[Verse 1]
In the days of Buddha Siddhattha,
A heart of faith began to shine.
Cunda offered fragrant jasmine flowers,
With joy and love in his heart and mind.
[Verse 2]
The flowers rose and formed a canopy,
A blessing beneath the open sky.
The Buddha spoke of deeds and destiny,
And how good actions never truly die.
[Chorus]
Flowers of faith, an offering of love,
Goodness remains through the passing years.
Gratitude guides us, wisdom lights the way,
A peaceful heart can overcome its fears.
Give with kindness, live with truth,
Let compassion guide the things you do.
Do not stop with offerings alone,
Walk the path until your mind is free.
[Verse 3]
Cunda served his brother Sāriputta,
With gratitude and a faithful heart.
When his elder brother passed away,
He honoured him with a sacred offering.
[Bridge]
From flowers offered in a distant age,
To wisdom found through meditation.
He saw the truth, released all bonds,
And reached the end of liberation.
[Final Chorus]
Flowers of faith, an offering of love,
The heart grows wise through what we do.
Generosity and gratitude,
Can lead the mind to peace and truth.
Cunda Thera’s Story: From Offering Flowers to Attaining Arahantship
The story of Cunda Thera highlights the value of faith, generosity, gratitude, service to the Sangha, and the practice of insight meditation leading to liberation.
The Cunda Therāpadāna, found in Book 32 of the Khuddaka Nikāya, Apadāna, U pāli Vagga, tells the story of a disciple who offered flowers to Buddha Siddhattha with a joyful and devoted heart. The Buddha foretold that he would eventually become a disciple of Gotama Buddha and attain arahantship.
1. The Story in the Pali Canon
In the time of Buddha Siddhattha, the person who would later become Cunda Thera prepared a special floral offering decorated with jasmine flowers. After completing the offering, he presented it to the Buddha and also offered the remaining flowers.
He made these offerings with sincere faith and joy.
Buddha Siddhattha, surrounded by enlightened disciples and seated among the Sangha, foretold the results of this wholesome deed. He declared that the donor would be reborn in heavenly realms, enjoy celestial happiness, and experience various forms of prosperity in future lives.
The prophecy mentioned that he would enjoy heavenly sovereignty 74 times, become a king 300 times, and become a universal monarch 75 times.
Eventually, he would be born into a Brahmin family as the son of Vanganta and Sari, and become a disciple of Gotama Buddha under the name Cūḷacunda. The prophecy stated that he would attain arahantship while still a novice, eradicate all mental defilements, and pass into final Nibbāna.
The verses also describe his service to the Buddha, to virtuous disciples, and to his elder brother, the Venerable Sāriputta.
After Sāriputta passed away, Cunda placed his elder brother’s relics in a bowl and presented them to the Buddha. The Buddha received the relics with both hands and declared Sāriputta’s status as a chief disciple.
At the conclusion of his account, Cunda Thera declared that his mind was fully liberated, his faith was firmly established, and all mental defilements had been eradicated. He had realised the four analytical knowledges, the eight liberations, and the six supernormal knowledges. He had completed the task of the Buddha’s dispensation.
2. The Life of Cunda Thera According to the Commentary
The commentary explains that Cunda Thera had accumulated meritorious deeds under previous Buddhas, preparing the conditions for his eventual attainment of Nibbāna.
During the time of Buddha Siddhattha, he was born into a wealthy family. After reaching adulthood, he developed faith in the Buddha’s teaching and commissioned a valuable offering made of gold, adorned with the seven precious substances and covered with jasmine flowers.
When the offering was presented, the flowers rose into the air and formed a canopy. Buddha Siddhattha then prophesied that he would become a disciple named Cunda in the dispensation of Gotama Buddha.
After passing away, he was reborn in celestial realms and enjoyed heavenly happiness. He also experienced prosperity in the human world according to his past kamma.
In the era of Gotama Buddha, he was born into a Brahmin family as the son of Rūpasārī and the younger brother of the Venerable Sāriputta.
As he grew older, he recognised the disadvantages of household life and the benefits of renunciation. He therefore ordained under the guidance of his elder brother, Sāriputta, and practised insight meditation. According to the commentary, he attained arahantship after a relatively short period of practice.
The commentary also highlights his gratitude towards Sāriputta. After his elder brother passed away, Cunda respectfully cared for his relics and presented them to the Buddha. The Buddha accepted the relics and acknowledged Sāriputta as a chief disciple.
Later, Cunda Thera recalled his past deeds with joy and recited the verses preserved in the Cunda Therāpadāna.
3. Important Dhamma Teachings
Faith and generosity: Offerings made with sincere faith and joy cultivate wholesome states of mind.
Accumulation of merit: Wholesome actions create favourable conditions, and goodness should be cultivated continuously.
Gratitude: Cunda’s care for his elder brother Sāriputta illustrates gratitude and respect for those who have supported us.
Supporting virtuous people: Supporting the Buddha and virtuous disciples helps preserve and strengthen the spiritual community.
Renunciation and wisdom: Recognising the limitations of worldly life can inspire a person to seek a deeper form of happiness.
Diligent meditation: Cunda’s attainment of arahantship demonstrates the importance of practising insight meditation rather than relying on past merit alone.
The ultimate goal: The highest purpose of Buddhist practice is the complete eradication of mental defilements and the attainment of liberation.
4. Applying the Teachings to Modern Life
In family life: Show gratitude to parents, siblings, and those who have helped us.
In society: Support people of integrity and contribute to education, community service, and beneficial activities.
At work: Be honest, share knowledge, and help colleagues.
In education: Use knowledge and resources to create opportunities for others.
In spiritual practice: Cultivate generosity, morality, concentration, and wisdom to gradually overcome greed, hatred, and delusion.
Central message: Flowers eventually fade, but the values of faith, gratitude, generosity, and wisdom can transform a person's life. Generosity is a beautiful beginning; liberation through the eradication of defilements is the ultimate goal.
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