[Intro]
No gold to give, no wealth to share,
No precious gifts, no treasures there.
But in my heart, one truth remains,
The Five Precepts can break my chains.
[Verse 1]
In Candavatī long ago,
A humble worker walked alone.
He worked for others every day,
Yet sought the Dhamma's peaceful way.
The world was burning with three fires,
Greed and hatred, endless desires.
Though he had nothing to give away,
He chose the Five Precepts that day.
[Chorus]
The Five Precepts, the treasure within,
A wealth that no one can steal or win.
You don't need gold to live with grace,
Just a pure heart in this human place.
Do not kill, do not steal,
Respect all beings and their appeal.
Speak the truth, let wisdom grow,
Leave intoxicants and carelessness behind.
[Verse 2]
Venerable Nisabha showed the way,
The humble man began that day.
He kept his precepts, strong and true,
Through all the years his faith grew.
When death approached, his heart recalled,
The moral path that he had followed.
A thousand horses, a heavenly ride,
The fruits of goodness by his side.
[Verse 3]
Born again in a wealthy home,
In Vesālī, no longer alone.
He heard his parents undertake the Five,
And memories of his past came alive.
At only five, his wisdom shone,
The path to freedom became his own.
From a poor worker without worldly gain,
An arahant, free from suffering and pain.
[Bridge]
Morality is the ground we stand,
Mindfulness guides the heart and hand.
Concentration makes the mind shine,
Wisdom reveals the truth divine.
Do not measure people by their gold,
The greatest treasure cannot be sold.
A humble heart can rise above,
Through discipline, wisdom, and love.
[Final Chorus]
The Five Precepts, the treasure within,
A peaceful life is where we begin.
No crown, no wealth, no royal throne,
Can match the wisdom that we own.
Do not kill, do not steal,
Let honesty make the world more real.
With moral strength and wisdom bright,
We walk the path to freedom's light.
[Outro]
Gold may vanish, wealth may fall,
But wisdom can enlighten all.
The Five Precepts show the way,
To peace and freedom every day.
The Apadāna of Pañcasīlasamādāniya Thera: The Power of the Five Precepts — From a Poor Laborer to an Arahant at Five Years Old
Tipiṭaka, Volume 32, Sutta Piṭaka, Volume 24, Khuddaka Nikāya, Apadāna, Subhūti Vagga, Pañcasīlasamādāniya Thera Apadāna No. 24
1. The Background and Story
The Pañcasīlasamādāniya Thera Apadāna tells the story of a poor laborer who lived in the ancient city of Candavatī during the time of Anomadassī Buddha.
He earned his living by working for others. Because of his poverty and responsibilities, he could not renounce worldly life and become a monk, although he wished to pursue the spiritual path.
One day, he reflected on the suffering of the world. He realized that beings were covered by ignorance and burned by the three fires of greed, hatred, and delusion.
He wondered what he could do to develop goodness because he had no material possessions to offer.
He then thought:
"If I cannot make material offerings, why should I not faithfully observe the Five Precepts?"
He approached Venerable Nisabha, a disciple of Anomadassī Buddha, and undertook the Five Precepts.
At that time, he was one hundred thousand years old. He maintained the Five Precepts faithfully throughout the remainder of his life.
When the time of death approached, celestial beings appeared and welcomed him with a magnificent chariot drawn by one thousand horses.
Remembering his moral discipline at the final moment of life, he was reborn in the Tāvatiṃsa heaven.
According to the Apadāna, he subsequently became the king of the devas thirty times, a universal monarch seventy-five times, and a prosperous regional ruler countless times.
2. His Final Birth and Attainment of Arahantship
In his final existence, he was reborn into a very wealthy Brahmin family in the city of Vesālī during the dispensation of Gotama Buddha.
One important day, his parents undertook the Five Precepts in preparation for the Buddhist Rains Retreat.
While listening to their observance of the precepts, he suddenly remembered that he had faithfully practiced the same moral discipline in a previous life.
He then sat on a seat, developed insight meditation, and attained arahantship.
Remarkably, he was only five years old.
The Buddha recognized his spiritual qualities and granted him ordination into the Buddhist Sangha.
The elder declared that through his faithful observance of the Five Precepts, he had never fallen into an unfortunate realm throughout countless aeons.
He further explained that the practice of the Five Precepts had brought three important benefits:
Long life.
Material prosperity.
Sharp wisdom.
However, his greatest achievement was not worldly wealth or celestial happiness. It was the attainment of liberation from all bonds and defilements.
3. The Life and Significance of Pañcasīlasamādāniya Thera
Pañcasīlasamādāniya Thera was an arahant whose story is recorded in the Apadāna.
His name is associated with undertaking and faithfully observing the Five Precepts.
His life illustrates three important qualities.
First: Goodness is possible even in poverty.
Although he had no wealth to donate, he chose to practice morality. His example demonstrates that goodness does not depend on financial status.
Second: Moral discipline requires consistency.
He faithfully maintained the Five Precepts throughout his life in that former existence.
Third: Morality can lead to wisdom and liberation.
He did not stop at the pursuit of favorable rebirth. In his final existence, he developed insight and attained arahantship.
The Apadāna commentary explains that he was reborn into a wealthy Brahmin family in Vesālī, remembered his former moral practice, developed insight, and attained arahantship before receiving ordination.
4. The Seven Principal Buddhist Teachings
1. The Five Precepts are accessible to everyone.
Moral discipline does not require wealth or social status. Anyone can begin by controlling their own actions and speech.
2. Morality requires consistency.
Goodness is not merely a single action. It requires continuous commitment and effort.
3. Poverty is not an obstacle to merit.
A person who cannot make material offerings can still cultivate goodness through moral discipline.
4. Morality creates social trust.
When people refrain from violence, theft, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants, society becomes safer and more harmonious.
5. Morality, concentration, and wisdom support one another.
Moral discipline provides a foundation for mental development, concentration, and insight.
6. Recollection of goodness strengthens the mind.
Remembering one's wholesome actions can inspire confidence, joy, and further spiritual development.
7. Liberation is the highest goal.
The ultimate purpose of Buddhist practice is not worldly prosperity or heavenly rebirth, but the eradication of defilements and freedom from suffering.
5. Applying the Five Precepts to Modern Society
The Five Precepts can serve as practical ethical guidelines in contemporary life.
The Five Precepts | Modern application |
|---|---|
Refraining from killing | Respecting life and rejecting violence |
Refraining from stealing | Fighting corruption and protecting property |
Refraining from sexual misconduct | Respecting dignity and personal rights |
Refraining from false speech | Preventing misinformation and fake news |
Refraining from intoxicants | Promoting mindfulness and responsible behavior |
In the age of artificial intelligence, these principles can also guide the ethical development and use of technology.
AI should not be used to harm others, steal personal information, violate privacy, spread misinformation, or encourage irresponsible behavior.
6. Conclusion
The story of Pañcasīlasamādāniya Thera teaches that poverty does not prevent a person from cultivating goodness.
A poor laborer who possessed no material wealth chose the Five Precepts as his foundation for spiritual development.
Through continuous moral discipline, wholesome intentions, and insight meditation, he eventually attained arahantship at the age of five in his final existence.
The Five Precepts are a treasure that everyone can possess. Morality protects life, wisdom illuminates the mind, and liberation is the highest achievement.
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