As you
all know, “Nirvana Dhamma” always shares only the purest teachings of Samma
SamBuddha which leads us to the true liberation – the Nirvana. So, no here
& there stories… no excuses for defilement. Just shares what we should do
as true disciples. I have chosen a wonderful story of a Bhikkhu and the teachings
given to him by Samma SamBuddha for this month’s editorial. This teaching is in
Dhamma Pada.
The incident happened when Samma SamBuddha resides in
Devram Monastery. Bhikkhu’s name was Ven. Aththadaththa.
It says
the incident occurred like this. When Samma SamBuddha was nearly to pass
away, the blessed one informed, “Bhikkhu, I am going to pass away after four
months of time”. After hearing this message, a group of bhikkhus were so
worried… confused… and moved away from Samma SamBuddha… and were discussing
“what shall we do… oh what shall we do now… what will happen to us…”
etc... You know, when some terrible news comes to us, we normally get
confused and couldn’t understand what to do next… something like that.
But there
was this bhikkhu named Ven. Aththadaththa among the crowd. He thought like
this, “Oh! Samma SamBuddha is going to pass away after 04 months of time.
I just have 04 months to achieve the final attainment. I should give my
best try to attain the Nirvana while the blessed one alive!”
So, he
ignored the company of those confused bhikkhus. He even gives up on
talking to them. He just tried his very best to do what has to be done as
a true disciple. Then those confused bhikkhus again got confused by his
attitude towards them. They went to Samma SamBuddha and said that this
Bhikkhu Ven. Aththadaththa stopped talking to them and ignoring them, and can’t
understand why.
Then
Bhikkhu Aththadaththa explained Samma SamBuddha what he felt when he heard the
news of “Just four months more”. He said he just wants to try
his level best to do what Samma SamBuddha asked them to do while the blessed
one alive. That’s it… nothing else! Then, blessed one was so pleased and
praised him. And said,
“Oh,
Bhikkhus… If you truly care for me… if you truly respect for me… then you
should be like this Bhikkhu Aththadaththa. There is no use of offering me
by flowers & other incents, if you do not offer me by doing what I ask you
to do. So, everyone should be like this Bhikkhu Aththadaththa".
And said this wonderful Dhamma teaching which you can find in Dhamma Pada – Kuddaka Nikaya – Sutta pitaka – The Pali
canon
“Attadatthaṁ paratthena, bahunāpi na hāpaye; Attadatthamabhiññāya,
sadatthapasuto siyā”.
“Never
neglect your own good for the sake of another, however great. Knowing well
what’s good for you, be intent upon your true goal”.
After by
hearing this whole teaching, Bhikkhu Aththadaththa became an Arhath who has
completed what has to be done by a true disciple. We should relate
this to our own path of nibbana. There are so many lessons we can learn
through this incident.
As you
know, there are always issues, problems… bad news all the time. That’s
natural and that’s life! But we mostly like those bhikkhus who got
confused by hearing the bad news. They just teamed up and discussing what
has to be done… and what happen to them in future etc… Always carried away with
the external issues by believing how badly they could affect us. And
forgets what has to be done!
But
bhikkhu Aththadaththa well knows with the issue as well as with the solution
too. He understood worrying and confusing for the issue to arise is not
the solution. He understood that one shouldn’t waste time for such
useless things. He didn’t even bother how successful he can be, whether
he could complete the path or not…
HE JUST
DECIDED TO DO WHAT HE HAS TO BE DONE AS A TRUE DISCIPLE! And he didn’t
even bother to pamper the team of bhikkhus who are worried and confused.
He just determined to do what he has to do! All those bhikkhus who
were confused got the same opportunities given by bhikkhu Aththadaththa.
But they failed to make use of it.
There
is another strong message here, Samma
SamBuddha always praised the disciples who are dedicated to complete the path
of nibbana. That’s why the blessed one guide us here by saying; “Never
neglect your own good for the sake of another, however great. Knowing well
what’s good for you, be intent upon your true goal”.
Many says
“You shouldn’t be such a selfish person… bless them… do some offerings… held
some sacred event to bless the others… they are confused… help them… do not
just focus on what you have to do… They can’t focus on dhamma teachings at the
moment… because they are not smart enough like you… all they need is
blessings…” etc… etc…
Offering
Samma SamBuddha with a true intention of being gratitude is not out of the path
at all. But offering the blessed one and the noble ones by expecting
blessings for solving the external issues is what Samma SamBuddha refused by
saying “If you care for me… if you respect me… don’t offer me flowers &
other… just respect what I have asked you to do and DO IT!”
Like
in this story, many get confused with bad news. That’s natural. But
one with strong focus do not get confused or carried away. So, it’s up to
you always whom you are going to be!
So,
beloved Dhamma friends, you may be going through many of external issue like
plague, war, political issues, hunger, natural disasters etc… etc… There is
this beautiful teaching of Samma SamBuddha which is still available for
us. But not for so long. We really don’t have time to waste.
So instead of correcting the external world, try your best to look into your
inside and find what goes wrong. The root of all the issues! The
cause! Find it. Blessings are still there… but not for so long!!!
Stay in
touch with www.nirvanadhamma.com for
more deep Dhamma!
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