The Life of Ananda Sangha.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH. Chapter VIII Ananda's past life -ooOoo- A summary of Aanda's past lives, in the past he rarely was born as a devil or a god. He also rarely reincarnated as an animal, but often reincarnated as a human. Many scriptures also confirm that whenever Aanda is born as a human being, Anuruddha, his brother is born as a deva, and Devadatta (Devadatta) is born as a beast. The intimate relationship between Ananda and the Buddha was repeated many times in his past life. Often when he and his predecessor Buddha reincarnated as two brothers. Anecdotes about the past lives of Abanda and that of the Buddha are selected and presented with the purpose of making it clear that: In the forerunners of the two, the two forerunners always tried to cultivate virtue. Jātaka (Jātaka) number 498 tells that: One life, Ananda and the Bodhisattva (*) were born as two uncles and uncles in a low class. Their job is to disinfect filthy places. In order to avoid being scorned, the two transformed into Brahmins who entered Takkasila University to continue their studies. [* The Buddha's predecessor is also called the Bodhisattva and only the Bodhisattva is reborn. But Buddha cannot be reincarnated anymore.] The camouflage of these two low class brothers was later discovered. Both were brutally beaten by a number of classmates. There was a professor who was a sage who promptly intervened to prevent the vicious students of the Brahman class from persecuting these two unhappy brothers, and then advised them to ordain as a Taoist. Both obediently and happily took the life of a Taoist life to live the rest of the life. When knowing longevity, because of "bad karma to disguise people to deceive people", they gave birth to two hare. These two animals were never separated, even when dead, they died together. In one place, by the same arrow by a hunter. In the next life, the forerunner Aanda and the Bodhisattva again born as two seagulls, then once again died together by the hunter. To be seagulls is their last life to fall below humanity. After that, Ananda was born as a Prince and Bodhisattva was born as the son of a National Master. Whenever Amanda is reborn in a high position, enjoying all kinds of pleasures, the Bodhisattva is born as a sage, with extraordinary laws covering many past and future problems. Just by seeing a being, the Bodhisattva could see at least three lifetimes ago. As for Amanda, when she is a human, no matter how diligent she is and cultivates, she only remembers a previous life! In particular, in his life, he was born as a lowly citizen (Candala), transformed into a Brahmin student, and then beaten. So after he went to practice, he tried to meditate to gain the wisdom of knowing the karma of his previous life as just mentioned. When Ananda's predecessor became Prince at the age of 16, the Bodhisattva became a very diligent monk. One day the Taoist came to visit the king, praised the purity of the virtuous life and pointed out the dissatisfaction of a scene of enjoying pleasures in life. Immediately after listening to the king (the forerunner of Ananda), he immediately recognized that the Taoist analysis was very correct. But the royal family confessed he could not ignore the pleasures. he was buried in the throne like an elephant stuck in a swamp. The Taoist Bodhisattva (the Buddha's predecessor) then taught the king: "A king can still improve his virtue while on the throne by benevolently ruling all peoples, taxes and upholds of cultivators and educators ". One day, suddenly remembering his mother, the king (the forerunner of Ananda) suddenly thought: "When he was born he was in a cradle like a helpless, useless child. If he hadn't been nurtured by his mother, he would have been. never become an ordinary human being, let alone a dignified king ". Because of such a consideration, the king wanted to repay the gift of a gentle mother's birth and nurturing by ordaining a monk to dedicate the merit to the two born. And that life, at the end of his life span, he was co-born with the Bodhisattva (Buddha's predecessor) in the Brahma world. According to Tuc Sinh tales 421 (Jātaka 421), there was one life before the Buddha (Bodhisattva) was born as a poor farmer, but often kept the Precepts of the Bat Quan Trai with the wish that the next life will be liberated from poverty and progress. turn to higher realms. Thanks to this virtue, the Bodhisattva (or Buddha's predecessor) at the end of his life span was reborn as king. As for the forerunner of Ananda, in her previous life she was born as a king, but because it was so easy, she was born as a countryman in the countryside who loves her wife. The water carrier's fortune was only a very precious silver coin, buried under a large rock at a distant mountain foot. The other day there was a flower festival in the country jubilantly happily. The wife who carried the water immediately asked her husband to take her to the capital to see the congregation. Then she said to her husband: - I have saved a small amount of money, if you save a little more, we will have enough money to attend the festival. The water carrier replied: - He saved a penny a day, and gradually converted it into a penny. But he was afraid that it would be used up in the house, so he buried it in a place 12 miles away. The wife immediately rejoiced, urging her husband to take the money home, and discussed: - Your big silver plus the small amount you saved we can buy corolla, perfume and drinks for the festival. The water carrier listened to his wife's words and immediately went to get the money back, although it was at noon when the sun was shining on the top of his head, the air was very hot. When the water carrier passed by in front of the king, he was naturally inspired to sing a very special lyrics song. Singing unintentionally followed the wind to the ears of the king, who was sitting in the garden, enjoying the coolness. The king was amazed, so he sent the soldiers to force him to carry water and bring him, and asked, - It is this hot, why do people walk in the sun, singing like in the spring dance? - Your Majesty! People are too happy, so they don't feel hot. The king immediately asked: - Why are people happy? - Your Majesty! Convenience is about to recover a sum of money made by sweat and tears of the popular, and is kept in a secret place. The man who carried the water told the king the whole story he had discussed with his wife. As for the king, when he heard that the water carrier was about to recover a sum of money, the king thought that "Ah must be a large treasure". Who would expect the king to know it was just a silver coin With a benevolent nature, the king did not want the person carrying water to wade in the sun to dig for a silver coin, to celebrate the coronation. The King immediately laughed and said: - You will not have to go get buried money for anything, I will give you a penny to celebrate the ceremony. The water carrier immediately rejoiced, bowed his head and said: - Your Majesty! That way, the people will get two silver coins! The ceremony of an untouchable husband and wife will certainly be full. The king, excited, said: - The sun burns like this, so you don't have to go to the mountain to get money. I will give you two pennies. The water bearer once again rejoiced, and honestly said: - This means that an ordinary husband and wife will have three dollars to celebrate the coronation. And my Majesty! Because people love his wife so much. If you can find just a penny to make your wife happy, people will also be willing to do, let alone point to the mountain to get a silver coin! Hearing that, the king became even more excited. The king immediately "auctioned" the compassion of the wife of the water bearer by increasing from two dong to four dong. Then from one hundred dong to eight dong.vv .... to one hundred dong ...! After all, one million dong! ..? Although the water carrier did not refuse the king's great kind money, he insisted on getting a silver coin buried in the mountain. The king was so surprised, and asked the reason why he heard the water bearer explain: - Your Majesty! The joy that the ordinary people want to bring to the gentle wife must be created by the sweat and tears of the popular. If the people only take the bonus of His Majesty and bring it to his wife for the celebration, then that happiness will be given by His Majesty, not by the people created by the people. The King was moved to hear that, and he appointed the person who carried the water (the forerunner of Aanda) to be the deputy king. But the water carrier still refused, invoking: "Working as a water carrier is hard, but free. Husband and wife by the way are not responsible on a regular basis. Your Majesty ... that freedom will be gone! ". The water carrier respectfully shook his head and tried to retreat. But the king ordered him to stay behind to fulfill his will. As mentioned in the previous paragraph: The king was the precursor to the Buddha, so the will (power of will) is very solid. After a noble smile, the king did not hesitate to give the water carrier half a stretch, so that he could be king like himself without fear of being responsible to his superiors or not being led by anyone. Then the water carrier accepted the invitation. And since then the kingdom was divided into two small countries. One of the two kings of those two states was also called "King of the Silver Coin". One day the two kings went hunting. When tired, the first king (the Buddha's predecessor) lay his head on the calf of the second king (originally the water carrier) to rest and then fell asleep. The second king (the forerunner of Ananda reincarnated as a bearer of water and was fortunate to be king), in a moment of ambition to revolt, suddenly thought: "I killed this king to rule both minorities. country, is it better? When the king drew his sword to kill his friend, another thought suddenly flashed in his mind: "I was in misery in the past, and thanks to this man I have been exalted. Can I act so treasonous, vile, cruel? " Then he sheathed his sword. But a second time, the will to rule both kingdoms arose and was also suppressed by the king (who was the bearer of water). After two times overcoming his desire, the king with the nickname "One Silver" suddenly thought clearly: "We must find a way to eliminate this greed, otherwise it will rebell. let go of this sword. Even if malice arises, I have no means to sin. " After thinking about it, the king "One silver coin" immediately threw the sword far away, and the noise awakened the first king. The remorse made the king almost sin, immediately kneeling at the feet of his benefactor king to apologize. The king escaped death (ie the Buddha's precursor), when he understood the narrative, happily forgave him. And He also said: - Fortunately, you awakened in time, lest you would have killed me in vain, because I was not interested in the little remaining kingdom of me. I just want to be less busy, less attached as possible, to wait one day to find a way out of this troublesome world. So in order to "thank" for your awakening tossing your sword, I would like to make you the king to rule both countries and I hold the position of deputy king. But the king's remorse "One silver coin" was very strong, the king quickly refused with the following words: - Sir! Greed and ambition have emerged in me. I see how it starts to increase, then obscure my reason, so I will find a means to suppress and eliminate it like that. Now I just want to become a Taoist to live a virtuous life. I must throw away this little kingdom, just as I cast away that evil sword, then I may avoid doing sin. And since then, it was found on the Himalayas that there was a Taoist monk who was very serious, and everyone called that Taoist, the former King of "One Silver Coin". And the benevolent king almost was killed (ie the precursor of the Buddha) then continued to be the king to protect that certain Taoist (There are books that say the reason why the king named "One silver coin" almost committed the murder of his benefactor. she was his wife, and from being the wife of a water carrier, she became Queen one day soon, so the demand for luxury, power increased more and more. benevolent (formerly the king considered both countries ...)She treated her husband very intimately, as a couple of brothers, she repeatedly incited her husband to suddenly take the army to capture, or try to kill her gentle king. But she was always rejected by her husband. Last time: before the two kings went hunting, she called her husband into the palace and said in a small voice: "In this period, if the king can't kill the gentle king from there, don't go back to the palace". For that reason, the king named "One silver coin", after awakening, devoted himself to ordination right after the last hunt. The story of this greedy woman is very lengthy, possibly written into a logical novel. (The translator would like to summarize here so that the content of Abanda in this book will not be diluted). Túc Sinh's story No. 282 also tells that: At that time, the Bodhisattva (Buddha's predecessor) was born as King of Ba La Nai. This is an elder brother, always keeping the ten virtues of a sage, especially generosity of precepts and observance of Bat Quan Trai. But regrettably in the king's court there was a lustful, wicked ruler. This guy was jealous of many royal concubines in the forbidden palace. Belief reached the king's ears in order to keep the Bat Quan Trai precepts, he did not hell that devil, but only ordered him to exile in a border area. On the occasion of being generous by the king, that godly man immediately collected all his possessions, took his family to another country. After that, thanks to his flattering tongue, he was trusted by the king of the neighboring country, he was appointed to the left guard position, always beside the king. And that neighbor and neighbor was none other than the forerunner of Ananda who was reborn at the same time as the Bodhisattva. Still any evidence of this: One day the other wicked advised the king to send troops to conquer Ba La Nai citadel. According to him, the most appropriate reason is that Ba La Nai citadel is the capital of a benevolent king who does not like war. But before that incestuous words, the royal family was afraid because he thought: The entire people in Ba La Nai city were very healthy, united and had great respect for their king. When they wholeheartedly defended the capital, the invading army could not enter. The wicked guessed the king's thoughts and pretended to be cautious: - Your Majesty! If Your Majesty is afraid, please stay in the palace. His Majesty just requested to grant him an army to test him. The king immediately approved the sending of troops to test it. But when he was in battle, the villain was too strong to fight against the enemy, he could not win, so he escaped first and hid in a nearby area. Before he ran away, he had his remnants left "like this ... like this! If caught!" As a result, the entire army "tried to invade" were arrested, and led to a crime in front of the king of Ba La Nai. King Ba La Nai (precursor of the Buddha) asked the prisoners that: Why do you dare to fight in the city? Your Majesty! They are just poor people. Because he was too hungry, he had to go to the city to steal and eat, not the rebels. Please generously spared your life. The king heard that, immediately forgave the death, and then gave the money to drop home to live. This news penetrated the neighboring king (the forerunner of Ananda), so the king began to believe the lies of that evil officer. He thought: "King Ba La Nai is so kind, he doesn't like killing. I just send troops straight to the king's temple to win the battle, no need to occupy other places in the capital". Indeed, when the invaders came massively near the gate, the general commander in chief of the imperial defense, although in a posture that was capable of repelling the enemies, was stopped by the king, because he did not want to see the bloodshed. . Conclusion: The citadel of Ba La Nai fell into the hands of the invaders, and the king and mandarin were taken prisoner. When facing the king who came to rob the city, King Ba La Nai said: If the royal family wants to rule over both countries, then just tell me directly. I will give up the territory, what must be mobilized, almost cause death to innocent people! After finishing his sentence, the king casually let the other party lead him to prison. While in prison, the gentle king immediately entered samadhi, then spread his compassionate heart to the rampaging king invading, making this king naturally feel sad, regretful and upset. In prison, the more virtuous the king spread his compassionate heart, the more sorrowful, the more regretful the king won the battle. Raised that he could not stand it anymore, had to automatically go to the prison to apologize to King Ba La Nai, and return the kingdom to the same. After that, the king who surrendered (the forerunner of Ananda) also pledged for life to become a loyal ally of King Ba La Nai, especially not to go to war with anyone. Then he kicked the devil out of the underlings, then pulled his army back to the country. And King Ba La Nai (precursor of the Buddha), after he had recovered the mountain, immediately gave the throne to the Prince, and then ordained as a Taoist. Before leaving the golden palace, to enter the forest for spiritual practice, the king advised the mandarins: - Hey guys! in the world only the strength of the moral precepts is the most solid! only the power of compassion is the weapon to defend the safest kingdom. Because when we use compassion to deal with an enemy, blood will not be shed, and victory will be the most glorious victory. The story concludes that: In that life, the Buddha's predecessor, after leaving the throne, practiced meditation in the desert, at the end of his life span he was born in the realm of Pham Thien. As for Ananda's predecessor, she continued to be king, and became a very righteous king.END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.3/4/2021.