Chapter III.3.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.

Worthy for the role of Buddha

-ooOoo-

M OT in the virtues of Ananda is unfortunate streak Buddha devoted servant. The virtuous Master himself has confirmed so many times, and he added: "A Nan Da is the most worthy disciple of those who have served the Tathagata. Whenever Tathagata needs anything, he being the first person, not letting Tathagata wait "(According to Anguttara Nikàya 1.19 = Tang Nhat A Function 1.19).

In fact, the three words "to approach Buddha" are not very clear. Because worldly words are difficult to describe exactly the position of A Nan Da in the virtuous community, under the guidance of the Buddha. If we call Aanda much as the secretary or assistant of the Buddha, it is more correct, but at that time, the aspect of self-love, worship, submission, willingness to sacrifice of the Ananda to Germany Buddha is not expressed. If we call him a disciple serving Buddha, the role of organizing, and repeatedly representing the church leader Buddha, skillfully, is neglected.

Then, when we are beyond the scope of Buddhism, we cannot find out, in other philosophical literary treasures, a similar character, that is, a character who can both be a servant and a the patriarch's assistant, and the character is also capable of becoming a patriarch, like Ananda.

His diligent servitude to the Buddha for twenty-five years of school is very much. We only describe a number of daily tasks. For example, every morning and every night, Nan had to bring water to wash the face and tools to brush the Buddha. Then he had to prepare a tool before offering a heart to the Buddha. At noon, Ananda went to beg for alms, to go to the Buddha's bowl. In the water, he must be prepared, to wash Buddha's feet. When he was eating, he always ate after the Buddha, and when the Buddha finished eating, he was obliged to ask for the remaining object in the Buddha's bowl to share with the Bhikkhu who were poor or alms to the poor. The clothes, the net loss and the bowl of Buddha, Nan Nan always clean the sweep, wash and clean. when the Buddha was tired, he anointed the oil, massaged it, or found medicine for the Buddha.

According to Mahàvagga, 3, 16 (The Dhamma Sutra, chapter 3, paragraph 16), in addition to the above-mentioned tasks for the Buddha, Nan Nan daily personally oversees all activities of monks and nuns. especially the new Bhikkhu monks. Even when all people have retreated to their homeland (in the afternoon as well as in the evening), he still manages all over the temple, seeing if any bhikkhu or novice forgets something or not, to take it into one. place, later give them back.

Whenever the Master needs to convey what teachings to the Sangha, he is the information officer who brings the teachings to everyone's ears (According to Culavagga V.20: Skits V.20).

Many times at midnight the Buddha wanted to meet all of them, A Nan Da also happily summoned (According to Jataka 148).

Once, the monks were indifferent to a serious illness. Buddha and Ananda for him to take care of (according to Mahà and gga 8.26).

Just like that, A Nan Da has done a lot of daily work, in order to bring happiness to the Buddha (and also the brother who promoted his enlightenment, at the same time bring joy to the community). The Sangha, as a caring mother, loves the eldest child of perfect virtue (referring to the Buddha) with the new children growing up, irrespective of the character and talent (referring to the community Increasing them) .

But the most outstanding work is that A Nan Da played an excellent secretary of the Buddha. He was able to convey all the teachings and orders of the Venerable Master to thousands of them in a very courteous, quick and timely manner, making every act of the church, always consistent, order, rarely omitted.

In terms of foreign affairs, Ananda has skillfully cooperated with Xa Loi (Sàrìputta) and Section Kien Lien (Moggallana) to solve problems, sometimes very complicated and delicate in the relationship between people. with people, as well as between Buddhist Sangha and society.

According to Anguttara Nikàya 4,249 (Monk Nhat A Function 4, 249), when the debate of the bhikkhu community in Kosambi happens, as well as when Thich Dat Dat attempted to divide the Buddhist Sangha (According to Udàya V, 8) and according to Culavagga 8), Nan Nan played the role of coordinating two very effective detoxification. Thanks to that, after the whole of the Sangha, they got along well.

On the other hand, A Nan Da was also one of the first Tathagata messengers of the Buddha to contact other religions. Whenever the Buddha told him to contact anyone, no matter how difficult it was, he never refused. And when executing such duties, Ananda did not feel that he was simply an intelligent person, but he also showed the status of a diplomat.

Returning to the internal activities, many times, they did not avoid making noise in the monastery. The Buddha asked Ananda why, he boldly explained the reason for the Buddha clearly (According to Mahàvagga 67, Pācittia 65 and Udàya 3.3). Thanks to this, the Buddha will surely know the reason for which the teachings are given.

A noticeable noise case is as follows:

There was a group of bhikkhus who forgot to speak loudly, making noise in the monastery. Buddha used to believe, then told Aanda to reprimand.

That bhikkhu group, after being reminded by Aanda Da, reprimanded with constructive words, who returned to meditate diligently. They diligently cultivate to the point that in the coming year of the year, all gained three Wisdom, including: Wisdom knows the past lives, Wisdom knows the lifespan of all beings and Wisdom knows itself. there is little or more greed, hatred and ignorance.

One evening, when the Buddha was called, the Bhikkhu group came to Buddha. But while they arrived, the Buddha was in samadhi. According to the commentary, the Buddha's mind is now residing in a sharp meditation realm, named Ananja Samàdhi (which means to remain on the formless meditation). These monks immediately recognized the Buddha's Pure Land meditation, then all both sit down and enter samadhi ...

The quiet time passed, in the lost Buddha, the first two soup of the night, the scene suddenly fainted.

Ananda misunderstood that the Bhikkhu khưu saw the Buddha enter, so patiently wait. And to help them soon receive the Buddha, he hastened to say: "The Buddha's Honor! There are disciples to the audience!". But all is still quiet ...

Then the second watch in the middle of the night also passed, Ananda said to the Buddha: "White Master is a master! The disciples have come!". But after the second presentation of Ananda, the atmosphere at the Buddha's retreat, the deeper in the mind, the deeper. Everything is unexpected ...

When A Nan Da voiced his submission to the Buddha for the third time, outside, the sky was shining, the Buddha blessed meditation, and said to Aanda that:

- Hey A Nan Da! Because he had not yet witnessed the formless form meditation, he spent the whole night knowing that the Tathagata and the worthy bhikkhus had entered. And there is no sound that can obscure the Tathagata's consciousness or their goodness!

This story proves that A Nan Da at that time did not reach the high level of meditation. But his patience is very precious, because he is on duty, all night to serve Buddha, when they have such an increase in audience, he is indeed the only person who has done it in a fun and easy way.

Then Buddha praised Amanda:

- Hey A Nan Da! These bhikkhus who had previously been fond of debating, deliberately practicing spirituality, nowadays, after his recommendation, they have become the monks of diligence to meditate, gaining three Wisdom.

A Nan Da heard the Buddha reveal the result of knowing how to fix himself and diligently practice the group of monks recommended by him, then took pleasure. Since then, A Nan Da diligently meditated, although on his shoulder there were many other tasks.

The Theravada Buddhist scriptures often mention Aanda and ask the Buddha about meditation subjects that require practitioners to practice in the empty forest.

The Master taught the first time to Ananda:

- Be consistent leader of the five aggregates, ie the head of the Dhamma, Life, Thought, Action and consciousness (According to Sam gutta Nikàya 22.158 = Tap A Function 22. 158)

And for the second time, he taught that:

- Visualize the green base, including; The label of the base, the base, the mind, the base, the body and the mind (According to Samiutta Nikaya 35, 86).

As for the merits of serving the brothers and sisters, the name of Ananda is clearly stated in the Anguttara Nikàya n. 60; 6.58 (Best Increase A Function 60; 6.58) as follows:

"When Sa Mon Girimananda and Sa Mon Phagguna were seriously ill, Nan Nan was the one who came back and took care most frequently. He also monitored the illness of the two victims, to ask the Buddha to give him the dharma to save them. experience the critical moments ".

Even the main throne is magnificent, the Member of the Temple himself, (when he proclaims that she is the one who wants to build up in the Da Da garden, to offer to Buddhism), it is also asked by Aanda to ask the Buddha to accept. This temple later became the first family of Buddhism (according to Jàtaka No. 479).

That is, in this way or another, Ananda has proved to be a zealous Sabbath who built the church. He always served the community with all the virtues of a gentle mother, or a well-behaved father, always devoted to his children.

The talent of organizing and convincing and guiding many people of Ananda has also manifested in a previous life. When he asked to be the assistant Pham Thien of the King of Heaven (Sakka).

According to the scriptures about the past life of Ananda on heavenly scenes, there was one life, he was the only assistant who had a bright aura with the aura of the sky. He was entrusted by the King of Heaven to govern the entire Thien Xa (According to Jataka No. 31, 469, 535 and 541).

Particularly in Jàtaka (Tuc Sinh story) number 489, the predecessor A Nan Da is the first architect named Vissakamma. Or in two other stories of Jàtaka (Jàtaka) of 75 and 450, in one case, his predecessor was the rain god named Pjjuma, and in the other case: the precursor was the Five Music god named Panchcikikha.

But the heart of sacrifice and protection of the Buddha of Aanda is probably needed above all. When Thich Dat Da (Devadatta) released a fierce elephant to harm the Buddha, Nan Nan committed to come and stand in front of the Buddha, sacrificing his life to protect the Enlightened One. It would be better for him to let the elephant go crazy and Ðề Bà Đổng Phạm committed to kill him, but he did not want them to be guilty of murdering, or hurting a Buddha.

Three times the Blessed One told him to step back, but he did not follow, until he was lifted up by him by the Buddha, gently placed him elsewhere, and then he was just as confident as a saved sacrifice. His Buddha is not necessary. And that spirit of sacrifice has made the aroma of A Nan Da widen later (according to Jàtaka No. 4533).

That person, the Buddha reiterated, before the Sangha, that: "In the past lives of Nan, he had sacrificed his life to save the Bodhisattva as the Tathagata as four times".

In two very old lives, in the midst of the deep cycle of samsara: when both the Buddha's predecessor and the predestination of Ananda gave birth to two swans, then the life span became two deer. story number 502, 533, 534 and 501). From the swan to the predecessor of Nan Nan, he refused to abandon his friend, who was a similarly enthralled Buddha progenitor. As a result, the two died together under the hunter's cruel hands.

But according to Tuc Sinh, the story of 222, the predecessor of Buddha was a filial monkey, sacrificing his life to save his mother as a precursor. On the other hand, in times of such reincarnation, the predecessor of the Buddha and the precursor of Aanda Da often had a natural and prudent nature that saved each other's life easily.

These are stories related to the parallel sacrifices and karmic conditions of A Nan Da precursor and Buddha's precursor. END=NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.18/3/2019