Chapter V.5.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.

Multifaceted for women.

-ooOoo-

N gay men since they were princes, two brothers of Nan Da and Anuruddha were not attracted by female servants. Due to the nature of less passion in sexuality in life and the spirit of favoring pure life, after renewing all their relationships with women women seem to be no longer needed. Especially Anuruddha, from the date of ordination, the contact with women completely cut off. Not only did Anuruddha absolutely look at the woman, but even the man was very rarely traded by him, talking many words, except the Buddha.

However, it is not so, but the issue of women is not posed as a challenge to A Nan Da, especially this great Ton, because of his duty, every day must contact all kinds of people. If only Ananda had volunteered to give his body to devote himself to the Buddhist precursor.

Aside from being close to the Buddha and serving the Church, he also accepted the duty to take care of all Buddhist goods, whether male or female. If there is no Nan Da, in Buddhism there may be only three classes of disciples, but the Bhikkhu, the novice and the good faith.

He himself is the hand that gave birth to the nun system when Buddha was in money. According to Anuruddha Nakaya 8 (Number One A Number 8) and Culavagga 10 (Product No. 10), the beginning of the Bhikkhu Ni Church has taken place as follows:

"When the princes of the Sakyamuni family were ordained, the wives, princesses, and poets also all wanted to live a virtuous life under the guidance of the Buddha. Therefore, there are some many women who were led by Empress Mahà Pajapati Gatamì (ie, auntie, who is a model, who also nurtured the Buddha from birth to adulthood) brought each other to Germany Buddha and asked for permission to leave home At first, the Buddha refused, because he knew that the harsh, frugal, non-homeless life of the monasteries could not be suitable for the monks. Pajapati Gotamì still patiently urged The Buddha to come many times ...

When A Nan Da saw the Buddha's model with puffy legs, dusty clothes, dark eyes and tears, standing in front of the pagoda in a brainless manner, asked:

- My mother, why are you so shallow?

- Bach Sa Mon A Nan Da! The mother wanted to live a monastic life, but the Buddha did not allow it.

- What time has the mother asked for Buddha?

- It is still not possible for the third time, so the mother is sad and desperate!

A Nan Da heard so immediately went to ask the Buddha. But in the turn, he requested the third time to be rejected by the Buddha.

And compassion did not allow A Nan Da to be passive, watching such a pitiful Queen. He comforted the Empress, and promised to find a convenient opportunity to ask the Buddha.

At this point, I think that the author should also cut the meaning of the Buddha's attitude. His Master refused to deny the renunciation of his mother and the women of the Sakyamuni family, because the precepts of the monks were very strict, the virtuous life was very frugal, extreme, otherwise to say is almost ascetic to the nobles of the time at the time. A Queen becomes a Bhikkhu Ni to live in the absence of the forest, daily food is the generosity of benefactors. The women of that wife who used to live in velvet, always served, how to know how to be independent, to organize and to humble, yield to each other before the pains in the life of the mendicant.

In addition, the Buddha's life at the time, the Indian society at that time was placed according to the political conception of Brahmanism, a religion that considered the status of the female beloved very low in society, especially female members. It is a mendicant. And the woman has no right to form a separate community.

In addition, we can understand that the Buddha refused to leave the maternal monk three times to test her determination, as well as to allow her to think again and again later when closing. I am in a miserable framework, she will not regret turning the royal life in the palace.

Returning to the role of Nan Nan in this matter. On one occasion, Ananda asked Buddha:

- Venerable World Religion, a woman who pleases ordained monks, takes the day of bliss as a life, severely punishes the precepts and follows the example of the Enlightened, the woman who can later attain the Saints of Save, Is the Most Holy Saints or Saints of Liberation?

- Nay A Nan Da! Such a woman will surely receive the Holy Release!

On that occasion, A Nan Da repeated:

- Venerable The Sun! If a woman has enough of such factors and the woman is Mahà Pajapati Gotami, aunt, the model is also the one who has embraced the Blessed One from the baby. He nourished The Blessed One with his own drops of milk, When the First Queen of Màyà (the mother of Buddha) died.Such a woman deserves to be accepted by the Blessed One, to be ordained, to take a non-family life as a means to imitate and preserve the precepts of The Buddha who teaches?

Here Ananda has obviously raised two very legitimate reasons. The first reason, a woman, if there is right understanding, determination and willingness can also attain Liberation in this life. The second reason, Queen Mame is meeting those qualities and she has great merits in preserving and nurturing the Prince embodying the Buddha, for such a model there is only one taste in the Dharma the Dharma can compensate for her worthy merit.

The Buddha, in the true "defense" of A Nan Da, allowed the late mother Mahà Pajapati Gotami to leave home. He later also allowed Nan Nan to establish the Women's Church, but with very strict conditions of accession.

Reading here, we have the feeling of Nan Nan thanks to the intelligence and speaking, which can change the "thought" of Buddha. But in reality, especially in depth, no one can change the "intention" of an Enlightened one. Because the thought of a Buddha is always associated with very subtle truths.This problem not only happened to Shakyamuni Buddha, but it also happened to the Buddhas in the past. And most Buddhas have allowed the establishment of the Nuns Church.

The maternal design of The Ton, Queen Mahà Pajapati Gotami was not allowed to leave the house without the intervention of A Nan Da, does not mean that the Buddha did not know about her nurturing. But hastily disapproval at the beginning to prove that the Buddha was an Enlightened One and He knew everything beforehand, especially knowing of a long-term harm to Buddhism in the future.

Therefore, the Buddha then prepared eight conditions that only women who are full of virtue and sincerity can be approved to join the nuns. These eight conditions are also viewed as solutions to prevent sexual intercourse between men and women explicitly and need to be strictly enforced.

So, the Buddha also stated that: "The Nuns system in the Tathagata's teachings will last properly within the next five hundred years."

The words of translators: The five hundred years of life of the Nuns are only found in the Vinaya Pitaka (Vinaya Pitaka) and not found in the Sutra Pitaka or the Abhidhamma Pitaka. Especially there is no place in the Pali canon (Sanskrit) that clearly states that life lasts for a thousand years, as some scholars say. Most of the critics and scholars of Buddhism in the past often refer to the decadent phenomena of the Nunnery within five hundred years, rather than the testimony of the Buddha's words about the problem of time. If there is a difference in the life expectancy of the Nun system then that is probably the opinion of the Buddhist Patriarch later.

Later, when the Buddha proclaimed the laws and rules for the life of the nuns, Ananda asked the Buddha about the dignity of a monk who deserves to be guided by the monks and nuns, The Buddha paid words that:

- Sa subjects know how to practice the eight rules that Tathagata has prepared as Sa subjects will on behalf of Tathagata theory to the Bhikkhu khưu Ni.

That is, the Buddha does not limit the Master of the bhikkhus Ni must be Arhat, but he only emphasizes in the mind. Although the eight products are symbolic for a Saint, but if a monk has enough special virtues such as Ananda, for example, he can also guide the monks.

The eight products are:

1. To teach a teacher to the monks and nuns must be virtuous enough (the precepts must be clean).

2. Must understand the Dharma.

3. Must memorize the precepts, especially the precepts of the monks and nuns.

4. Must be able to speak both dainty (non-obscene) and clear and understandable. Don't make mistakes in pronunciation (because it's also a word that mispronouncements can mean something else).

5. Must know how to teach the goods to the Bhikkhu khưu Ni from low to high, making them from not understanding to understand.

6. Must be greeted by the bhikkhus (not making them afraid) and loving. Especially Sa Sa, when a Bhikkhu disciple has made a mistake and was scolded by him, then he should not make the offender continue to fear.

7. Must be a monk from small to big has never committed adultery.

8. Must be a Sa monk ordained (ie Bhikkhu khưu Ni law) at least twenty.

(According to Angutfana Nikaya 8 52 = Tang Nhat A Function 8 52).

And from that day on, the Venerable A Nan Da was one of the first people to establish the system of Nuns, so he sought all ways to promote this system to advance strongly on the path of Saint-Dao.

This is also the reason why A Nan Da met some troubles.

There are two cases of Bhikkhu khưu Ni stubbornly against the great Elder Ca Lettuce (Maha Kassapa) to demand the hearing of A Nan Ða (According to Samyutta Nikàya 16, 10, 11 = Sundry A function of the numbers 16, 10, 11) .

One of the two cases is mentioned in chapter two, with the title A Nan Da a familiar name. According to historical records, the result of that event is that two bhikkhus, Ni, are difficult to teach. And they state the complete reason: They could not stand the sight of a teacher (Amanda) who did not pay attention to them like people, but only focused on them as two souls needing to be saved. free.

More seriously is the case of Bhikkhu Ni named Kosambi, a name that A Nan Da has never been familiar with. This Bhikkhu khưu Ni one day suddenly sent a message to A Nan Da: She is seriously ill, needing his visit. In fact, she secretly loved the memory of A Nan Da, and only wanted to create a chance to seduce this monk. When he knew it well, instead of avoiding him, he solved the problem in a noble way.

Nan Nan went straight to the retreat of the Bhikkhu Ni, the other mistress, and explained to her: This body of his body is a combination of desirable substances ... For a moment, it is just a intersection of the three sources of suffering are To participate in life, To be Thirsty and to Accept. Then he analyzed the aftermath of the three sources of suffering, to awaken the dark woman.

He said: Death will make us suffer, but death cannot be avoided. Death is manifested by the old and the sick, but the old and the disease cannot be avoided. When people feel they are getting older each day, people know they are getting more and more dead. Secondly: If you desire to enjoy it, then it is unsatisfactory that you will suffer, but the unsatisfactory thing cannot be avoided, because people only prevent the coming of evil karma (thanks to spiritual practice), not prevent the evil fruit created. When people face a karma that has been created whether it is good or evil, craving always causes people to suffer. If the fruit is healthy, then the desire to have more, if the evil fruit is craving to be avoided.Third, every ego is impermanent and will make us suffer, but impermanence is a law that no one can avoid. The morning sun rises in the East, then dives in the West. Day after month is the most accurate symbol of the law of impermanence. Impermanence is a fundamental element to make a "temporary fall" never really exist, let alone a long or permanent existence.

A true renunciation is a person who knows how to transform the three evil methods of taking part in life, craving, enjoying and falling into three good dhammas: Impartiality before the two states of life and death, without being attached to all temptations of sensuality in life and reciting the idea of ​​impermanent law, things are constantly changing! That renunciation will replace the desire to live with the desire to be pure, replacing the craving for pleasure with the desire to be virtuous to create good karma and replace the self-denial with the non-selflessness.

In other words, the monk knows how to bring his life to the coexistence of all living things, and to know how to develop his virtue to contribute to the general evolution of all sentient beings, and to bring a temporary being in one's life as a lamp to see the selflessness in the cycle of birth and destruction.

Meaning is a renunciation like that living in the Dharma. And knowing ourselves is a power to sustain wisdom to remove all evil thoughts, especially sex, almost their spirituality enters a holy character, a dignity to attain the prize. get rid of all suffering in this life and get rid of death in the next lives.

He also emphasized that sex is the main reason to cut the path of liberation. A monastic order that allows sex to be carried out in one's mind is like a boatman when he sees a watery boat and refuses to stop it in time. That boatman was drowned in the water.

After hearing such true teachings, the bhikkhu, Kosambi, awoke. She immediately left the bed (where she had long been used as a provocative place) to threaten to surrender in front of Ananda, sincerely accepting the error, then repenting, asking Ananda to forgive.

Nan was very happy at the penitence of the bhikkhu, and encouraged her: "In the community of those who live according to the Noble Eightfold Path, those who know how to admit their sins and repent and repent are the ones who will progress, and will reach the goal of liberation ". (According to Anguttara Nikaya 4, 159: Tang Nhat A Function 4, 159).

This story evidently proved eloquently about the ability to sensitize (with the right discourse and the circumstances) of Ananda, to the dark people to bring them out of ignorance and desire.

Another story is about the king of the Persian king (Pesenadi). These ladies thought; "It is difficult to see the Buddha being born! It is difficult to be a human being. It is difficult to have a clear spirit in a healthy body! So we have met these three conditions, we still do not free to enter the temple to hear the dharma ".

The kings did not complain like that, because according to the custom of the old age: All the main palace, the second and the female market of a king must be in life in the forbidden palace, such as bird cage of fish pots. They only see the Buddha or the monks when they follow the king, but they cannot go to the temple to worship whenever they want to be like men.

Although living on velvet, the nobility does not bring spiritual happiness to them. They pulled together to see the king, and asked the king to invite Buddha or a monk who was full of virtue into the sermon.The Persian King naturally accepted the invitation, then came to the Buddha, presenting the wishes of the Empress.

The Buddha heard that, at first, he suggested that a lay disciple who had attained A Na Ham go to work, because he said: "Let a monk leave the sermon to improve his life. , especially people of that life are powerful women ".

After that, the king of Persia told the women about the reason for the refusal of the layman, and asked them to consult together to suggest what subject was the most worthy of the theory. France.

Immediately the ladies immediately thought that "Only the monk A Nan Da is the one who preserves the Dharma treasure!". Then they unanimously asked the king to invite Aanda to enter the sermon.

The Buddha naturally accepted the king's request. And since then Ananda has been a regular person to supply the sermon, guiding morals to the ladies of the Persian king.

One day in the palace, the king was suddenly stolen by a thief with a precious jade crown. The forest guards searched everywhere, but still could not find it. All things non-supply, frequency, fine women in the ban are nervous nervous, worried I will be suspicious.

When A Nan Da entered the sermon as usual, he saw that the whole "royal ladies" looked sad and unhappy listening to the dharma as before. I asked the reason why I knew about it.

With a compassionate heart, Ananda rushed to see the king, and offered the king a method for the royal family to revoke the crown with that jewel, but not out of indignation, causing bad karma (meaning to act. picture of thief ...). At the same time to recreate the calm atmosphere in the palace, most of the ladies and gentlemen can be assured of the dharma.

A Nan Da suggested to Persia King like this:

The king must order the soldiers not to search anyone in the palace. The royal family needed to recruit, the skilled craftsman set up a large tent, only one door and one door, in the center of the royal garden.In the tent there is a tall vase of ancient water. Anyone who works in the palace, must go to the tent to wash his hands in the vase, to prove his "honesty" once in order, and forbid two people at a time. This is an opportunity for greedy people to repent, can hide the crown in themselves and put it in the bottom of the water, without fear of being caught, leading to loss of life.

As a result, the king's jewel crown was found in this "honest" water pitcher! And the cheerful scenery of everyone comes back in the forbidden palace. Of course the thief is none other than one of the monarchs, repented, returned the precious object, and was away from death! (there is also a tall vase to prove that no one can reach the bottom so that he may suspect that he entered the tent behind him, or before he was a villain).

This design makes the name of A Nan Da, which has become widely known, become more famous.Particularly in the ranks of Buddhism, Ananda has been praised by all the brothers as a knowledgeable person who re-establishes happiness with a wise method, saving special evil karma! (According to Jaka, n.92).

And to temporarily conclude the chapter about "The connection of Ananda to women" the author would recount the following dialogue pattern between Ananda and Buddha, not long before Buddha passed away:

- The Blessed One! After the Buddha passed away, how did the disciples treat women, especially to the Nuns, how?

Buddha taught:

- Don't look up at their bodies.

He asked again:

- But if a woman is too close to a Monk, what should I do?

Buddha taught:

- Do not open yourself first.

He asked again:

- Where does a woman come close to a monk then start talking?

Buddha stated the method:

- When listening to a woman talking, they must be absolutely vigilant, remembering the frightening and shameful notion of sin, and using meditation, especially their dignity (According to Nikàya Digha 16: School A Function 16).

The above questions were raised by A Nan Da himself when he was sure that the Buddha was about to enter Nirvana. And then he repeated those last words to all his brothers while preparing to be cremated.

In fact, the relationship between the monasteries and the bhikkhus, as well as the relationship between the monks and the women, for Aanda in twenty-five years, under the direction Buddha's guide, was not a very special problem! It is worth emphasizing here that Aanda has deliberately raised such questions, when the Buddha has not yet passed away, to be heard of the Buddha's own teaching of the ultimate reality.

Now, A Nan Da is a monk who always lives in his knowledge, but the eroticism of women, A Nan Da has many encounters. And the Buddha's warning before allowing the establishment of the Nun system, Ananda has not forgotten (especially the Buddha's prediction of the life of the Buddhist religious community can only be clean for about five years). hundred years later only. Consequently, Nan has long been worried about the future of Buddhism. Then, because of such concern, he asked the above questions to the Buddha to see it, not only as the final instructions, but also reaffirmed the intention of the Buddha, about the existence of sect. women in the clergy community, to save a major law passed down, for the successors to look after the nun system until the end of the five hundred years it has been set.END=NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.19/3/2019.