The Life of Saint Sangha Ananda. chapter II Ananda, a familiar name -ooOoo- The name Saint Amanda often recited in the opening work of the Buddhist scriptures is a well known thing among all Buddhists. Such as "I am Amanda, have heard something like this: One childhood, the Blessed One dwells in etc .." When the Buddha was still paying money, he formally recognized the dignity on his behalf by Ananda, by allowing him to preach here, or to speak there, with topics talent that Buddha was in before. Therefore, after the Buddha passed away, the apostles who had not passed away still considered what Amanda told as the Buddha's Golden language. Although there are also some other great apostles allowed by the Buddha to represent the sermon, most notably Xa Loi Phat (Sàrìputta) and Moggallàna (according to Anguttaranikàya X 115 - Sang Nhat A Function X 115; see the two books, "The Life of the Buddha" and "History of the Buddha, with same translator", but Amanda is the one who has inherited the Buddha's teachings the most, and he is capable recounts most of the longest teachings of the Buddha. Meanwhile, the great apostles, often just replacing the Buddha, reinterpreting short or medium teachings! And besides the dignity equivalent to those of the great apostles of the size of Sakyamuni or Mucirvaya, Ananda is also an excellent disciple, having the most happiness like Shakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha himself gave birth in many cases, also praising Aanda likewise. Unfortunately, as the Buddha said before the Sangha, "King Pasenadi, after hearing the teachings of Ananda, became a wise and intelligent king, as he was inspired by the Tathagata himself". (According to Majjihimanikàya 88: Trung A Function 88). Elsewhere, the Buddha also said: "When all the nobles, Brahmins, commoners, and Taoists are happy to see what a Holy King Zhuan is like, the monks and nuns, Good men, female believers are also filled with joy, when seeing A Nanas like that ". Or another passage, the Buddha says: "When the above-mentioned Buddhist lines come to visit, they only need to see the face of Ananda. It will be even better if Aanda is free to give the sermon to them. history he was busy, did not greet them for an hour, they were also completely rejoiced, never blamed. That is the happiness of a person who is about to enter the threshold of Liberation! " (According to Digha Nikàya 16: Field A Function 16) One day, a layman asked the Buddha, "How can a Buddhist, after making a proper offering of the Buddha and the Sangha, be able to together deserve Dharma?" then the Buddha once again mentioned Abanai in his answer: - Hey layman at home! If you want to make offerings to the Dharma, come to make offerings to Dharma. Come make offerings to Amanda, because you are the keeper of the treasure of Dharma! Immediately, the layperson immediately invited Aanda to his son's house and offered him a very precious robe. That card was later brought back to the Elder Xa Loi Phat (Sàrìputta) because he thought: "It is the great brother of Xa Loi Phat who understands the dhammas". But in a similar way, the Elder Xa Loi Phat also thought, "It is the Buddha that is the cause of the Dhamma treasure". Then Xa Loi Phat brought back that precious Medicine to the Blessed One. (According to Jātaka Sutta 296 - Student of the Story No. 296). Another time, the Buddha upheld Ananda after this great disciple had just finished answering a question from the Buddha, and then went elsewhere. The Blessed One declared to some of the monks: Hey, bhikkhus! Ananda is the one who is advancing to a higher level of Buddhism. And besides him, it was difficult to find a Sa Mon with so many memories. (According to Anguttara Nikàya 3.78 - The Most Increase A Function is 3.78) In the Monk Nhat A Ham volume 3, paragraph 72 also states that: There is a non-Buddhist layperson listening to Ananda's sermon, then take refuge in the Buddha, take refuge in the Dharma, and take refuge in the Sangha. When he understood the truth, he happily praised: "What a Noble Truth! It is a true person! The monk of Amanda did not elevate his Dharma studies, nor misrepresent the teachings of others. he only knows straightforwardly to express the truthful things, but even the most hidden meaning, he will not ignore ". King Pasenadi, after being together with Prince Kosala for the second time, listening to Ananda's sermon, praised: - His Majesty, if he is imbued with the Dharma Bao of the Abramana subject, is entering into noble truth. For Abanda's words are lovely and peaceful to all people. Words like that cannot come from the mouth of a person who goes beyond the Holy Way. (According to Majjhima Nikàya 90 = Middle A Function 90). Usually, when a person gets so much praise, too much sympathy, and so much perks, he will be met with so much jealousy, complaints, and unreasonable dissatisfaction of a small minority. . But Abanda did not meet that situation. He has no enemies, nor is he implicitly hated. This unique advantage is actually due to benevolent causes from many past lives. In other words: Abanda's "happiness without enemies" which was not only in this life, but was created by him in many previous lives. Ananda's reason for being appreciated, because he knew how to humble himself, dedicating his whole life to Phap Bao. Then all honor did not make him arrogant, egoistic. He told himself: "All the virtues that he has achieved are thanks to the Buddha's grace. Because of such kindness, pride and self-esteem cannot appear in him. And someone who is not proud is who has no enemy, and then is not hated by anyone ". If a person only knows how to cultivate, shuns contact with outside society, and has no enemies, then that is natural. For example, in the case of Anuruddha, Arahant's brother. (History record: Anuruddha monk, after being ordained, spent day and night for practice, not in contact with anyone but the Buddha). But Ananda is a person who every day deals with all kinds of people, has to hear, see and know all matters ..., but he is not hated by anyone, not hated by others, not in conflict. society, not being noticed, watched ... is a real fantasy as if he had a miracle. Although Abanda was so hard-working and pure, but from time to time he was also reprimanded by the Buddha (or the great elders). That rebuke is completely different from the usual criticism, for when the true ones remind him when he is stimulated into the mind, let the higher virtues be unraveled, and from there, the strength is new inner training will be firmly established. Anyone who appreciates such reminders is easy to become pure, and their lives are naturally revered by everyone. Most of the cases where Aban was rebuked by the Buddha, were aimed at social etiquette, social etiquette, or community discipline, rather than being rebuked for his sublime emptiness, or because he did not understand. Phap Bao. Please include a few cases as follows: Once the Buddha got sick in his stomach, Ananda was told "Glutinous porridge will help the Buddha heal from that disease", he looked for materials to cook porridge and offered to the Buddha. The Blessed One then rebuked him, saying: - It is not appropriate for the Taoist and Samantabhetic lines to use cooking materials in the practice place. Then the Buddha legislated: "A bhikkhu, will commit the crime of Ung Xa treatment, if he cooks for himself". (According to Mahàvagga No. 6, 17, in the Vinaya) From then on, Ananda remembered that law, and diligently observed herself, saying, "The Buddha's commandments are the foundation of a virtuous life". One day, Ananda alms alms forgetting to wear Y monk Old Le, was well reminded by a fellow practitioner: "The Buddha has approved the monkhood, must always wear the three Y, when going to the village!". Ananda immediately happily thanked the friend, and explained that: "The Monk just forgot, but did not intentionally disobey the Buddha". Then he obediently went to wear Y Tăng Gia Lê. And since then, the rules of how to dress a bhikkhu for solemnity upon exiting the monastery, approved by the Buddha, have been observed in every detail by him. (According to Mahàvagga 8, 23 = Great Vinaya numbers 8, 23). Recount this period so that the ranks of Buddhists, both at home as well as renunciants, see: "A step with many memories like Amanda, the one in which the last life is in the last life will enter the Holy save as Amanda, but can also miss some postures in the virtuous life, let alone human beings like us are not always alert and know ourselves ". Therefore, the Buddha has repeatedly noted the bhikkhus: "Do not despise small deeds, especially the daily postures of the monastic life! Because those small virtues will be. as the basis for all spiritual endeavors, and the Sacred Heart in the future. Laws inherently bring perfect virtues. And complete virtue will bring humility and liberating wisdom. Elder Mahākassapa (Dai Ca Lettuce) also rebuked Aanda, as in the following two cases: One time, there were thirty Arahantship's disciples at the same time disembodied, because they thought that the precepts of monks were too strict. Elder Dai Ca Lettuce reprimanded Ananda for not training the disciples carefully before leaving the ordination. The elder said, "Ananda was the one who gave these young disciples early guidance. Why did not you train them to control the six sense doors, teach them how to tame their eating, and teach them?" let them know their diligence ". - "You have accidentally spoiled the youth and the beliefs of the new bhikkhus to the point of giving up. Isn't Ananda, because she is young, so inexperienced?" (At that time, the Elder Dai Ca Lettuce was over 80 years old and Ananda was only 50 years old, so the Elder called him young). (According to Samyutta Nikàya 18.11 = Volume A Function 18.11). Because she was still a human monk, before this heavy reprimand, Ananda happily replied: - Although there are two kinds of hair on the head of the poor monk, the plump Tang is still wholeheartedly serving the Sangha as a young man, so the Head Lao Ca Lettuce for the poor Tang is young and inexperienced. Here, we can understand that: Ananda too believed in his sincere service to his church, and despised the craving for the sensual life of thirty new disciples! He failed to justify his responsibility for failure to fulfill the criticism of an Elder. Let us not forget that Alanda had not attained Arahantship at that time, so there were still some crude defilements in him. Ananda's answer to the Elder Dai Ca Lettuce was obviously due to those gross afflictions suddenly arisen, not because of the intentional blasphemy of stubborn nature. The second case of the Great Elder Ca Lettuce (Mahà Kassapa) to Aanda belongs to a different context: Number one time Aanda asked the Elder to go with him to teach religion at a nunnery. After a minute of waiting, Elder Ca Lettuce accepted. But when the sermon was finished, a stubborn Bhikkhu Ni in his heart still contained sex commented: "Elder Dai Ca Lettuce kept saying the Dhamma alone, not to let Sun fake Ananda, who is handsome, understanding. Wide, utter a word! ". She even said the Elder as a diamond seller, praising the needle in front of the person who knows how to make it! (refers to Aanda). On the way back, Ananda understood the idea, then asked the Elder Dai Ca Lettuce to forgive the other Bhikkhu khưu Ni. But the Elder rebuked, saying: - Hey, Aanda! Why do not you remember to restrain the six sense doors! He let the praises affect his conduct (According to Samyatta Nikàya 16.10 - Tap A Ham No. 16.10). This means that the Elder Dai Ca Lettuce skillfully rebuked Ananda for being too zealous in bringing the spiritual benefits to the nuns, but underestimated the danger of personal attachment, not from the body of Ananda. Da, but from the side of another (the reference of a Bhikkhu Ni). This rebuke later helped Abanda greatly. Anyway, the two cases of Aanda that were reminded by the Elder Dai Ca Lettuce mentioned above still do not make the researchers of the life of the great apostles of the Buddha misunderstand. On the contrary, through these rebukes, the Elder Dai Ca Lettuce has demonstrated his compassion, just as Amanda has shown his quality of always admitting goodness. Because both of these nobles have been with each other very intimately. It can be said that they are the two monks, although they are quite different in age, but they are the most compatible among the Sraven Buddhist disciples. Another time, Aban was criticized for the following story: Ananda asked the Buddha, "How does the voice of the Buddha resound in the deep universe?" The Buddha replied: "The voice of an Enlightened One is immeasurable, can be heard in all the Great Heavenly worlds, can reach all Brahma's ears [1] and cover the three realms. That voice also permeates all kinds of things, from the shortest life to the longest life, with the lifespan of the sun ". Ananda, hearing the Buddha's answer, rejoiced, as if the Buddha's words were always everywhere, nowhere there was no sound of Enlightenment, so he praised: - How lucky for me! It is very pleasant for me to be a follower of an Almighty, Omniscient. Bhikkhu Udàyi heard Arahant as complacent with such compliments and immediately commented: - Hey, Aanda! What is the benefit of praising the Master's omnipotence? If we do not practice Holiness and Omniscience. Then it was from that criticism that Bhikkhu Udàyi discussed the matter broadly. For example, he criticized Aanda just looking at the Buddha body and then satisfied with forgiveness, refusing to cultivate body, speech, and mind in order to be pure and free, to become omnipotent. The Buddha heard that story, so injustice to Abanda as follows: - Hey, Udàyi! Not like that! Assuming Ananda has reached the end of his life now, and even though he has not attained a Noble Truth that is higher than Monadamousa, Ananda is still seven times the king of heaven, thanks to the result of cultivating his character from previous lifetimes, or he will be born as king of this land seven times, but will no longer fall to the four evil ways. Hey Udàyi! And this is the last life of Ananda, for him to be liberated (According to Anguttara Nikàya 3.80 = The Most Increased A Function 3, 80). The Buddha foretold the evolution of Abanda like that, in front of this great attendant, enough to prove that: The Guru's faith in Ananda is indeed certain. He also knew that those words would not make Abanda depend or neglect her cultivation. And, the Buddha uttered those words for a reason: First, Ananda is an ordinary person with inferior merit, and it is a long time before he will be liberated. Second, his criticism also increased his guilt. Thirdly, indirectly, the Buddha needed to defend Abanda, so that after each criticism, his mind would not be worried, at the same time, on this occasion, the Buddha encouraged Ananda to work harder, because The liberating fruit will come to him in that life. The Blessed One dedicates such predictions to those who always try hard and are still afraid of themselves, and will continue to be reincarnated, rather than for those who are easy to get rid of and mind. But in the following story, the Buddha aimed at Aanda's mind to rebuke and regulate a rule: Number one time, the Buddha ordered Aban to look after the distribution of cloth, and make clothes for the monks, Ananda who did this work in a good way, so she was praised by the Buddha. Praised before the Sangha that: "Ananda is a skillful person, even in the field of sewing! A virtuous Samantabhadra is a person who knows how to sew his own robes, does not let only her hips burst, and never now criticized as a waste of offerings of good men and women "(According to Mahàvagga 8 12+ Đại Phàm 8 12) After a while, when the Buddha and his disciples lived near the capital city of Bhikshuni. One day the deity saw that in a monastery there were many monks, and asked Amanda, is it that there are many bhikkhus meeting? Ananda immediately confirmed, and he also made clear to the Buddha that: - Bach Duc Master! Recently, the Sangha patched up medicine together. The Master did not commend: "A worthy Samaritan is someone who knows how to maintain his robes, to avoid wasting the cloth of the kalpa. So the practitioner organized a Medical Association patch so he could show his fellow believers how to sew ". Ananda then recounted how happy the activities together were for the Buddha to hear. He did not know that: Each time we gathered together to stitch like that secular person, the spiritual diligence of the bhikkhus has decreased a lot, because the nature of sitting together and working together leads to bullshit talk. Therefore, the Buddha invented the commandment, ending bad vices for the clergy, gathered like a group, as follows: - "A bhikkhu, deserving of criticism, is someone who likes real-life meetings, or is happy to be gathered five, gathered seven, to work and talk at the same time. can not find peace in renunciation, cannot recognize chastity in solitary life, cannot become at ease in a quiet place, and cannot perform good deeds of self-awareness. - Whoever desires in frivolous gatherings will not find the true bliss that arises only when separated from all gathered desire. Even those who have taken refuge in meditation, who, when manipulated by "the pleasure of gathering", will later be dominated, unable to fully control the calm of the mind. - And if their attained meditation, which exists for a while, then it is only an application to show, not just the effect of remaining in meditation. So, those who meditate in the same place (generally mean a pure cup or the same nunnery) will often have a lot of difficulty in attaining liberation, because the general practice of meditation is dependent on meditation. in worldly conditions, especially the one that must have a meditator with him. Therefore, the Buddha, after explaining the dangers of being like to gather, he concluded: - There is no form of desire for assembly that does not cause suffering (dukkha). (Dukkha refers to all dissatisfaction from gross to subtle dissatisfaction (: Because through the law of impermanence (anicca): Whenever there is meeting, there must be dissolution. If "Meeting" makes joy, then " Tan "(breaking up) will cause troubles. For a breakup in a short time, because defilements are very subtle, difficult to see, so people look down. But for long-term breakup, or eternal farewell, that defilement is suffering, which can cause the parting elements to risk the end of their lifespan falling into four evil paths.Even to the highest heaven is the Brahma realm where separation is also make the gods of heaven in this realm sad, lose all their aura. Impermanence is one of the three immutable principles of Buddhist legal practice. After that, the Guru also pointed out a practical method, which He dedicated only to guide Amanda, the Buddha taught him that: - Because of his duty to serve the Buddha and to come into contact with all kinds of people (the meaning is mixed with tan), he should always practice the seventh branch of the Eightfold Path, Right Mindfulness. Taking it as the basis for the development of the remaining seven limbs are Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Karma, Right Livelihood, Right Effort and Right Concentration. The Buddha used this teaching, because Amanda had the innate of being mindful very quickly, although he had not yet entered the Holy Realm, the nature of the natural concentration, plus his imbued with the Dharma, caused he emits like some gesture acts, like a saint. The Buddha also knew that: For Ananda, he only needs to point out the stimulating dhammas that Ananda can enter Right Concentration. Therefore, the related teachings guide him, to apply the most appropriate Dharma Bao, from which he can fully practice the Eightfold Path, without a single dharma that makes him persistent. For ordinary people, Right Understanding is the first step, the basis of the Eightfold Path. Then when body, speech, and mind are mastered through Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Karma, Right Livelihood, Righteousness, they begin to use righteous thoughts to keep their mind and mind entering Right Concentration without becoming. stubbornness, when attaining meditation But for Amanda, a man with an extraordinary memory, a person whose mind can hold most of the eighty-four thousand teachings of the Buddha, righteous thoughts are the opening door, whenever he enters. that he can obtain the dhammas, transcending all concepts, all forms or titles, all the dignity or the ultimate level. In addition, the Buddha also stimulated Amanda's generosity of compassion, especially his love for the guru, and he affirmed that: "Such kindness is not only discovered with the condition that Ananda becomes a disciple of a servant of the Buddha." We can see here that His Holiness specially instructed Amanda to enter the Holy Way, using the two methods of Dharma and Dharma, in order to help him sever all worldly ties, decisively. one last time. Therefore, when concluding, the Buddha reiterated the relationship between him and him (ie, Phap Phap or Special Karma!) To strengthen his mindfulness as follows: - Hey, Aanda! For many past lives and even now, between you and the Tathagata, there is only one friendship, intimacy and love of teachers and students, but there is never evil karma, hatred or hatred. That immeasurable relationship has made us enjoy the blessings of countless past lives, the final life of his liberating virtue, cannot be separated from the absolute path of the Tathagata. - Hey, Aanda! If the Tathagata is a potter and he is a work, the potter (referring to the Buddha) is completely satisfied because he has given all his power to shape a work that is most satisfactory (Italy said the Buddha did not consider Amanda as a disciple but the mind is not solid!) And with the teachings, encouragement and "affirmation of the results will come" thus the Buddha strengthened Aanda's faith and thought power, until the very last minute, before he entered Nirvana. The following past life anecdote will make us more deeply aware of the relationship between the Buddha and Amanda: That is story number 40 in the Tantrum: At that time, the forerunner of Ananda became king, leaving the throne, so that together with the Bodhisattva (Buddha's predecessor), he ordained to live the life of the Taoist religion. Just like Prince Si Dat Ta did in his last life at Loc Da garden, before he became a Buddha. One day the Bodhisattva knew that his friend (ie the forerunner of Ananda), because he had too many difficulties in finding food, saved salt to season the food. An act contrary to the religious law of the great monks. The Bodhisattva immediately rebuked that: - Hey you! You had the courage to let go of the whole throne, let go of all the wealth of a kingdom, why now you start to save every grain of salt? This criticism saddened precursor Aanda. He replied: - Hey friends! My fellow believers' comments have caused me a lot of suffering. These criticisms make me feel bitter and sad like being stabbed by someone with a blunt blade! (It means that the knife is blunt, the victim will suffer a lot before death. And use a sharp knife to) cut, the victim dies immediately, the suffering also disappears. But the Bodhisattva (Buddha's predecessor) quickly answered: - Hey Taoist! Among sincere friends, honest words, no need to be reserved, respectful, like a potter carefully before the pots that have not been heated. A good friend is someone who can utter criticism at any time. Because only remembering such constructive comments and continuous encouragement statements, a person living a virtuous life can cultivate a solid Sacred Heart. Because as pure white clay, it is molded and heated to become the finest porcelain. After that, the precursor Tao Ananda apologized to the Bodhisattva (Buddha's predecessor) and asked him, out of compassion, to continue to guide him. At that time, the endeavors of cultivation, compared with the purification of pure clay, then molded into the finest solemn porcelain, were popular in society, so it is very suitable to compare the multiplicity Human feelings, or anger, with the perishability of fragile, undercooked porcelain pots. A potter always cherishes fine earthen pots, still wet, not yet dry, shyly, cautiously, for fear of breaking. Then, after having heated through the first fire, they carefully searched, retrieved, wrinkles or cracks, before putting them in the oven, and cooked for the last time. The skilled potter also knows how to try his works, when the oven comes out by tapping many times to find out "blemishes" in the sound. When the sound resonates, is clear, and always the same, then they can safely bring it to the market for sale. Likewise, a person becomes perfect only when he has gone through all the trials, and attains the highest, most worthy qualities, to enter the Holy Way! (In Buddhism, there are two words, the Noble Path and the Noble Truth. according to the Eightfold Path, with a soul that is always peaceful and compassionate direction). Then, after that past life, the forerunner of Ananda enjoyed a peaceful result, reborn in the Brahma world (Theo Jātaka n.406 = Túc Sinh, Story No. 406) And in other past lives, he also thanks to the guidance of the Buddha's predecessor, he reaped many blessings (According to Majjhima Nikàya n. 122 = Trung A Ham No. 122). All that Ananda's predecessor enjoyed was not due to miracles, but because he had a high, enduring spirit of kindness, always listening to the words of the Bodhisattva (Buddha's predecessor). teach, and take those golden words to mind, so that they can be practiced happily.END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.31/3/2021.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.