Chapter III

Worthy of the role of Buddha

-ooOoo-

M OT in the virtues of Ananda is unfortunate streak Buddha devoted servant. It has also been affirmed so many times, and He added: "Ananda is the most worthy disciple among those who have served the Tathagata. Be the first one, do not let the Tathagata wait "(Anguttara Nikayaa 1.19 = The highest number 1.19).

Actually the three words "near the Buddha" is not very clear. Because the word of the world is hard to accurately describe the position of Ananda in the virtuous community, under the guidance of the Buddha. If we call Ananda the secretary or assistant of the Buddha, then, then, the aspect of narcissism, worship, sacrifice, ready sacrifice of Nanjing to Germany. Buddha is not expressed. If we call him a disciple of the Buddha, then the organizational role, and many times the Buddha's representative, his ingenious way of life, is forgotten.

Then, beyond the scope of Buddhism, we can not find, in other philosophical literary treasures, a similar character, that is, a character who can both be a servant and the assistant of the teacher, at the same time the character is also capable of becoming a teacher, such as Ananda.

His devoted attendance for the Buddha in twenty-five years is very much. We describe only a number of everyday tasks. For example, every morning and evening, Nananda must bring water to wash the face and toothpaste for the Buddha. Then he had to prepare the coordinates before giving breakfast to the Buddha. At noon, Ananda went to alms to go ahead, to receive Buddha bowl. In water, he must prepare, to wash his feet. When eating, he always eat after the Buddha, and when the Buddha finished eating, he was obliged to ask for food left in the bowl of the Buddha to distribute to the poor Bhikkhus or give to the poor. The clothes, bowls and bowls of the Buddha, Nananda always clean, wash and wash clean. When the Buddha tired, he anointed, massage or find medicine for Buddha.

According to the Mahàvagga, 3, 16 (Business Books, chapter 3, paragraph 16), besides the work dedicated to the Buddha mentioned above, Nananda daily also personally supervised all the activities of the monks, Especially the newly ordained Bhikkhus. Even when everyone has retreated into the net (noon as well as evening), he also monitors everywhere in the temple, whether monks or novas who forget things or not, to take in a store. place, then handed back to them.

Whenever the teachings of the Master should convey to the Sangha, he is the informant who teaches to the ears of all people (cf.

At midnight all the Buddhas want to meet all the Sangha, Nananda is also happy to call (Jataka 148).

On one occasion, they were indifferent to a severe mental illness. The Buddha and A Nan for his care (according to Mahà va gga 8.26).

As such, Ananda has done a great deal of daily work, to bring the bodily joy to the Buddha (and also to his enlightened brother, who awakened him and brought joy to the community. The Sangha, like a loving mother, loving the purely virtuous child (alluding to the Buddha) with new and growing children, regardless of character, talent (referring to the Sangha community) .

But most prominent of all, Ananda played the role of a great secretary of the Buddha. He is capable of transmitting all the teachings, every commandment of the Master to thousands of them in a very courteous, fast and timely way, making every ecclesiastical act, always united, The order is rarely missed.

On the external front, A Nan Da has skillfully cooperated with Sariputta and Moggallana to solve problems that are sometimes complex and delicate in the relationship between humans. with humans, as well as between the Buddhist monk and society.

According to Anguttara Nikàya 4,249, when the controversy of the bhikkhu community in Kosambi occurred, as did Devadatta attempting to divide the Buddhist Sangha. and Cawavagga 8), Ananda played the role of maneuvering two very effective detoxifications. As a result, later the entire Sangha was reconciled.

On the other hand, Ananda is also one of the first Tathagata's messengers to communicate with other religions. Whenever the Buddha told him to contact anyone, no matter how difficult, he never refused.And while doing so, Ananda did not feel that he was simply intelligent, but that he was a diplomat.

Going back to the internal life, many times they do not avoid making noise in the monastery. The Buddha asked Ananda why, he boldly explained the pure reason for the Buddha clearly (According Mahàvagga 67, Pctitta 65 and Udàya 3.3). Thus, the Buddha is sure to make the appropriate precepts.

A significant amount of noise is as follows:

There was a group of bhikkhus who forgot to speak loudly, making noise in the monastery. Buddha or news, told Ananda reprimand.

That monk, after being reminded by Ananda, blamed the words of construction, who returned to meditate. They diligently practiced to such an extent that during the harvest season, they all attained the three insights, including: Insight knowledge of past lives, Wisdom knows the longevity of all sentient beings, and Insight knowledge more or less, greed, si.

One evening, the Buddha was called, this Bhikkhu group came to the Buddha. But while they arrive, the Buddha is entering the world. According to the commentary, the mind of a Buddha is staying in a meditative realm called Ananja Samadhi (meaning abiding in meditative form). These monks immediately realize the Pure Meditation of the Buddha, I sit down and then enter.

The silence passed, in the Buddha, the first two of the night school, the scene suddenly silent.

Ananda misunderstanding is that the bhikkhu saw the Buddha entered, so patiently waiting. And want to help them soon to be the Buddha, he said hurriedly: "Praise the Buddha! There are disciples came to see!" But all is still ...

And two soup in the middle of the night also passed, Nan Nan reminding Buddha: "White virtue teacher! The disciples have come!" But after the second presentation of Ananda Da, the atmosphere at the Buddha, the sunken deep in silence. Everything is immobile ...

As Ananda Da speaks out the third time outside, the morning sky is blossoming, the Buddha had meditated, and told Ananda that:

- Ananda! Since he had not witnessed the formless meditation, he spent the night when he knew that the Tathagata and the bhikkhu had merit. And there is no sound that can shake the Tathagata of the Tathagata or theirs!

This demonstrates that Ananda had not yet attained the advanced stage of meditation. But his patience was very precious, as he was staying, all night long for the Buddha, when there was the Sangha, he was the only one who could do it happily and easily.

Then the Buddha praised Ananda:

- Ananda! These bhikkhus previously preferred to argue, to neglect the practice, then today, after his recommendation, they have become the diligent practice meditation, acquired three wisdom.

Ananda hear the Buddha revealed the results of the corrected and diligent practice of bhikkhu group he recommended, he took delight. From there, Ananda practiced meditation, although there were many other duties on her shoulders.

The Theravada Buddhist tradition often mentions two times that Ananda inquired of the Buddha about the meditational subjects that required the practitioner to practice in the desert forest.

The Master taught the First Nanas:

- Take the head of the five aggregates, ie, the chief of Sutras, feelings, thoughts, actions, and consciousness (Sam Gutta Nikàya 22,158 = Journey A No. 22. 158)

And the second time, he taught:

- Visualize the sense-doors, including; Eye base, Atrium, Tentative, Detachment, Body and Mind (Samiutta Nikaya 35, 86).

As regards the service of brotherly service, the name Ananda was clearly stated in the Anguttara Nikàya n. 60; 6.58 (the highest increase of A function 60; 6.58) as follows:

"When Ven. Girimananda and Phagguna were severely ill, Nanami was the one who often took care of him, and he followed the minds of the two victims, requesting the Buddha to offer the dharma to save them. experiencing critical moments ".

Even the splendid Siddhartha himself (when he attained the rank of Despair) expressed his desire to build it in the Garden of Yadus, to offer Buddhism. This temple became the first Buddhist home (Jàtaka No. 479).

It means, one way or another, that Ananda has shown itself to be a zealot for the church. He always serves the community with all the virtues of a gentle mother, or a good father who is well-behaved and devoted to the children.

The various persuasive, persuasive and guiding principles of Ananda have also been revealed in a previous life. When he asked to be the assistant goddess of Sakka.

According to the scriptures about the past life of A Nan on the scenery, there is one life, he is the only assistant who has the bright light of the king's aura. He was entrusted by the King of Heaven to govern the whole of Heaven (According to the Jàtaka No. 31, 469, 535 and 541).

Particularly in Jàtaka (Birth of the story) No. 489, the precursor of Nanami is the architect of the name Vissakamma. Or in the other two Jatakas number 75 and 450, one case, precursor he is the god of rain called Pjjuma, the other case: the precursor is the god of music named Panicas.

But the heart of sacrificing and protecting the Buddha of Ananda may need to be more advanced.When Devadatta released a fierce elephant to harm the Buddha, Ananda committed a riot to stand in front of the Buddha, sacrificing himself to protect the omniscient. I would rather leave elephants and Devadatta to kill him, but he does not want them to murder or injure a Buddha.

Three times the Buddha told him to step back, but he did not follow, until he was used by the Lord Buddha to lift him up, gently put him in another, then he is happy to sacrifice rescued His Buddha is not necessary. And the spirit of sacrifice made the name of A Nan Da large later (Jàtaka No. 4533).

In that, the Buddha recalled, in front of the Sangha, that: "In previous lives, Ananda has sacrificed his life to save the Bodhisattva as the Tathagata's predecessor to four times."

In the other two very ancient lives, in the midst of the cycle of rebirths, when both the Buddha and the progenitor Ananda were born as two swans, and ended up being two daughters (According to the Births). No.52, 533, 534 and 501). From Swan to the deer Ananda Ananda has not abandoned his friend is the Buddha's birth as the same trapped animals. Both of them died together under the cruel hand of a hunter.

According to Tuc Sinh story 222, the Buddha's predecessor is a filial monkey, sacrificing his life to save his mother is the antecedent Ananda. On the other hand, in the times of the samsaric reincarnation, the precursors of the Buddha and the forerunner of Avatara have often come to the aid of their particular intelligence and prudence to save each other's lives with ease.

The above are the stories related to the sacrifice and karmic conditions of parallel life of the antecedent Ananda and the precursor Buddha. 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.12/10/2018.