The Life of Saint Sangha Ananda. Chapter III Worthy of the role of serving Buddha -ooOoo- M OT in the virtues of Ananda is unfortunate streak Buddha devoted servant. The Buddha himself has affirmed the same many times, and He added, "Ananda is the most worthy disciple of those who have served the Tathagata. is the first person present, not letting Tathagata wait "(According to Anguttara Nikàya 1.19 = Increase Most A Function Function 1.19). Actually, the three words "to attend to Buddha" are not very clear. Because worldly terms are difficult to describe the exact position of Amanda in the virtuous community, under the guidance of the Buddha. If we call Abanana the secretary or assistant of the Buddha, it is more correct, but at that time, the aspect of Aanda's narcissism, worship, submission, willingness to sacrifice for virtue Buddha is not expressed. If we call him a disciple of the servant of the Buddha, then his role of organizing, and many times representing the Buddha leading the church, is skillfully forgotten. Then, beyond the sphere of Buddhism, we cannot find, in other philosophical literary treasures, a similar character, that is, a character can be both a servant and a servant. the aide of the rabbi, at the same time that character is also capable of becoming a rabbi, like Ananda. His diligent attentions to the Buddha during the twenty-five school years were numerous. We are only describing some of the daily tasks only. For example, every morning and every night, Ananda had to bring face wash and toothbrush to the Buddha. Then he had to prepare the monk before offering his breakfast to the Buddha. At noon, Ananda went to alms to go home first, to receive the Buddha's bowl. Clear water, you must prepare, to wash Buddha feet. During the midday meal, he always ate after the Buddha, and when the Buddha finished his meal, he was obliged to ask for the food remaining in the Buddha's bowl to share food for the less fortunate bhikkhus or give alms to the poor. The Buddha's clothes, tranquility, and bowl of bowls, Amanda always cleaned, washing and rinsing clean. When the Buddha was tired, he anointed, massaged or searched for medicine for the Buddha. Even to sleep, Ananda also lay near Buddha, especially when the Buddha was sick, so that when the Buddha needed something, he did not have to wait long. According to Mahàvagga, 3, 16 (Great Discipline, Chapter 3, Paragraph 16), in addition to the above-mentioned works dedicated to the Buddha, Amanda daily also personally looked after all the activities of the monks, especially especially the newly ordained bhikkhus. Even when everyone had retreated into the hermitage (noon as well as evening), he kept gazing everywhere in the temple, to see if there were bhikkhus or novices who had left something or not, to put them in one. place, then give it back to them. Whenever the deity needs to convey any teachings to the Sangha, he is the informant who brings the teachings to everyone's ears (According to Cùlavagga V.20: Skit No V.20). Sometimes at midnight the Buddhas wanted to meet all the Sangha, Ananda happily summoned them fully (According to Jataka 148). One time the monks were indifferent to a seriously ill fallen monk. Buddha and Amanda for his care (according to Mahà and Gga 8.26). Just like that, Amanda performed a lot of daily work, in order to bring the Buddha's physical happiness (and also his enlightened brother, and bring joy to the community at the same time. Co-Sangha, like a gentle mother caring for them, adores her fully mature son (referring to the Buddha) and newly grown children, regardless of character, talent (referring to the community of Sangha). . But the most outstanding work of all, is that Ananda played the role of an outstanding secretary of the Buddha. He was able to convey all the teachings, every command of the Guru to the thousands of monks in a very courteous, prompt and timely manner, making all the church's observance, always unified, orderly, rarely fails On the external side, A Nan Da skillfully cooperated with Xa Loi Phat (Sàrìputta) and Moggallàna (Moggallàna) 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 Ham No. 4, 249), when the debate of the community of bhikkhus in Kosambi occurred, as well as when De Ba Data attempted to divide the Buddhist Sangha (According to Udàya V, 8 and according to Cùlavagga 8), Aanda has played the role of conducting two very effective detoxification. Thanks to that, later on, all the Sangha got back into harmony. On the other hand, Amanda is also one of the first Tathagata the messenger of the Buddha to contact with other religions. Whenever the Buddha told him to contact whom, no matter how difficult, he never refused. And when performing such tasks, Aban did not feel that he was simply an intelligent person, but he also demonstrated the full status of a diplomat. Back to the internal activities, many times the Sangha could not avoid making noise in the monastery. The Buddha asked Amanda why, he boldly explained the reason for the Buddha clearly (According to Mahavagga 67, Pàcittia 65 and Udàya 3.3). Thanks to that, the Blessed One knows for sure the reason to give the appropriate instructions. One case of significant noise is as follows: There was a group of bhikkhus who forgot to speak loudly, making noise in the monastery. The Buddha believed, and told Ananda to reprimand. That group of bhikkhus, after being reminded by Ananda, reprimanded with constructive words, everyone who went home worked diligently to meditate. They cultivated so diligently that in the summer of that year, they all attained the three Wisdom Insights, including: The Knowledge that knows past lives, the Knowledge that knows the lifespans of all beings and the Knowledge that knows us more or less greed, hatred, ignorance. One evening, receiving the Buddha's call, this group of bhikkhus immediately came to serve the Buddha. But while they arrived, the Buddha was entering samadhi. According to the commentary at that time the Buddha's mind was residing in a realm of samādhi, named Ananja Samàdhi (meaning abiding on formless samādhi). both sat down and entered samadhi ... Quiet time passed, in the Buddha's retreat, the first two watch of the school night, the scene suddenly fell silent. Ananda misunderstood that these bhikkhus saw the Buddha entered samadhi, so they waited patiently. And wanting to help them get the Buddha's reception soon, he hurriedly said: "The Blessed One! But all is still quiet ... Then the two mid-night watch also passed, Ananda again reminded the Buddha: "White Buddha guru! Disciples have come!". But after Aanda's second statement, the atmosphere at the Buddha's retreat, deep in tranquility. Everything was motionless ... When Ananda spoke to the Buddha for the third time, outside, it was lightening, the Buddha released meditation, and said to Aanda that: - Hey, Aanda! Because he had not attained formless form of meditation, all night he had never known that the Tathagata and these commendable bhikkhus had entered samadhi. And no sound can silence the Tathagata's consciousness or theirs! This account proves that Aanda at that time has not yet attained a high level of meditation. But his patience is very precious, because he stays there, all night to serve the Buddha, when there are such Sangha, he is indeed the only person who has done it happily and easily. Then the Buddha praised Ananda again: - Hey, Aanda! These bhikkhus used to enjoy debating, neglecting their practice, and today, after his recommendation, they have become diligent Zen practitioners, attaining the three Wisdom Insights. Asana heard the Buddha reveal the results of the self-discipline and diligent practice of the group of bhikkhus that he recommended, so it delighted. Since then, Amanda diligently practiced meditation, although there were many other duties on the shoulder. Theravada Buddhist scriptures often mentioned twice as Abanda asked the Buddha for meditation topics that require one to practice in the wilderness. The Buddha taught Abanda the first time that: - Be head of the five aggregates, that is the leader of Sac, Tho, Idea, and Consciousness (According to Sam gutta Nikàya 22.158 = Jap A Ham No. 22. 158) And a second time, He taught: - Contemplate the six sense bases, including; Eye-base, Atrial root, Base-base, Base-base, Body-base and Italian-base (Samiutta Nikàya 35, 86). As for the merits of serving the brothers, the name Aanda is clearly stated in the Anguttara Nikaya n. 60; 6.58 (Maximum A Function 60; 6.58) as follows: "When Monk Girimananda and Samantabhadra Phagguna are seriously ill, Amanda is the one who comes back and forth most often. He also monitors the illnesses of the two victims, to request the Buddha to grant magic to save them. through critical moments ". Even the splendid main throne of Ky Vien Tu, (when he promoted Cap Co Doc expressed his wish to build up in the garden of Ky Da, to dedicate himself to Buddhism) was also asked by Ananda to ask the Buddha to accept the invitation. This temple later became the first Patriarch of Buddhism (according to Jātaka No. 479). That is, in one way or another, Aanda has shown to be a zealous Samantabha building up the church. He always serves the community with the full qualities of a good mother, or a good and virtuous father, who is always attentive to his children. Ananda's talent for organizing, persuading and guiding many people was also shown in a previous life. When he applied to be the assistant Pham Thien of heavenly king De Thich (Sakka). According to the sutras of Aanda's previous life in the heavens, in one lifetime, he was the only assistant fairy whose aura was as bright as the aura of the king. He was assigned by the king De Thich to govern the entire Thien Xa (According to the Jātakas 31, 469, 535 and 541). Particularly in Jātaka (Túc Sinh Tales) number 489, A Nanas precursor is the architects of ancestor named Vissakamma. Or in two other Jātakas (Jātaka) number 75 and 450, in one case, his predecessor was the rain god named Pjjuma, and in the other case: the predecessor was the Five Music god named Pãncasikha. But Ananda's heart of sacrifice and protection of the Buddha probably needs to be above all else. When Devadatta (Devadatta) released a fierce elephant to harm the Buddha, Ananda bravely rushed to stand in front of the Buddha, willing to sacrifice his life to protect the Omniscient. It is better for you to let the elephant go mad and De De Da Da to kill you, but you do not want them to seriously commit murder or injure a Buddha. Three times the Buddha told him to step back, but he did not follow, until he was lifted up by the Buddha using divine powers, gently placed him elsewhere, then he was assured of sacrificing Your Buddha is not needed. And that spirit of sacrifice has made the aroma of Abanda to be broader later on (according to Jātaka No. 4533). By that reason, the Buddha repeated, in front of the Sangha, "Four times in his previous lives Aanda had sacrificed his life to save the Bodhisattva, the forerunner of the Tathagata four times". But in two very distant lives, between the deep cycle of reincarnation: when both Buddha's forerunner and Ananda's forerunner were born as two swan birds, and then at the end of their life expectancy as two deer. stories 502, 533, 534 and 501). From the swan to the deer precursor Aanda did not abandon his friend, Buddha's predecessor, who was born as a similar animal, was trapped. As a result, the two died together at the cruel hands of a hunter. But according to Tuc Sinh's story No. 222, the Buddha's forerunner was a filial monkey, sacrificing his life to save his mother, the forerunner of Ananda. On the other hand in such karmic reincarnations, the Buddha's forerunner and Ananda's forerunner often thanks to their special intelligence and natural prudence, which easily saved each other's lives. Above are the stories related to the sacrifices and karmic conditions of Samsara in parallel of the forerunner of Ananda and that of the Buddha.END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.31/3/2021.