මෙසේ ආරම්භ කරමි.

“කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නම් නිවනක් නොමැත” යන මෙම සරල කියමන තුල ගැබ්වී ඇති අර්ථය බොහෝ අනර්ඝය. රාගයෙන් යුක්තව කියන්නේ නම් කරන්නේ නම් සිතන්නේ නම් ඔබට නිවනක් ලැබිය හැකිද? ද්වේෂයෙන් යුක්තව කියන්නේ නම් කරන්නේ නම් සිතන්නේ නම් ඔබට නිවනක් ලැබිය හැකිද? මෝහයෙන් යුක්තව කියන්නේ නම් කරන්නේ නම් සිතන්නේ නම් ඔබට නිවනක් ලැබිය හැකිද? බුදු පියාණන් දේශනා කරන ‍ලද නිර්වාණය කරා ගමන් කිරීමට රාග, ද්වේෂ, මෝහ සිතුවිලි වලින් යුක්ත වූ කියන, කරන, සිතන දේ ඔස්සේ හැකිද? සිතන්න... සිතන්න... නැවත නැවතත් සිතන්න...

“කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නැතිනම් ඒත් නිවනක් නැත” මෙම කියමන තුලින් කියවෙන දේ ඉතාමත් වැදගත් කරුණක් ලෙසින් නිවන් මග ගමන් කරන අප සැම සිතට තදින්ම අවබෝධ කරගත යුතුමය. මන්ද යත් මෙයින් කියැවෙන දේ අවබෝධ කිරීමට කාලය වැය නොකොට ඉදිරියට තම තමන්ගේ මත තුලින් ගමන් කල හොත් කල්ප 500ක් වැනි දීර්ඝ කාලයක් අප හට අහිමිව යාමටද පුළුවන.

මෙහිදී “කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නැතිනම් ඒත් නිවනක් නැත” ලෙස පෙන්වා දී තිබෙන්නේ කිසිදු ධර්මාවබෝධයක් නැතිව යමෙක් අනවබෝධයෙන් ආර්ය මාර්ගය තුල ගමන් කරන අසංඥ තත්වයක් ගැනයි. යමෙක් බුදු පියාණන් පෙන්වා දුන් පරිදි හේතුව නිරෝධ කිරීම පසෙකලා හේතුව යටපත් කිරීමට පටන් ගන්නේ නම් ඒ පුද්ගලයා අසංඥ තත්වයට පත්වීමට හේතුවේ.

රබර් බෝලයක් ජලයේ ගිල්ලවන්න බැරි නිසාම යමෙක් එය බලෙන්ම ජලය යටට කරලා තියාගෙන ඉන්නවා නම් ඔහු බලාපොරොත්තු වන ඵලය ඔහුට ලැබේද? නැත... ඔහු බෝලය අතහැරිය ගමන් එය යලිත් බෝලය ජලය මත පාවීමට පටන්ගනී. එහෙත් යමෙක් බෝලය ජලය මත පාවීමට හේතුවන දේ නිරෝධය කිරීම තුලින් එය බලෙන් ගිල්ලවන්නේ නැතිව එයටම ගිලෙන්න සලස්වන්නේ නම් එය නොවේද සාර්ථකම ඵලය ලැබෙන හේතුව?

අසංඥ තත්වය යනු ඉහත සදහන් කල පරිදි ‍රබර් බෝලයක් බලෙන්ම ජලය යටට කරලා තියාගෙන ඉන්නවා වගේ දෙයක්. බුදු පියාණන් පෙන්වා නිර්වාණ මාර්ගය රාගය, ද්වේෂය, මෝහය නිරෝධ කිරීම තුලින් ලබන්නක්. එහෙත් යමෙක් තීරණයකට එළඹෙනවා නම් රාග සහගත, ද්වේෂ සහගත, මෝහ සහගත සිතුවිලි පමණක් නොව තමන් විසින් කථා කරන, ක්‍රියා කරන, සිතන සියලුම දේ නැති කල යුතුයි කියලා ඒ ලෙසින් මාර්ගයක් පුරමින් ගමන් කරනවා නම් ඔහුටද නිවන් අහිමිය. ඔහුට හිමි වන්නේ අසංඥ තත්වය නම් කල්ප 500ක් අසංඥ තලයක පැවැත්මය.

යමෙක් අවිද්‍යාව නිසාම තීරණයක් ගන්නවා නම් වස්තුව තමයි හේතුව කියලා ඒ නිසා එය නැති කිරීම හොදයි කියලා එය හේතු යටපත් වීමට මාර්ගය මිස හේතු ‍නිරෝධ මාර්ගය නොවේ. උදාහරණයක් තුලින් සලකා බලමු.

අපේ ඉන්ද්‍රියන් යම් යම් දේ සදහා හුරුවක් ලැබුණහොත් එම දේ සදහා ප්‍රතිචාර දක්වන අයුරු බොහෝම වෙනස්... මෙහෙම හිතමු... දුම්රිය මාර්ගයක් අසල තිබෙන නිවසක වාසය කරන පුද්ගලයාට දුම්රියක් ගමන් කරන විට ඇසෙන ශබ්දයට ඔහුගේ කණ හුරුවී ඇති නිසාම ඔහු එයට විශේෂ අවධානයක් යොමු කරනවාද නැත්ද? නැහැ නේද? ඔහුට සමහර අවස්ථාවල දුම්රියක් ගමන් කලාද යන්නවත් සිහියට නොනැගීමට පුළුවන්... අපි භාවිතා කරන බොහෝම ප්‍රසිද්ධ උපමාවක් තියෙනවා..., “කම්මලේ ඉන්න බල්ලා වගේ” කියලා... එයින් අපි අදහස් කරනවා අධික ශබ්දයක් නිතරම ඇසීම නිසාම එය තමාගේ කණට සංඥාවක් ලෙස නොගෙන සිටින තත්වයකට පත්වීම වැනි දෙයක්.

මෙහිදී සරලවම තමන්ට ලැබෙන විඤ්ඤාණයන්ට ‍හේතු නො‍සොයාම විඤ්ඤාණ යටපත් කිරීමක් සිදු කරනවා. විඤ්ඤාණ යටපත් කිරීම තුලින් අවිද්‍යාව නැති කිරීම බුද්ධ දේශනාව නොවේ නේද?

තවත් අසංඥ තත්වයන් පුහුණු කරන අයෙකුගෙන් සිදුවෙන දේ තමයි රාගය හෝ ද්වේෂය හෝ මෝහය හෝ ලබාදෙන යම් වස්තුවක් තිබෙනවා නම් එය තමා තුල නිරෝධ කරගන්නේ නැතිව එම වස්තුවෙන් පලායාම.

එයත් මෙලෙස සලකා බලමු... යමෙකුට සමාජයත් සමග ගැටීමේදී නැතිනම් පවුල් පරිසරය තුල නිතර ගැටීමට සිදුවන්නේ නම් ඒ පුද්ගලයා ඒ තුලින් කලකිරීමට පත්වෙනවා. ඔහුට හෝ ඇයට සිතෙන්නට පුළුවන් අනේ මට සැනසීම නැත්තේ මේ වගේ ගැටීමට පත්වෙන්න වෙලා තියෙන්නේ මේ අයත් එක්ක ඉන්න නිසානේ කියලා ඒ අයව අතෑරලා කැලයට යනවා. ගිහින් සැනසීම සොයමින් ඉන්නවා. එතකොට මෙවැනි අවස්ථාවක් විසින් පෙන්වා දෙන්නේ ඒ පුද්ගලා‍යා‍ අන් අය සමග ගැටීමට හෙවත් ද්වේෂ සහගත සිතුවිලි තමා තුලින් අවබෝධයෙන් නිරෝධ කොට නොගෙන අන් අය නිසා ද්වේෂය එනවා යැයි සිතා ඒ ද්වේෂය ඇති කිරීමට හේතුව වුණ වස්තුවෙන් පලායාම නොවේද?ඉහත සදහන් කල තත්වයන් කෙටියෙන් සරලව කියනවා නම් “‍යමෙක් තමන්ගේ සිතට සිතුවිල්ලක් නැගෙන විටම අතහැර දැමීම තුලින් සිතීම නවත්වන්නේද... යමෙක් තමන්ගේ ඉන්ද්‍රීයන් තුලට අරමුණු නැගෙන ගැටෙන මොහොතේම ඒ සදහා අවධානය යොමු නොකොට අරමුණ අතහැර හෙවත් එය නොසලකා හරි‍න්නේද... මේ තත්වයන් පුහුණු කරන තැනැත්තා කියන්න, කරන්න, සිතන්න කිසිවක්ම නොමැති අසංඥ තත්වයට පත්වේ.”

මේ ආකාරයෙන් යමෙක් සියලුම කියන කරන සිතන දේ නවතා දමනවා නම් ඔහු හේතු සහිතවම අසංඥ තත්වයට පත්වෙනවා. සිතුවිලි නතර කරන්න භාවනා කරන ඒ පුද්ගලයන් ඒ තුලින්ම මනස විකෘති තත්වයන්ට පත්වීමටද පුළුවන්... ඒ අයට නිතරම අමතක වෙන්න පටන් ගන්නවා... සිහිය නැතිවෙනවා... තමන්‍ කියන කරන දේ ගැන අවබෝධයක් නැතිව යනවා... ඔබ සිතනවාට වඩා දරුණු අවස්ථාවන්ටද පත්විය හැකියි...

මේ විදියට සිතුවිලි නැති කරලා අසංඥ තත්වයට පත්වෙනකොට පටිච්ච සමුප්පාදයට අනුව නම් ඒ අය පුහුණු කල ගතිය තමයි සිතුවිලි නැති කිරීම පුහුණු කල ගතිය... එතකොට ගතියට අනුව ලැබෙන භවය තමයි අසංඥ තලය... ඒ අය පුහුණු කල ගතියට අනුව භවයක් ලැබිලා ඒ තත්වයෙන් කල්ප 500ක් විතර පවතිනවා... ඒත් හේතු නිරෝධ කරලා නැති නිසා යලිත් යටපත් වෙච්ච විඤ්ඤාණ බල නැංවිලා සසර ගමනට ඔවුන්ව යලිත් එකතු කරවනවා. අසංඥ තත්වයේදී ඒ විඤ්ඤාණ යටපත් කිරීමේ සිතුවිලි නැති කිරීමේ හේතුවෙන් ඇතිවන ශක්තියක් නිසා තමයි ඒ වගේ දීර්ඝ කාලයක් ඉන්න අවස්ථාව ලැබෙන්නේ.

විඤ්ඤාණ තදින්ම යටපත් වු‍ණාම වේදනා සංඥා සංඛාර කියන දේවලුත් යටපත් වෙනවා. ඒත් නිරෝධ කරලා නැති නිසා යටපත් වීමේ බලය ශක්තිය අවසන් වෙච්ච ගමන්ම යලිත් ඒවා මතුවෙනවා. බුදු හාමුදුරුවෝ සිතුවිලි නැති කරන්න කියලා දේශනා කරලා නැහැ. උන්වහන්සේ තමයි තමයි මේ විශ්වයේ වැඩියෙන්ම හිතන්න... කථා කරන්න... ක්‍රියා කරන්න හැකියාවක් තියෙන එකම පුද්ගලයා... සිතුවිලි නතර කලා කියලා සසර ගමන නවතින්න හේතු නැහැනේද? හේතුව නිරෝධ කරන කම් ඵලය නැතිවෙන්නේ නැහැ නේද? එසේනම් සිතන්න... සිතන්න... සිතන්න... “කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නැතිනම් ඒත් නිවනක් නැත” ලෙසින් පෙන්වා දෙමින් බුදු හිමියන් අප සැමට නිවැරදි ගමන් මගක් පෙන්වා දී ඇත.

“කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නොමැතිව නිවනක්ද ඇත” එසේනම් මේ වන විටත් ඔබට මෙම කියමන පැහැදිලි වන්නට ඇතැයි සිතමි. ලෝකය අනිච්ච, දුක්ඛ, අනත්ථ වශයෙන් දැක මේ ලොකය තුල ඡන්ද රාගයෙන් හෙවත් දැඩි කැමැත්තෙන් බැදී මොනවා කරන්නද කියන ධර්මාවබෝධයත් සමග යම් පුද්ගලයෙක් රාගයෙන් තොරව කියන්නේ නම්, කරන්නේ නම්, සිතන්නේ නම්.... යමක් ද්වේෂයෙන් තොරව කියන්නේ නම්, කරන්නේ නම්, සිතන්නේ නම්.... යමක් මෝහයෙන් තොරව කියන්නේ නම්, කරන්නේ නම්, සිතන්නේ නම් එයම මේ ආර්ය මාර්ගය වේ. එයම නිවන් අවබෝධයට හේතුවේ.

ඒ ඒ මොහොතේ තමන්ගේ සිතට නැගෙන සිතුවිලි රාගයෙන්... ද්වේෂයෙන්... මෝහයෙන් යුක්තද යන වග අවධානයෙන් සිට ඒවා රාගයෙන්... ද්වේෂයෙන්... මෝහයෙන් යුක්ත සිතුවිලි නම් ඒ දේවල් වල ආදීනව දැන නිවන වසන අයුරු දැන ඒවා නිරෝධ කල යුතුය. එසේනම් යමෙක් රාගයෙන්, ද්වේෂයෙන්, මෝහයෙන් යුක්තව සිතන්නේ නැත්නම් ඒ පුද්ගලයාට මාර්ගය පූර්ණය වෙමින් නිවනක් ලබාගත හැක.

ඒ ඒ මොහොතේ තමන් කියන දේ රාගයෙන්... ද්වේෂයෙන්... මෝහයෙන් යුක්තද යන වග අවධානයෙන් සිට ඒවා රාගයෙන්... ද්වේෂයෙන්... මෝහයෙන් යුක්ත කතා නම් ඒ දේවල් වල ආදීනව දැන නිවන වසන අයුරු දැන ඒවා නිරෝධ කල යුතුය. එසේනම් යමෙක් රාගයෙන්, ද්වේෂයෙන්, මෝහයෙන් යුක්තව කියන්නේ නැත්නම් ඒ පුද්ගලයාට මාර්ගය පූර්ණය වෙමින් නිවනක් ලබාගත හැක.

ඒ ඒ මොහොතේ තමන් කරන දේ රාගයෙන්... ද්වේෂයෙන්... මෝහයෙන් යුක්තද යන වග අවධානයෙන් සිට ඒවා රාගයෙන්... ද්වේෂයෙන්... මෝහයෙන් යුක්ත ක්‍රියාවන් නම් ඒ දේවල් වල ආදීනව දැන නිවන වසන අයුරු දැන ඒවා නිරෝධ කල යුතුය. එසේනම් යමෙක් රාගයෙන්, ද්වේෂයෙන්, මෝහයෙන් යුක්තව කරන්නේ නැත්නම් ඒ පුද්ගලයාට මාර්ගය පූර්ණය වෙමින් නිවනක් ලබාගත හැක.

මනෝ නිවාරණ සුත්‍රයේ පෙන්වා දී තිබෙනවා යමක් යමක් හේතුකොටගෙන අකුසලයක් සිදුවෙනවාද මනා සිහියෙන් සිට එය දුරු කරගන්න කියලා පෙන්වා දුන්නේත් මේ ආකාරයයි.

සිතට නැගෙන සියලු සිතුවිලි නවත්වන්න එපා... යම් සිතුවිල්ලක් නිසා ආර්ය මාර්ගය පූර්ණය වන්නේද ඒ සිතුවිලි වඩන්න! ලෝකය අනිච්ච දුක්ඛ අනත්ථ වශයෙන් දකින්න යමක් අරමුණු වන්නේද එය නවත්වන්න එපා... එය වඩන්න... ආර්ය මාර්ගය පූර්ණය කරගන්න! කියන්නේ යමක්ද සියලු කියන දේ නවත්වන්න එපා... යම් කීමක් තුලින් ආර්ය මාර්ගය පූර්ණය වන්නේද ඒ කියමන් කියන්න... කතා කරන්න! තමන් කරන දේ ගැන අවධානයෙන් ඉන්න... ආර්ය මාර්ගය වැඩීමට හේතු වන දේ කරන්න... ඒවා නවත්තන්න එපා! ධර්මාවබෝධය තුලින් අවබෝධ කරගන්නා සත්‍යය අත්විදින්නට හැකිවූ දිනට ඒ පුද්ගලයාට මේ ලෝකය තුල කියන්න කරන්න සිතන්න / අරමුණු කරන්න දෙයක් නැති‍වී නිරෝධ සමාපත්තියට පත්විය හැකියි. එයම ශාන්තයි... එයම ප්‍රණීතයි... සියලු සංඛාර සමථයකට පත්වේ... “ඒතං සන්තං ඒතං පණීතං.... යදිදං සබ්බ සංඛාර සමතෝ” අත්හැරී මිදී නොඇලී ලබන්නා වූ සුවයට පත්වෙමින් ලෝකය අත්හරින අරිහත්වයෙන් කෙලවර කරගන්න මාර්ගය මෙයයි. ලෝකය අත්හරින පුද්ගලයාට කියන්න කරන්න සිතන්න දෙයකුත් නැහැ නේද?

එසේනම් “කියන්නේ කරන්නේ සිතන්නේ නොමැතිව නිවනක්ද ඇත” යන වැකියටද ඉතාමත් ගැඹුරු හේතු සහිත සත්‍යයක් ගැබ්වී තියෙනවා නේද?

සිතන්න... සිතන්න... සිතන්න... විවෘතව සිතන්න... එවිට සත්‍යය ඔබ කරා ලගාවෙනු ඇත... සිතන්න... නැවත නැවතත් සිතන්න... අන් අය සමග තර්ක කිරීමට හෝ ඒ ඒ අයගේ මත බිද දැමීමට නොව තම තමන්ගේ නිවන අත්විදින්න අවබෝධ කරගන්න මේ සසර දුකින් තමන්වම මුදවාගන්න සිතන්න... අන් අය සමග තර්ක කොට... ඒ ඒ අයගේ පහත් කොට... වාද කොට... ඔවුන්ව බොරුකාරයන් කොට තමන් දිනුවා යැයි උදම් ඇනීමට නොව බුදු පියාණන් වහන්සේ පෙන්වා දුන් නියම මග නිවන කරා යන නිවැරදි මග ‍අවබෝධ කොටගෙන තමන්වම බේරාගැනීමට සිතන්න... කිසිවෙකු වාද කලාට... කිසිවෙකු සටන් කලාට... කිසිවෙකු පොරකෑවාට මේ විශ්වයේ පරම සත්‍යය වෙනස් නොවේ. තම තමන් කරගන්නා දේ තම තමන්ට හේතු සහිතවම ඵල ලබාදේ...

ඔබ ඔබේම නිවන වසා නොගන්න! ඔබ ඔබේ නිවන සොයාගන්න... තමන්වම බේරාගන්න... තමන්ට අසන්න ලැබෙන දේ... කියවන්න ලැබෙන දේ... ගැන සිතන්න... බුදු පියාණන්වහන්සේ සියල්ල දත් උත්ත‍මයෙකු වුවත් කිසිවිටක කිසිවෙකුට උන්වහන්සේ කියන දේ උන්වහන්සේ කියූ නිසාම උන්වහන්සේ අනුමත කල නිසාම පිලිගන්න එපා ඔබ ඔබ විසින්ම සිතා බලා එය සත්‍ය යැයි හේතු සහිතව අවබෝධ වෙනවා නම් පමණක් පිලිගන්න යැයි දේශනා කල සේක! මම මගේ නිවන ලබන අරමුණ ඔස්සේ සිතා තීරණය කලෙමි... ඒ මග සාර්ථකව ගමන් කරන්නෙමි... ඒ නිසාම ඒ මග ගමන් කිරීමට කැමැත්තෙන් සිටින යමෙක් වේනම් මේ කරුණු උපකාරවේවා යන පිරිසිදු අදහසින් මෙලෙස මාගේ මනසට හේතු සහිතවම සත්‍යයයි... බුද්ධ වචනයයි ලෙසින් ‍සිතෙන දේ ඔබ හමුවේ තබන්නෙමි... සැබෑම කළණ මිත්‍රයෙකු ලෙසින් පමණක් ඉදිරිපත් කර‍න්නෙමි... වචනය අමතක වේවා අදහස අවබෝධ වේවා යන උතුම් චේතනාව ඔස්සේ සටහන් තබන්නෙමි... ඒ නිසාම තම තමන්ගේ බුද්ධි මට්ටම් තුලින් සිතා බලමින් ඔබේ නිවන පූර්ණය කරගන්නට මගේ සත්‍යතාවය ඔස්සේ ආශිර්වාද කරමි... ඔබ ප්‍රමාද වෙන තරමටම බුදු පියාණන්වහන්සේ පෙන්වා දුන් විශ්වයේ පරම සත්‍යයද ඔබට වැසී යනු ඇත!

සියලු ලෝක සියලු සත්වයෝ උතුම් වූ නිවනින්ම සැනසෙත්වා!

How Really Triple Gem Bless us?

When we take refuge from someone or something it gives us many meanings. We can also take “following someone else’s foot step” which gives the meaning that “someone is doing the exact behavior which someone else’s or mostly parents did and take refuge through it for his or her lives.” But when we take the word “Sarana” in Sinhalese which gives the simple meaning of “Protection” has another deep hidden meaning. It gives the meaning of “ending the continuation of our life circle” OR the “theory of continuation / continuation of life circle” likewise there are 2 meaning for every word according to Dharma.

The Triple Gem - The protection of Buddha, the protection of Dharma and the protection of Sanga are the triple gem. By now you may know very well that all these phrases have two meanings. One is worldly, will guide you to a better life but with defilements and have reasons to continue this life circle. The other one is extramundane (not worldly) and will guide you to the Nirvana! So when we take “blessings of triple gem” there also these 2 meanings are exists. So let’s clear the both meaning and obtain the exact blessings through Triple Gem.

In the Sutra Dajagga lord Buddha said “if someone feels scared or helpless remind me”. And also Lord Buddha has introduce the Buddha through nine eternal qualities like “Itipi – so baghawa – arahang – samma sambuddo – wijja charana sampanno – sugatho – lokawidu – anuttaro purisadamma sarathi – satta deva manussanag – buddo – bagawathi”. But what we really follow today?

When we say “Buddhang Sranag Gachchami” we remind a person or a picture which we believe he is the lord Buddha with 32 characteristics and expecting a protection from him. There is no evil come through this habit as if someone feel even a tiny true respect or a faith about Buddha is a reason for him or her to become a lucky one and gather more purity for his life circle. But a person who takes the maximum advantage through a meaningful dharma is a person who always takes the lead and he always step ahead among others. We should know that even if we remind a person or a picture which we believe he is the lord Buddha with 32 characteristics we lead to the same eternal 9 qualities of Buddha.

Lord Buddha once explain the Bhikku call Wakkali “My dear Wakkali, there is no use by staring at this dirty and destroyable body of mine! If someone practices the true dharma he or she can experience & see who really Buddha is” Lord Buddha himself explained that the person with 32 characteristics is also unclean and destroyable as others and that unique body also destroyable like anyone else’s body. Then he explained to see the real Buddha it is necessary to practice the true dharma! And this deep explanation was for those who with a knowledge about dharma and to kids and those who with not a grown mind he created the Buddha’s image. Once this happen for a kid name Mattakundali and when he was near to die the Lord Buddha happen to create a image of him for the kid and the kid got a really a pleasant thought with respect as his last thought and became a God once he died.

Through these stories we can obtain a one truth. That is everyone is getting the Buddha’s blessings and protection in many ways in any time. Why someone feel he or she is protected by reminding Lord Buddha through his 9 greatest qualities? Lord Buddha is someone who already gets rid of desire / Raga, hatred / Anger / Dwesha and ignorance / Moha. So he never scared for anything or anyone. When we remind such a person with greatest qualities we too feel protection by heart and we get that assistance through those qualities.

“Nattimain saranag anghang Buddho main saranag warang” is a phrase we all know in present and we use this for say “there is only one protection for us and that is Buddha’s protection”. Through this again we get an individual protection by remembering the Buddha & his body with 32 characteristics. We should think how meaningful this phrase according to the Dharma. Lord Buddha said himself that “Nobody but you can save yourselves. You, when well disciplined yourselves, become your own savior. And Buddha only shows the path.” So now think! How suitable to say that only Buddha can save us and there is no one else who can save us. Aren’t we ignoring the greatest Buddha’s teaching? Don’t we feel like that Buddha is following us like a father to a child to protect us in each step? Aren’t we feel that Buddha come to this world for protect us in our day to day life matters?

So we should know what exactly is this Buddha’s protection? First let’s clear the worldly meaning, which will guide us to a better life but with defilements and have reasons to continue this life circle.

If someone has a sense of a mind which recognize the right things & the wrong things in their lives and the society we call he or she is “Intelligent”. There are many levels to this wisdom. There is a level which someone recognizes the right & wrong things with the reasons for them. He knows why something is right and what are the result gain through it and what are the wrong thing and the reason for it to be a wrong thing and the results gain through it. This nature of wisdom we call Buddha. Buddha we can explain in detail like this; the all wise or the wisdom which knows all about entire universe or the wisdom of omniscience is BUDDHA. And those disciples of the Buddha have wisdom to understand the things wisely through those teaching. We call this disciple’s wisdom or disciple Buddha. This is the exceptional Buddha and let’s learns about these later and let’s discuss about the worldly Buddha and how we obtain its protection.

So this worldly Buddha also a level of wisdom and when someone is wise and do wise things he or she will never get useless results. This wisdom or this Buddha is the protection for everyone without any religious views or without any nationality views. This is the worldly protection of Buddha. This doesn’t mean that entire world should become Buddhists! Now think! If someone works wisely will he or she get the wise results? Which is the best way to do our worldly activities; wisely or foolishly? Don’t you feel now that the protection of Buddha should be with all of us to get the best results from everything we do? I guess now you understood that Buddha should be with us and its protection should be with us all the time to be successful in this world. How someone get the idea to invent or create things? The Buddha the wisdom of his or her helps them to get that thought. And a wise person’s choices always lead to the success. But some people use their wisdom for destructions. They invent things to destroy others. These are levels of wisdom and a real wise person always know how to use his or her wisdom wisely and show the accurate results which always helpful for others and to the world. And that person took the maximum protection of Buddha!

Now what is this worldly protection of Dharma?

When someone takes the protection of Buddha he or she discovers a system to follow the steps to gain the successful results. His or her wisdom guide them to achieve the best results through the procedure. There is a one universal dharma. It is that the good cause always gives the good effect and the bad cause always gives the bad effect. And this path gets cleared through the way we use our wisdom. This explains that everything has a system or an exact path which lead to the final results. That path or the system is the Dharma and when someone figured that system or the path out through his or her wisdom or the Buddha they get the protection of Dharma!

Then what should be the worldly protection of Sanga?

If someone thought to build a vehicle he or she gets many thoughts to build the vehicle till he or she get the final correct results. Through the wisdom they got the idea to build a vehicle and through that idea they are getting a system to follow for the best results. Even they get many ways to fix the engine finally somehow they know to fix it correctly according to the system. Even they get many ways to fix tires for the vehicle finally they get the idea to fix it correctly and wisely to get the maximum use out of them. Likewise somehow we get the best results when we get the protection of Buddha (wisdom) and the protection of Dharma (wise path or the system). This result is the Sanga. This result is the protection of Sanga.

So through these explanations you understood the worldly triple gem. You may know by now no one is successful in this world without these three protections which is Protection of Buddha, Protection of Dharma and the Protection of Sanga! And your intelligence can be measured through the results you & the world gain by the way you utilize these protections!

Don’t forget the UNIVERSAL DHARMA; THE GOOD CAUSE ALWAYS GIVES THE GOOD EFFECT AND THE BAD CAUSE ALWAYS GIVES THE BAD EFFECT. No matter how visible is the result for your 5 senses but this universal dharma doesn’t change!

Now we know the worldly meaning, which will guide us to a better life but with defilements and have reasons to continue this life circle. But to save us through this protection and become our own savior we must know the other meaning which is extramundane (not worldly) and will guide us to the Nirvana!

The Buddha, Dharma & Sanga which has the extramundane meaning should identify as Arya Buddha, Arya Dharma and Arya Sanga! (Arya gives the meaning of follows the greatest eight fold noble path by understanding the truth through teaching of Lord Samma Sambuddha which Nirvana is the only way to end this endless suffering. When Arya mentioned before any word means that word gives the meaning which helps us to attain nirvana which is extramundane)

We should know the exact dharma and follow in accordance to achieve Nirvana! That gives the meaning which we should know the extramundane meanings well to follow the path and achieve the best results. Then let’s learn about the meaning of Arya Buddha, Arya Dharma and Arya Sanga which gives the protection to become our own saviors.

First we should know who LORD BUDDHA is as he is the one which showed us the path to save ourselves. The Lord Buddha understood the Buddha in a very remarkable way. He had to discover very special qualities name “Paramitha” and practice them throughout countless years with an exceptional thought which he got into his mind to become a Buddha to explore the path to save ourselves. Through those understanding & experiences he become an omniscient and also achieved the greatest results of enlightenment as the greatest Arihat who is very unique. He achieved the unmatchable Buddha and its utmost protection to the fullest!

And who are we? We can become the “Disciple Buddha (Shrawaka Buddha)” of Lord Buddha.

The Lord Buddha who achieved this utmost protection of Buddha to the fullest has explained the eternal TRUTH in this universe. The “Four Noble Truth / Chathur Arya Sathya” (let’s discuss about this in future) which describe the eternal truth of this universe. Once we listen to those teachings and know about this Four Noble Truth we decide to enter the path which guide us to save ourselves. To achieve the highest results of this path we should understand the Arya Buddha and to understand Arya Buddha we should know the Four Noble Truth very well!

The Lord Buddha has explained “Dukkha Arya Sathya (the suffering is exists), Dukkha Samudaya Arya Sathya (there is a cause for suffering and it is craving /Thanha / attachments), Dukkha Nirodha Arya Sathya (the cessation of suffering is achievable) and the Dukkha Nirodha Gamini Patipadha Arya Sathya (the path to the cessation of suffering). We should understand this dharma and attain nirvana by following the described path as a disciple and become Arihat by achieving the highest result at the end.

For this we should listen to a real Dharma from a true Kalyana Mitta (the person who truly shows the path to end suffering of yours as a true friend) and we should revise the dharma we listened wisely by using our own mind and wisdom and we should enter to the path which end suffering and follow the path wisely till we achieve the goal.

Once we complete the process we created the environment to get the protection through Arya Buddha, Arya Dharma & Arya Sanga.

When someone understood this Four Noble Truth through this wisdom he has used the Arya Buddha for his protection. Then he can say “Buddhang Saranag Gachchami” with its true meaning and get the true protection for his or her life.

Let’s learn the Arya Dharma Protection through the Arya Buddha Protection!

Through the wisdom of Four Noble Truth we learnt through a Kalyana Mitta (True Friend) we understand the “the suffering, there is a cause for suffering and it is craving /Thanha / attachments, the cessation of suffering is achievable and the path to the cessation of suffering by our own mind and wisdom. Once we get this understanding we got the “Eye of Dharma” according to the Dharma we have seen the Dharma. But still to be following the path and achieve the goal. To complete the process we should get rid of defilements through the wisdom and meditation. What we should learn here is once we understood about the Four Noble Truth as above we got the first Arya Buddha’s Protection to our life. And now according to the universal theory we get a system / the path to follow. That is the Arya Ashtangika Margaya / the Eight Fold Noble Path. Once he or she knows about this Eight Fold Noble Path he or she is aware of Dharma path. He or she realizes that there is a faithful path to end suffering for sure. It shows as “Atta deepa viharatha – atta sarana anannya sarana” means “become a lamp for you – become your own light – there is no one to save you or help you – get the help from Dharma and stay with it to protect yourself.” You get this deep meaning through the wisdom when you are protected by Arya Buddha. Once you understood this Dharma path you are protected by Arya Dharma. There is one thing we should aware again that is again we have 2 meaning for Eight Fold Noble Path which one is worldly, will guide you to a better life but with defilements and have reasons to continue this life circle. The other one is extramundane (not worldly) and will guide you to the Nirvana!

So when you revise above mentioned facts wisely you know that knowing about, the Four Noble Path is the first protection of Arya Buddha. Through the “Eye of Dharma” you know about the path to follow which is Eight Fold Noble Path and that is the first Protection of Dharma. When we get the protection of Dharma we occur to get rid of Desire / Hope / Craving (Ragaya), to get rid of Anger /Hatred/ thought of conflict (Dweshaya) and to get rid of ignorance/false vision (Mohaya) and finally we can attain Nirvana! This means we become to the state of Sanga as the result.

“Yadidan Chattari Purisa Ugani Atta purisa puggala Esa bagawatho Sawaka Sango” means the state of Sanga. There is no difference between Bhikku Bhikkuni & Devotees when they come to the state of Sanga. There are four levels which we complete through the process of attaining Nirvana. Those are Sowan, Sakurdagami, Anagami and Arihat. He is a person who completed levels means he becomes an “Arya Shrawaka” which means the disciple of Lord Buddha through following his shown path & achieving results. There is no barrier to complete all these levels as normal domestic persons who those are not become Bhikku Bhikkuni yet. Somehow when a person achieved these levels means he becomes the status of Sanga. And this Sanga is the Arya Sanga and its protection.

So let’s clear our protection path again!

To get the protection of Arya Buddha we should understand the Four Noble Truth!

To get the protection of Arya Dharma we should understand the Extramundane Eight Fold Path well!

To get the protection of Arya Sanga we should understand what is Nirvana and what is the flame of this world first. And we should extermination the flames and realize / achieve Nirvana as the final result!

Now when we say;

I hereby take refuge in the Buddha.

I hereby take refuge in the Dhamma.

I hereby take refuge in the Sangha.

I request protection from the Buddha for the 2^nd time.

I request protection from the Dhamma for the 2^nd time.

I request protection from the Sangha for the 2^nd time.

I request protection from the Buddha for the 3rd time.

I request protection from the Dhamma for the 3rd time.

I request protection from the Sangha for the 3rd time.

We know what exactly we mean through these. We understood the Arya Buddha, Arya Dhamma & Arya Sangha and how we should protect by them.

When Lord Buddha is here many people listen to his Dharma and achieved the level of Sowan as the first Dharma level. And those who achieved that level said a phrase to express their joy for that knowledge they gain.

“My greatest Lord Gautama, this is very outstanding & significant! My greatest Lord Gautama, it is like you supine the one which was upside down! It is like you opened the one which was closed! It’s like you showed the path to an ignorant person! It’s like you lit an oil lamp for those who have the eyes to see the view in darkness! You described in many amazing ways the path of Dharma! For that I take shelter of Buddha! I take shelter of Dhamma & Sangha too! From today onward as long as this life lasts I hereby take refuge in Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha and become a true devotee!”

In here they used to say like this with the pleasant and respectable thought for Lord Buddha. And they came as worldly people for listen dharma and while they here the true dharma they got the Eye of Dharma and understood the truth as a result of listening & revising wisely. Once they clear with the mind that dharma is the only way to survive and it is the only suitable path to follow and save ourselves they enter to the path by showing their happiness through such a phrase.

These people complete their Eight Fold Path with practice and become wiser and realize the Four Noble Truth and attained Nirvana successfully by being Arihat!

At this very moment we should realize one main fact through all these details in this page. That is this Meaningful Triple Gem blessed & helps everyone to be successful and perform things without high desire, high hatred & high ignorance.

We should clearly realize that there is nothing call “DESPONDENCY” nor “DISAPPOINTMENT” nor “DISGUST” nor “DISPLEASURE” in Real Buddhism and nor move stealthily to the jungle after being ascetic through those disappointment or disgust for life or world! Many are mislead through this thought about Buddhism and they think the final result in Buddhism is this disappointment and meditating somewhere in jungle without having courage to face the problems in this world.

But through the REAL BUDDHISM we will know the eternal truth! After knowing that truth we realize the next step to be taken. Many who don’t realize this truth collect things by thinking they are valued and eternal. They are stuck in an illusion which covered by beauty, taste, fragrance, smoothness and pleasant thoughts. And they think that is they world and day by day they ask for troubles through them. And they think that is the life and we should have courage to fix those so call problems which is never fixable. And they lose their comfort and gain stress… but they never give up the HOPE to find comfort through this existence. They spend more money to comfort them… and they again increasing their stress through finding money to that comfort… and they put blame for the family… blame for the country… blame for the government… etc.. etc… and never try to end this stress.

The one who gathered knowledge through Dharma will understand this small but hidden fact in this life. And they stop finding comfort through their existence and they are stop doing all those unnecessary things to comfort them by knowing that is useless. They take the maximum use from the TIME and they work out for their freedom. The one who think this world is the most valuable place and who attached to it most is trying to collect everything for “I” and he will do the maximum to keep “I” happy by destroying others and doing the evil things. This act cause to increase the crime of this world and also to increase the competition.

There is no use to threaten or warn them to not do all those crimes as they are ignorant and stuck in this illusion. Buddha never forced anyone to stop crime and follow the path as he knew it is useless. But Lord Buddha explored the truth for everyone. The eternal universal truth! And he asked us to understand it and save ourselves. He knew that many in this world are wise enough to see this truth. He knew that many will stop crime by their own understanding and will guide them to the freedom. As that feeling comes inside of them they will never turn back to do crime or to that illusion again. So like those days those wise people are still in this world and it is more than 80% out of whole population in this world. Only thing we should do is explore this truth to them and letting them to think by themselves to realize it.

Being a Buddhist is not being a part of just another religion. Being a Buddhist doesn’t give the meaning of being a part of a religion or nation. Being Buddhist is being wise and intelligent. Those who intelligent and guide them to see this four noble truth is a Buddhist! After being a Buddhist they never delay to practice the eight fold path and save themselves. And being Buddhist means one can discipline his or her selves without any effort and the disciplines comes within them… it comes inside of them… and those are wise.

Lord Buddha said everyone is developing their 7 Bojjhanga equally whenever one listens to the real dharma. If this happens that means we do the highest meditation while we listen to the Dharma. That moment will make us to realize the eternal truth and attain nirvana too! That is how in Buddha’s period people achieved level of this path while they listen to the Dharma.

May all of you get the real blessings of Triple Gem & attain Nirvana by ending this endless suffering!