The Voice That Praises the Buddha
Musical Style: Inspirational Folk Rock / Buddhist Spiritual Music
Intro
When Vipassī came into the light,
The world was filled with wonders bright.
A young wise heart began to see,
A Buddha's path to liberty.
Verse 1
At seven years, a young Brahmin,
Had learned the knowledge taught to him.
He saw the signs, the world transformed,
And knew a Buddha had been born.
The worlds were shaking far and wide,
A brilliant light spread far outside.
The rivers stopped, the winds grew still,
A sacred peace embraced the hills.
Chorus
Let every word praise wisdom bright,
Let wholesome speech become our light.
With faith and wisdom in our heart,
We walk the path and make a start.
Do not let words become a flame,
That brings another soul to shame.
Speak truth with kindness every day,
And let the Dhamma guide our way.
Verse 2
Through countless lives and passing years,
He ruled with treasures and great power.
A Universal Monarch's crown,
Could never make the heart renounce.
He chose the path of sacred truth,
And left behind his worldly youth.
Through meditation, wisdom grew,
Until the path of freedom shone through.
Chorus
Let every word praise wisdom bright,
Let wholesome speech become our light.
With faith and wisdom in our heart,
We walk the path and make a start.
Do not let words become a flame,
That brings another soul to shame.
Speak truth with kindness every day,
And let the Dhamma guide our way.
Bridge
Fourfold wisdom, liberations eight,
Six higher knowledges illuminate.
The chains of ignorance fall away,
And suffering reaches its final day.
Outro
No crown of gold, no worldly fame,
Can match the peace beyond all pain.
May loving words and wisdom grow,
And light the path wherever we go.
The Buddha's virtues, shining bright,
Will guide our hearts toward freedom's light.
Sammukhāthavika Thera: The Power of Praising the Buddha and the Fruits of Wholesome Speech
A Buddhist account of faith, wisdom, wholesome speech, and the accumulation of merit leading toward liberation
The Sammukhāthavika Therāpadāna appears in Volume 32 of the Tipiṭaka, Sutta Piṭaka, Khuddaka Nikāya, Apadāna, under the Sereyyaka Vagga.
It recounts the story of an individual who praised and predicted the future Buddhahood of the Bodhisatta Vipassī at the time of his birth. The account describes extraordinary events that accompanied the Bodhisatta's birth and the conviction that he would become a Fully Enlightened Buddha, guiding beings toward the cessation of suffering.
1. The Story in the Tipiṭaka
Sammukhāthavika Thera recalled that when Bodhisatta Vipassī was born, he interpreted the extraordinary signs as indications that the child would become a Buddha in the world and lead many beings toward liberation.
The events described in his verses include:
The ten thousand world systems trembling at the Buddha's birth.
A vast and brilliant light illuminating the world.
Rivers ceasing to flow.
The fires of the Avīci hell ceasing to blaze.
Flocks of birds becoming still.
Powerful winds ceasing to blow.
Precious jewels and treasures shining brilliantly.
The Bodhisatta taking seven steps.
The newly born Buddha looking in all directions.
The proclamation of the noble and mighty utterance, a customary event associated with the birth of Buddhas.
The elder declared that these were traditional extraordinary characteristics associated with the birth of all Buddhas.
He then praised the Blessed One, the supreme leader of the world, inspiring people to reflect deeply on the nature of existence. After paying homage to the Buddha, he turned toward the eastern direction.
2. The Fruits of Praising the Buddha
The elder stated that, as a result of praising the Buddha ninety-one aeons ago, he never experienced an unfortunate destination.
He also recalled having been born as several Universal Monarchs, each possessing the Seven Treasures and great military power.
The names mentioned in the verses include:
Sammukhāthavika
Paṭhavīdundubhi
Obhāsa
Saricchedana
Agginibbāpana
Vātasama
Gatipacchedana
Ratanapajjala
Padavikkamana
Vilokana
Girisāra
These accounts illustrate the fruits of wholesome actions as described in the Buddhist tradition.
Eventually, the elder attained the Four Analytical Discernments, the Eight Liberations, and the Six Higher Knowledges. He declared that he had completed his spiritual undertaking in the Buddha's teaching.
3. The Biography of Sammukhāthavika Thera
According to the commentary, the elder had accumulated wholesome deeds under previous Buddhas, continually developing spiritual conditions conducive to Nibbāna.
During the time of Vipassī Buddha, he was born into a Brahmin family. At only seven years of age, he had already mastered the traditional studies and knowledge of his family.
When Bodhisatta Vipassī was born, he examined the signs and characteristics associated with the birth of a Buddha. The commentary explains that characteristics of Buddhas were described in the traditional Vedic texts.
Based on his learning, he predicted that Vipassī Bodhisatta would become a Fully Enlightened Buddha and lead many beings toward the cessation of suffering. He also proclaimed many words of praise in recognition of the Bodhisatta's extraordinary qualities.
As a result of this wholesome deed, he enjoyed the six heavenly realms of the sense-sphere and experienced the prosperity of Universal Monarchs in the human world.
Later, during the era of the Buddha whose teaching he eventually followed, he was born into a respectable family.
When he reached adulthood, he developed faith in the Buddha's teaching and renounced household life to become a monk.
Not long after entering the monastic community, he attained Arahantship and became completely liberated from mental defilements.
His name, Sammukhāthavika Thera, was associated with the wholesome deed he had performed in the past.
When he recollected his previous actions, he experienced great joy and recited verses describing his spiritual history.
4. Important Buddhist Teachings
1. Recollection of the Buddha's virtues
The elder's praise of Vipassī Buddha reflects the practice of Buddhānussati, or recollection of the Buddha's qualities. These include wisdom, purity, and great compassion.
2. Wholesome speech
Praising the Buddha with sincere respect demonstrates the beneficial use of speech. This teaching can be connected with Sammā Vācā, or Right Speech, one of the Noble Eightfold Path factors.
3. Faith supported by wisdom
The commentary describes the elder as someone who used his knowledge and learning to interpret the signs associated with the Bodhisatta's birth.
This illustrates the importance of combining faith with understanding and wisdom.
4. The law of kamma
The elder described favorable consequences arising from his wholesome actions. This reflects the Buddhist teaching that intentional actions produce corresponding results.
5. Worldly prosperity is not the ultimate goal
Although the elder experienced great worldly prosperity as a Universal Monarch, he ultimately chose monastic life and attained Arahantship.
This teaches that wealth, power, and fame are impermanent, while liberation from suffering is the highest spiritual goal.
6. Learning must be accompanied by practice
The elder had acquired considerable knowledge from childhood. However, his spiritual fulfillment came through faith, renunciation, meditation, and the development of wisdom.
Knowledge helps us understand the world, while the practice of Dhamma helps us understand the true nature of life and move toward liberation.
5. Spiritual Attainments
The elder mentioned three important groups of attainments:
The Four Analytical Discernments: understanding of meaning, Dhamma, language, and analytical knowledge.
The Eight Liberations: eight states of meditative liberation.
The Six Higher Knowledges: psychic powers, divine hearing, knowledge of other minds, recollection of past lives, divine vision, and the destruction of mental intoxicants.
The knowledge that destroys the mental intoxicants represents the culmination of the path to Arahantship.
6. A Message for Modern Society
The story of Sammukhāthavika Thera teaches us to use knowledge, faith, and speech in wholesome ways.
His life demonstrates that words can be powerful instruments for encouraging goodness, promoting wisdom, and inspiring people to reflect on the truth of life.
In modern society, especially in the age of social media, people should recognize that speech can either create harmony or cause harm.
Speaking truthfully, appreciating the goodness of others, sharing accurate knowledge, and communicating with kindness are valuable ways to contribute to society.
The essential lesson of Sammukhāthavika Thera is this: Use knowledge to understand the truth, use speech to spread goodness, use faith to cultivate merit, and use wisdom as the guide toward liberation from suffering.
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