At the end of six years of silent practice, Bodhisatta Siddhartha wondered why he tried to practice the path of extremism. Asceticism does not show any ability to bring happiness or enlightenment grace. Thus, he renounced the asceticism and mortification to near impoverishment. He also realizes that if only meditation abides in the infinite, as the ascetic masters taught him, he will never cease suffering in the three realms of the Sense-sphere, linguistic and arūpā. Therefore, the Prince determined to follow his own path of Middle Way.

Six years of ascetic practice

Prince Siddhartha came to study with two well-known Hindu laity teachers, Alara Kalama and Udaka Ramaputta. ). They guide him to reflect on the illusion of all things and the static meditation. But after a very short time, the prince realized that these teachings would not be able to stop the suffering of the three realms of the world. So he went to the forest on the banks of the Neranja River and entered the group of five ascetics, including Anjana, Ashvajit, Vaspa, Ma Ha, Male (Mahanama) and Badrika. These people became the first great disciples of the Buddha.

During this time, the strict Prince applied the method of practicing ascetic pressure, meditating on the state of mindfulness as vast as nowhere. The scriptures record that, in the first two years, He almost did not eat anything but sesame seeds; For the next two years, he only drank water, and in the last two years the Buddha did not eat any food. During this extremely harsh austerity, his body became worn out, black as a dry skeleton, and everyone called him Dark Horse. He did not move, only sitting quietly meditating like a rock, so that the ants also nest under his seat. Water buffalo and young buffalo are surprised to see this strange black magic. Some naughty also heated iron rods and stabbed his ears to tease.

While he was meditating, the gods appeared in the sky and said to Siddhartha Bodhisattva that his mother was reborn in heaven. During the six years of ascetic practice, Siddhartha Bodhisattva speaks only once, to admonish the gods not to worry about him, because he soon attains the Enlightenment. The gods are happy to hear these words and hurry back to heaven to report to his mother, Queen Ma.

At the end of a six-year period of silent practice, the Bodhisatta wondered why he had attempted to follow the extreme path, because the ascetic did not show any ability to bring happiness or enlightenment. Thus, he renounced the asceticism and mortification to near impoverishment. He also realized that if only meditation lived in the limitless space, as the ascetic masters taught him, he would never end suffering in the three realms. Therefore, the Prince determined to follow his own path of Middle Way.

A bowl of rice porridge donated to the Buddha to restore energy

On the banks of the Ni Lien Meditation Center, where the Ascetic Buddha had been for six years, there was a large village. Two beautiful young women, slightly older than Prince Siddhartha, called Sujata and Supriya, lived in the village. They have listened to so many wonderful things about Prince Siddhartha, such as the prince who is superficial, talented in all sixty types of art and has a great heart. word, volume. During the twelve years, they kept the good deeds, the rituals, and silently prayed that someday they would be recruited by the prince without knowing that the prince had left the family. secular life.

One day, the two of them received the blessing from the gods, telling them to offer food to two ascetic monks, to fulfill the wish. The two girls are extremely happy to hear the teachings, because their dreams are about to come true. They milked five hundred red cows, cooked a porridge of milk and heated for one night in a clean corner. The next morning, the delicious porridge of milk delicious, on the surface of cream milk smoothly emerged Figure Eight Prime Minister Sand wall sacred victory.

The two divine beings, Brahma and Sakyamuni, transformed themselves into two ascetics, and the two girls thought they were the ones who needed to be offered the food according to the prophecy. When the two girls happily offered porridge to Thich Thien Vuong, he taught: "You need to offer God the Brahma first," but Brahma taught: "If you donate this food to one male or female, she will accumulate more merit. Then, the two angels immediately appeared and said: "If you offer this food to Bodhisattva Siddhartha, who is practicing ascetic on the bank of Ni Lien Meditation, accumulated merit. multiply and every wish will be fulfilled. " Obediently, they put porridge in a bowl of precious treasure to offer Bodhisattva.

They were very happy because they knew the right Bodhisattva as the gods told them, they offer a bowl of delicious porridge filled with delicious. He received food offerings and returned the precious bowl, but the two said: "Sir, nobleman, we offer the whole treasure, we do not want to take back, bowed to him to keep. again to use ". The Bodhisattva said he did not need a bowl. He immediately released it into the river of Ni Lien, immediately Naga gods are very happy to receive. At the same time, the gods turn into giant Garuda hermit soaring down, sucking the bowl and bring back heaven. In return, the gods give Naga gods a bowl of alms bowls made of jade of heaven.

After receiving a bowl of fresh milk porridge, the Bodhisatta asked the two girls: "What do you wish to accomplish your wish when offering porridge for me?" Not knowing that the Bodhisattva is the Prince, the two reverently reply: "Honorable General, we only wish to become Prince Siddhartha's concubine in the Kapilavastu Kingdom" . The Bodhisatta asked: "So you two do not know the Prince was ordained?" The two girls were shocked, silent for a moment and then vow: "So we pray for the Prince soon attained enlightenment." Thanks to bowl of porridge, bodhisattva body quickly restored vitality, the skin becomes bright, beautiful as gold.

END=NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.THE MIND OF ENLIGHTENMENT.VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=GOLDEN LOTUS MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.27/9/2018..