[Verse 1]
Deep within the forest green,
A hunter walked where trees had been.
Then suddenly before his eyes,
A Buddha appeared beneath the skies.
[Verse 2]
With humble heart and peaceful grace,
He joined his palms before the Sage.
No jewels, no wealth, no words to say,
Just simple faith along the way.
[Chorus]
Joined palms in the forest, a heart sincere,
A moment of faith, a moment clear.
No grand offering, no riches to bring,
Just reverence for the Awakened King.
Let kindness grow in all we do,
Let wisdom guide our journey through.
A humble gesture, a heart made bright,
Can lead us closer to the light.
[Verse 3]
Beneath the trees he sat to rest,
A storm arose from the sky's dark crest.
As lightning struck and life drew near its end,
He joined his palms once more again.
[Bridge]
Life is uncertain, the days pass by,
Let wholesome thoughts within us rise.
Practise kindness, let wisdom grow,
And walk the path that brings peace to the soul.
[Chorus (Repeat)]
Joined palms in the forest, a heart sincere,
A moment of faith, a moment clear.
No grand offering, no riches to bring,
Just reverence for the Awakened King.
[Outro]
Two hands together, a humble sign,
May faith and wisdom in our hearts shine.
Beyond the gesture, let goodness start,
And lead us towards a peaceful heart.
The Ṭhitañjaliya Thera Apadāna: The Hunter Who Offered Reverence with Joined Palms
An account of faith, reverence, and the wholesome intention behind a simple gesture.
Background and Story
The Ṭhitañjaliya Thera Apadāna, the ninth account in the Nāgasamāla Vagga, appears in Volume 32 of the Pali Canon, in the Sutta Piṭaka, Khuddaka Nikāya, within the Apadāna collection.
According to the verses, the elder recalled a former life in which he had been a hunter living in a dense forest. One day, while in the forest, he encountered a Fully Enlightened Buddha who possessed the thirty-two auspicious marks of a Great Man.
Upon seeing the Buddha, the hunter joined his palms in reverence and paid homage. He then walked away, facing towards the eastern direction.
Later, he gathered leaves and arranged them as a simple seat on which to rest, not far from the place where he had seen the Buddha. While he was sitting there, a lightning bolt struck his head, causing his death.
As he approached the end of his life, he joined his palms once again in reverence.
The verses state that this act of homage took place ninety-two aeons ago. The elder declared that, as a result of this deed, he had not experienced an unfortunate destination.
The account also mentions a Universal Monarch named Migaketu, who appeared fifty-four aeons ago. He possessed the seven treasures and great military power.
At the end of the verses, the elder declared that he had attained the four analytical knowledges, the eight liberations, and the six higher knowledges. He had completed the task of the Buddha's teaching.
The Biography of Venerable Ṭhitañjaliya
According to the commentary, the elder had accumulated wholesome deeds under previous Buddhas, developing spiritual conditions that supported his eventual attainment of Nibbāna.
During the time of Buddha Tissa, he was born into the family or occupation of a hunter and lived in the forest. The commentary explains that this birth as a hunter was connected with a past deed that had influenced his circumstances.
When he encountered Buddha Tissa in the forest, he developed faith and joined his palms in reverence.
Later, he recollected this former wholesome deed. Filled with joy, he recited the verses to make his past action known.
It is important to distinguish the two sources: the canonical verses describe his life as a hunter, his encounter with the Buddha, his act of reverence, the lightning strike, and his final gesture of homage. The commentary adds that he was born as a hunter during the time of Buddha Tissa and had accumulated wholesome deeds under previous Buddhas.
Dhamma Teachings
1. Joined palms express respect through body and mind.
The gesture of joining the palms is a sign of humility and reverence. When accompanied by sincere faith, it becomes an expression of wholesome intention.
2. Faith can arise in unexpected circumstances.
The hunter lived in the forest and encountered the Buddha unexpectedly. Yet this meeting inspired him to show respect. This reminds us that anyone can begin cultivating goodness whenever an opportunity arises.
3. Recollection of goodness can support the mind.
The verses describe the hunter joining his palms again as he approached death. This encourages us to cultivate wholesome thoughts and become familiar with acts of goodness throughout our lives.
4. Actions and their consequences.
The elder attributed the fortunate result described in his account to his act of reverence. This should be understood as the result of the particular deed described in the Apadāna, not as a universal guarantee that one gesture can erase all other karma.
5. Faith should develop into spiritual practice.
The elder concluded by declaring that he had completed the Buddha's teaching. This reminds us that faith is an important beginning, but it should be developed through ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom.
Spiritual Attainments
The elder declared that he had attained:
The Four Analytical Knowledges: understanding of meaning, Dhamma, language, and analytical discernment.
The Eight Liberations: eight forms of meditative liberation.
The Six Higher Knowledges: supernormal powers, divine ear, knowledge of other minds, recollection of past lives, divine eye, and the destruction of mental defilements.
The destruction of the defilements, known as āsavakkhaya ñāṇa, is especially significant because it represents the realization of arahantship.
Conclusion
The Ṭhitañjaliya Thera Apadāna teaches that even a simple gesture of reverence can express a sincere and wholesome heart.
The hunter's encounter with the Buddha reminds us that goodness can begin with a small act: joining our palms, showing respect, and recollecting the virtues of those worthy of reverence.
Yet the deeper message is to move beyond outward gestures and cultivate morality, concentration, and wisdom, following the path towards liberation from suffering.
[คำแนะนำเพิ่มเติมเกี่ยวกับการใช้งาน: ตามข้อจำกัดของระบบ AI ในปัจจุบัน การสร้างภาพที่มีตัวอักษรภาษาไทยอาจจะยังมีความคลาดเคลื่อนของตัวสะกดหรือรูปสระอยู่บ้าง หวังเป็นพื้นฐานของการศึกษาและจะพัฒนาให้สมบูรณ์ต่อไป]