[Verse 1]
Beside a pond in ancient days,
The Buddha walked in golden rays.
Atthadassī, shining bright,
A noble vision of pure light.
Sumangala saw the Blessed One,
His joyful heart had just begun.
With music, dance, and songs of praise,
He offered faith in countless ways.
[Pre-Chorus]
The melody flows through the air,
A heart of faith becomes a prayer.
Beyond the sound, beyond the song,
A path of goodness leads us on.
[Chorus]
Let the music rise, let the spirit shine,
Offer every note with a heart divine.
Faith will guide us, wisdom will lead,
Plant the seeds of every good deed.
Do not cling to fame or gold,
Do not let your heart grow cold.
Walk the path of truth and light,
Until the mind is free and bright.
[Verse 2]
Through many lives, the seasons turned,
The seeds of wisdom slowly burned.
From heavenly realms to human birth,
He learned the deeper truth of Earth.
Another tale of Sumangala's life,
A farmer's burden, toil, and strife.
He saw the suffering of mankind,
And sought the peace within his mind.
[Bridge]
From music into meditation,
From faith into realization.
From worldly pain to wisdom's flame,
Liberation became his aim.
[Final Chorus]
Let the music rise, let the spirit shine,
Offer every note with a heart divine.
Faith will guide us, wisdom will lead,
Plant the seeds of every good deed.
When the music fades away,
Let the goodness always stay.
Live with wisdom, live with care,
Find the freedom beyond despair.
Sumangala Thera Apadana: The Offering of Five Kinds of Music to the Buddha Atthadassī
An inspiring Buddhist account of faith, artistic devotion, the accumulation of merit, and the ultimate liberation from suffering.
1. Historical Background
The Sumangala Thera Apadana, found in the Khuddaka Nikaya, Apadana, Mahāparivāra Vagga, in Volume 32 of the Tipitaka, recounts the meritorious deed of Sumangala Thera, who offered music and performing arts to Buddha Atthadassī.
According to the text, Buddha Atthadassī once left his monastery and approached a pond. After bathing and drinking water, he dressed in a single robe and stood peacefully, looking in different directions.
At that moment, Sumangala saw the Buddha and was filled with extraordinary joy and devotion.
With a delighted heart, he clapped his hands and offered a performance consisting of dancing, singing, and five kinds of musical instruments.
His offering was an expression of sincere faith and admiration for the Buddha, whose appearance was radiant like the sun and golden in brilliance.
According to the Apadana, this meritorious deed brought him abundant prosperity and honor in various human and heavenly existences. He also attained rebirth in the Tusita Heaven.
In subsequent existences, he became a universal monarch several times under the name Dvinavaka Ekacintita, possessing the seven treasures and great power.
Ultimately, Sumangala declared that he had realized the Four Analytical Knowledges (Paṭisambhidā), the Eight Liberations (Vimokkha), and the Six Higher Knowledges (Abhiññā).
He concluded by proclaiming that he had fulfilled the Buddha's teaching.
2. The Commentary and the Life of Sumangala Thera
The commentary explains that Sumangala had accumulated wholesome deeds and spiritual potential for liberation throughout many previous existences.
During the time of Buddha Atthadassī, he was born as a tree deity living near a pond.
When the Buddha came to bathe, the deity was deeply moved by the Buddha's extraordinary appearance. He respectfully raised his hands and offered celestial music and songs.
As a result of this meritorious deed, he experienced happiness and prosperity in heavenly and human realms.
Later, during the era of the Buddha Gotama, he was born into a respectable family. Having grown up, he developed faith in the Buddha's teachings, entered the monastic order, and attained arahantship not long afterward.
He subsequently recalled his former meritorious deed and joyfully proclaimed his spiritual achievement through the verses of the Apadana.
3. Sumangala Thera in the Theragatha
Another account of a monk named Sumangala appears in the Theragatha, Volume 26.
The commentary describes his realization through the expression:
Sumuttiko — "I am truly liberated."
In this account, Sumangala was born as a tree deity during the time of Buddha Siddhattha. After witnessing the Buddha bathing and standing peacefully, he became joyful and expressed his admiration.
In a later existence, during the time of Buddha Gotama, he was born into a poor family in a village near Sāvatthī.
He earned his living through farming, using a sickle, plough, and hoe.
One day, while attending a great offering organized by King Pasenadi Kosala for the Buddha and the monastic community, he observed the monks living peacefully and receiving respect from society.
This inspired him to enter the monastic life.
However, after ordaining, he initially experienced dissatisfaction with solitary forest life and considered returning to lay life.
One day, while visiting his relatives, he saw farmers working under the scorching sun, bending their bodies while harvesting crops, ploughing fields, and clearing weeds.
The sight awakened deep reflection on the suffering involved in earning a living.
He reconsidered his decision, returned to meditation, practiced insight meditation (Vipassanā), and eventually attained arahantship.
He then joyfully declared that he was liberated from the three forms of physical hardship associated with farming: harvesting, ploughing, and clearing weeds.
The two scriptural accounts should be distinguished because their descriptions of previous existences differ.
4. Five Important Buddhist Lessons
Faith and devotion: Sincere faith can be expressed through meaningful actions.
Wholesome intention: The value of an offering lies in the purity of one's intention.
Art as a means of devotion: Music, singing, and performing arts can be used constructively to honor the Buddha's teachings.
Accumulation of merit: Continuous cultivation of wholesome qualities provides a foundation for spiritual development.
Mindfulness and wisdom: True liberation requires overcoming attachment, discouragement, and delusion through wisdom and insight meditation.
5. Conclusion
The story of Sumangala Thera teaches that goodness can begin with whatever abilities and resources we possess.
Music and artistic expression can become meaningful instruments for promoting Buddhist values when guided by sincere faith and wholesome intentions.
Nevertheless, the ultimate goal of Buddhism is not merely heavenly happiness, fame, or prosperity. It is the eradication of defilements and the realization of liberation.
Use art to inspire faith, use faith to cultivate goodness, and use wisdom to attain liberation.
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