[Verse 1]
In the time of Buddha Vipassī,
The earth began to shake.
The heavens trembled all around,
A light arose, a world awake.
[Verse 2]
The celestial king came near,
And calmed the hearts of those in fear.
“Have faith, be still, and honor the way,
No harm shall come to you today.”
[Chorus]
Remember the Buddha, remember the Light,
Remember the Dhamma, shining so bright.
When the world is changing and fears arise,
Let wisdom awaken within our eyes.
[Verse 3]
The heavenly being praised the One,
The truth, the path, the awakened sun.
Through countless lives, good deeds remained,
Until the path of freedom came.
[Bridge]
When the ground beneath us shakes,
Let mindfulness guide the steps we take.
Do not let fear control the mind,
Seek the truth and peace you'll find.
[Final Chorus]
Remember the Buddha, remember the Light,
Remember the Dhamma, shining so bright.
Beyond all craving, beyond all pain,
May peace and wisdom forever remain.
[Outro]
Not only words of praise we sing,
But practice what the teachings bring.
With virtue, wisdom, and a peaceful heart,
The path to freedom is where we start.
The Buddhasaññaka Thera Apadāna: The Power of Recalling the Buddha and Proclaiming His Virtues
1. Background and Story
The Buddh意思aññaka Thera Apadāna is the seventh account (117) in the Mahāparivāra Vagga of the Apadāna, Khuddaka Nikāya, Sutta Piṭaka, Volume 32.
The account describes a former life of the elder during the time of Buddha Vipassī.
When Buddha Vipassī relinquished his life-formations, the earth and waters trembled, thunder sounded in the sky, and even the celestial abode of the future elder shook.
The celestial being became frightened and wondered why such a great disturbance had occurred. At that time, a widespread radiance appeared.
King Vessavaṇa, the great celestial ruler, arrived and comforted the people. He reassured them that no danger threatened living beings and encouraged everyone to show reverence.
Hearing this, the celestial being developed deep faith and proclaimed the greatness of the Buddha and the Dhamma. He expressed wonder at the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the rare opportunity to encounter the Teacher.
Through this recollection and proclamation of the Buddha’s virtues, he experienced joy and remained happy in the heavenly realm for an entire aeon. In subsequent aeons, he continued to perform wholesome deeds.
The elder declared that the recollection of the Buddha in that former existence became a wholesome cause through which he never experienced an unfortunate destination.
He also stated that, fourteen aeons from the present one, he was born as a powerful wheel-turning monarch named Samita.
Ultimately, he realized the four analytical knowledges, the eight liberations, and the six higher knowledges. He declared that he had completed the Buddha’s teaching.
2. The Elder’s Biography According to the Commentary
The commentary explains that the elder had accumulated wholesome deeds under previous Buddhas. Throughout his successive existences, he cultivated merits that served as conditions for the attainment of Nibbāna.
During the time of Buddha Vipassī, he was born as a celestial being residing in a heavenly mansion associated with the terrestrial realm.
When Buddha Vipassī relinquished his life-formations, the world systems, together with their oceans and mountains, trembled. The celestial being’s abode also shook.
He became deeply troubled and wondered why the earth was trembling. When he learned that the event was connected with the Buddha’s relinquishment of his life-formations, he experienced profound sorrow.
King Vessavaṇa came to comfort him and helped him understand the event. The celestial being then developed reverence for the Buddha and recollected his virtues.
After passing away from that celestial existence, he wandered through heavenly and human realms. In the time of Buddha Gotama, he was born into a respectable family. When he reached maturity, he renounced household life and entered the monastic order. Before long, he attained arahantship.
Later, he recollected his former deeds and felt great joy. He then recited the verses that became the Buddhasaññaka Thera Apadāna.
The account of his celestial birth, subsequent lives, ordination, and attainment of arahantship comes from the commentary. The verses in the Tipiṭaka themselves record the event during Buddha Vipassī’s time, the proclamation of the Buddha’s virtues, and the results of that recollection.
3. Dhamma Principles
1. Recollection of the Buddha
The central theme is Buddhāsaññā, or recollection of the Buddha. It is not merely remembering the Buddha’s name or biography, but keeping his virtues and teachings in mind as a guide for daily life.
2. Faith as a foundation for wholesome action
The celestial being responded to the event with reverence and joy. This illustrates how faith can inspire wholesome mental states and conduct. In Buddhism, faith should be accompanied by wisdom and lead to understanding and practice.
3. The Buddha’s virtues as a source of inner strength
When the celestial being was frightened, he received reassurance and turned his mind toward the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Buddha’s teaching. This reminds practitioners that recollection of the Triple Gem can provide a wholesome foundation when facing uncertainty.
4. Mindfulness and understanding overcome fear
The celestial being initially did not understand why his abode was shaking. Once he received an explanation, his confusion became clearer. In daily life, this teaches us to pause, establish mindfulness, seek understanding, and avoid allowing fear to control our actions.
5. Recollection of goodness nourishes the mind
The elder described recollection of the Buddha as a wholesome cause in his former life. Remembering the Buddha’s virtues and our own wholesome actions can encourage us to continue living ethically and wisely.
6. Liberation is the ultimate goal
The story does not end with heavenly happiness or worldly power. It culminates in the elder’s realization of higher spiritual attainments and the completion of the Buddha’s teaching. This reminds us that the highest purpose of Buddhist practice is liberation from defilements and suffering.
4. The Spiritual Attainments
The elder declared that he had realized three groups of higher attainments:
The Four Analytical Knowledges: understanding of meaning, understanding of Dhamma, understanding of language, and analytical insight or ready understanding.
The Eight Liberations: eight forms of meditative liberation associated with the development of the mind.
The Six Higher Knowledges: psychic powers, the divine ear, knowledge of other minds, recollection of past lives, the divine eye, and the knowledge of the destruction of the taints.
These attainments represent advanced spiritual development. In particular, the knowledge of the destruction of the taints is associated with the ending of defilements and liberation.
5. Reflection for Modern Society
The Buddhasaññaka Thera Apadāna offers valuable lessons for people living in a world filled with uncertainty and rapid change.
First, recollection of the Buddha can provide a wholesome foundation for the mind. Remembering the Buddha’s virtues and applying his teachings can help people avoid being controlled by greed, hatred, and delusion.
Second, unexpected events should be met with mindfulness and understanding. The celestial being’s initial fear arose from not knowing the cause of the disturbance. Once he received an explanation, his understanding changed. This is a reminder to seek facts and reflect carefully before reacting.
Third, honoring the Buddha should extend beyond words. Keeping moral precepts, cultivating concentration, developing wisdom, and showing kindness to others are meaningful ways of honoring the Buddha’s teaching.
Finally, worldly happiness and heavenly existence are not the ultimate goals of Buddhism. The deeper purpose is the development of wisdom and the freedom that comes from letting go of defilements.
6. Conclusion
The Buddhasaññaka Thera Apadāna highlights the importance of recollecting the Buddha and proclaiming his virtues. When Buddha Vipassī relinquished his life-formations, the earth and the celestial abode trembled. The celestial being was initially frightened, but after receiving reassurance and understanding the event, he developed faith and expressed reverence for the Buddha and the Dhamma.
The story teaches that faith supported by understanding can strengthen the mind during times of uncertainty. Recollection of the Buddha should not remain merely an expression of praise; it should inspire the practice of the Dhamma through mindfulness, wisdom, and moral conduct.
The ultimate lesson is to turn reverence into practice and let that practice lead toward peace and liberation.
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