Buddha's Life.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THE WOMEN OF THE SAKYA CLAN CHAN TANH. Many, many years ago in a small country in northern India, an event happened that changed the whole world. Queen Ma-Da (Maya) (1) , the wife of King Tinh San (Suddhodana) (2) virtue in her sleep saw a dream. In her dream the queen saw a bright light from the sky shining down on her, and in that light there was an image of a huge elephant. Elephants are white and have six tusks. This elephant of light flew closer and closer to the queen and eventually merged into her body. Queen Ma-Da woke up, her heart filled with boundless joy, which the queen had never had before. The queen immediately informed King Tinh San, and both asked the wise court officials to explain the meaning of the dream. You answer: "Your Majesty, it was a good dream. It means that the queen is about to give birth, and this future prince will become a superman. Not only His Majesty and the Queen, but the whole human world is blessed when the queen gives birth to a prince, especially like that." Hearing such good news, the king and queen were overjoyed. The Emperor was very happy because he wished to have a son to rule the country in his place in the future. And now that wish of the king could come true. According to the old custom, a woman returns to her parents' hometown to give birth to her first child. So at the time of giving birth to the crown prince, Queen Ma-Da, along with her friends and servants, left the palace of King Tinh San to begin the journey back to her maternal homeland. The entourage was not far away, and the queen asked to stop and rest. She felt the baby was about to be born. When the party arrived at the beautiful Lumbini garden (3) , the queen entered the garden to find a suitable place for the birth of the prince. Legend has it that even animals and plants wanted to help because they knew the baby queen was about to give birth to a superman. A branch from a large tree curled downward, and the queen clutched it with her right hand. Supporting herself in this position, the queen gave birth to a crown prince. The servants held the baby in their arms and admired how handsome and dignified the crown prince looked. At that time, all over the country, people felt peaceful and happy. Everyone forgot all their sorrows, no longer quarreled, and all expressed their immense love and friendship for each other. Some people see rainbows appearing in the sky, along with auspicious omens and other unusual events. Sages throughout the kingdom noticed these signs of well-being and well-being, so they joyfully said to each other, “What a blessing it has been. Pay attention to these auspicious omens! Today is the full moon day of April. It must have been a big day!” Queen Ma Da did not expect that her joy of giving birth to a son at that time was shared by all the people in the country, and the queen carried the newborn crown prince back to the king's capital. A visit by The Guru Hien Duc With great joy, King Tinh San congratulated the queen and the newly born crown prince. People hold jubilant festivals and fly colorful flags across the country. It was a period of great happiness and peace for the country. Because everyone everywhere rejoiced, so the king and queen named the prince "Siddhartha" (Siddhartha) (4) meaning "the one who brought all good things". At that time, the sages predicted about the crown prince. They said, "Your Majesty, the omens for the day of the prince's birth are very good. The crown prince will become a greater figure than the emperor now!" Hearing that, the king was very proud. He thought to himself, "If these sages are right, then my son Prince Siddhartha in the future can be a great king, not only ruling my small kingdom but also the whole world! It is a great honor for myself and for the royal family.” The first few days after the prince was born, many people entered the palace to visit the newly born crown prince. One of these is the fairy Asita (Asita) (5). He was a hermit living in a deep forest, and was known as a very holy man. The king and queen were surprised to see the ascetic Asita leaving the forest he was staying in to visit the palace, and immediately said with respect: "Dear guru, we are very pleased to have your visit. Please let us know the purpose of your guru's visit, and we will gladly serve him with whatever he may need." The Taoist monk Ata replied, "The poor Dao would like to thank the king and queen for their gracious hospitality. The poor Daoist came to visit you from afar because the poor Daoist saw strange omens appearing recently. These things tell the poor Daoist that the crown prince that the queen has just given birth will achieve great spiritual knowledge in the future. For a long time, the poor Daoist has spent his whole life in cultivation hoping to have that super-intelligent wisdom, so the poor Daoist can't wait to personally come early to see the crown prince." The emperor happily hurried to the place where the crown prince was sleeping. The king carefully carried the crown prince and brought it to the ascetic Asita. He looked at the prince for a long time and said nothing. Then at last the ascetic stepped back, sadly looked up at the sky, sighed and began to weep. Seeing ascetic Asita crying, the king and queen felt worried. Both feared that the Taoist had seen something bad in the crown prince. With tears in his eyes, King Tinh San knelt down and cried out: "Dear Taoist, what did you see in the prince that made you cry? All the other sages said that when my son was born, he would become a great man, with superhuman wisdom. But now, after seeing the prince, he cried again. Does that mean the crown prince will die soon? Or is something very terrible about to happen to the crown prince? The crown prince is the only child that I love very much, please quickly tell me what you have seen in the prince because my heart is currently too nervous, full of sadness and anxiety." Then, with a look of compassion, the ascetic Asita reassured the king and queen and told them there was nothing to fear. The monk said: “Please don't be too troubled by your majesty and queen. The poor did not cry because they saw something bad hidden in the crown prince. Indeed, what the poor have seen and know for sure is that when the prince grows up, he will become a superman. The poor Daoist saw in the prince many special good signs - like the light shining from his fingers that told the poor man that the future of the prince would be very brilliant. “If the crown prince decides to stay with His Majesty and become king, he will become a wheel-turning monarch in history. The crown prince will rule a large country and bring the nation much peace and happiness. But if the crown prince doesn't want to take the throne, his future will be even greater! The crown prince will become a great teacher, showing all mankind how to live in order to have peace of mind and love. Realizing that the world is full of sorrow and pain, the prince will leave the palace to become a monk, to find a way to end suffering. Then he would instruct anyone who would seek to learn the doctrine. “No, Your Majesty and Queen, the poor do not weep for the prince, but for themselves. See, Your Majesty, the poor way has spent his whole life collecting the truth, finding the way to end all suffering. And today, the poor path met the crown prince, who one day will only teach what the poor path wants to learn. But by the time the crown prince was able to teach, the poor way had already passed away. Thus, the poor way will not be able to practice with the prince in this life. Therefore, the poor are very sad. But His Majesty and the Queen, it is a great blessing, not to worry. Rejoice to have given birth to such a transcendent prince.” Then the ascetic Asita looked at the prince for the last time for a long time, and slowly left the palace. The king watched as the Taoist walked away, then turned to look at the crown prince. He was very happy because he knew that there was nothing dangerous, threatening the life of the prince. Then the king thought to himself, "The ascetic Ascendant taught that the future Prince Siddhartha would become a great king or a great master. At best, the crown prince would be a king first. How proud I am to have such a famous and powerful prince! Then when the crown prince reaches old age like the ascetic Asita, he can leave home to become a virtuous guru if the prince wishes." Thinking such things, King Tinh San happily stood holding the crown prince in his arms, dreaming of the fame that his son would one day have. Prince Nhan Duc While the crown prince was still too young, the crown prince's mother, Queen Ma Da, passed away. Not before the queen's death, she said to her sister: "The day is coming when I will no longer be able to care for my newborn baby. Dear aunt, after my death, please help me raise Prince Siddhartha." The queen's brother promised to do it. She loved and raised the crown prince like her own child. The crown prince grew up to be a smart, cute and benevolent child. His father invited the best famous teachers in the country to teach the crown prince, and the crown prince quickly proved to be very intelligent. After the first few days of teaching, the professors all reported to the king: “Your Majesty, the crown prince does not need us anymore. After only a few lessons, the prince knew everything we wanted to teach. Indeed, the crown prince taught us things we had never known before!” Hearing that, the king's pride in the crown prince increased even more. His Majesty thought: "With the intelligence of my son, the crown prince will grow up to be a talented and powerful king", and this made the king very happy. But the crown prince has more special features than intelligence. The prince's nature is very good, gentle and compassionate. The crown prince's peers enjoyed playing lively children's games of wrestling or pretending to be soldiers and fighting each other. But Prince Siddhartha used up all his time for his quiet life. The prince loved the small animals that lived in the garden of the palace and made close friends with them. The animals know that the crown prince never kills them, so they do not feel fear of the prince. Even wild animals often run away when they see people approaching, but they come to greet them when they see the prince entering the park. They approached fearlessly and took from the prince's hand the food that the prince always brought for them. One day, sitting in the garden, the prince saw a flock of swans flying in the sky. Suddenly an arrow shot into the air and one was hit. It fell from the air at the crown prince's feet with the arrow still stuck to the bird's wing. Prince Siddhartha gently picked up the wounded bird and whispered to it: "Oh, poor swan, my baby. Don't be afraid. I will take care of you. Hey, let me draw the arrow.” Then, the prince used his gentle hand to stroke the bird so that it wouldn't be afraid. And with the other hand the crown prince slowly took out the cruel arrow. The prince applied special medicine to the bird's wings, and always spoke in a soft, affectionate voice so that it would no longer be afraid. Finally, the prince wrapped his silk shirt around to keep the bird's body warm. Moments later, another young man ran into the garden. That was Devadatta (Devadatta) (6) , cousin of the crown prince. The young man carried a bow and arrow in his hand and joyfully shouted, “Sir Siddhartha, Siddhartha, there is good news! I hit the swan! Do you see the talent, just one shot, I hit the target immediately! It fell somewhere near here. Help me find it." Then Devadatta saw his arrow, still stained with blood, lying on the ground near the prince's feet. Looking to the side, Deva saw the crown prince clutching something in his hand, and realized it was the swan he was looking for. Deba cried out, “Hey, you keep my swan. He gave it to me. I hit the swan, it's mine." Devadatta grabbed the bird, but the crown prince held it tightly to prevent his angry brother from touching it. The prince said in a firm voice: "I found the wounded bird here, bleeding, and I will definitely not give the bird to anyone until it has healed." The Lady shouted again, “But the bird is mine. Because it's obvious that you shot it down, and I stole your bird. Then give the bird back to me or I'll catch it back." The two princes stood arguing like this for a moment, Devastating more and more angry every day, but Siddhartha refused to give the bird to Devad. Finally the prince said, "When two people have an argument like this, we should settle the matter at the court. Before a number of discerning courtiers, each side will present how things happened. Then you know that will decide who is right and who is wrong. I think we should do the same.” The Lady didn't like the idea very much, but it was the only way she could get the swan back, so he agreed. Both entered the palace, before the father and the courtiers. Everyone at the court looked at each other and smiled when they heard what the two princes wanted. The courtiers thought, "Both of them want to spend our time adjudicating just one bird." But the king said, "Sadatta and Devadatta are both the offspring of the royal family, and I am pleased to see them both bring their dispute to us to settle. I think these are all very important because after becoming the future rulers, they will need the judgment of this court. Let's start the trial." Then, one by one, each prince spoke up about what had happened. The courtiers tried to arbitrate to see who was right to have the right to keep the swan. Someone said that "Deba shot down the bird, so it belongs to Deba". Another reasoned: "Sir Siddhartha found the swan, therefore it belongs to him". The courtiers discussed and debated the matter for a long time. Finally, in the middle of the court appeared an old man who no one remembered seeing him before. But seeing that he was very virtuous, the courtiers presented him with the full story of the swan of the two princes. After listening, the old man declared: "Every man and woman I value my life more than anything else in the world, so I think the swan belongs to the person who wholeheartedly saved the bird's life, not to the person who deliberately destroyed its life. . Give the swan to Siddhartha." Everyone agreed that what the sage old man said was true, so the courtiers decided to let Prince Siddhartha keep the swan. Later, the king tried to find him to reward the old man for his wise opinion, but he was nowhere to be found. The king immediately thought: "It is very strange, I do not know where he came from and where he went." But no one knows. This is one of the mysterious things that happened in relation to the crown prince, so many people thought that the prince was indeed a very sublime child. Pho Code Selection Contest The prince grew up with a gentle disposition that made everyone know and love him. But the queen was very worried. The king thought: "Sadatta is very gentle, and often worries. I want the crown prince to grow up to be a great king, and every monarch needs to be brave and strong. But the crown prince prefers to sit alone in the garden meditating rather than studying to become a national leader. I am afraid that my son will soon want to leave the palace to live the monastic life of hermits like the ascetic Asita. If he acts like that, the crown prince will never become a great king." These thoughts troubled the king very much. He invited the most trusted officials to come and ask them what to do now. Finally, one of them suggested: "Your Majesty, the prince just sits and fantasizes about other worlds, because there is nothing in this world that makes his heart passionate. Go pick a wife, let the crown prince get married and have children; then people will stop dreaming and will be interested in learning the things of running the country”. The king thought it was a very good idea. He ordered that a great banquet be held at the palace. Many beautiful young women from noble families were invited to attend. At the end of the party, the organizers asked the crown prince to give gifts to each girl, and the courtiers noticed which one the prince seemed to like the most. The beautiful and charming young women all expressed confusion when they introduced the crown prince. The crown prince looked very handsome, but appeared indifferent standing next to a table full of expensive gifts. The maidens timidly stepped forward, and shyly looked down as they approached the crown prince. All silently accepted the jewelry, bracelet or other gift and hurriedly returned to their seats. In the end, only one girl remained. That is Princess Yasodhara (Yasodhara), (7) daughter of the king of a neighboring country. Unlike the other ladies, she was very bold when approaching the crown prince. At this ball, for the first time, the young prince looked directly at the girl in front of him. She was so beautiful and beautiful that the prince immediately fell in love with her. The two stood in silence for a moment and looked at each other. Then Yadu-Dala said: "Your Highness, where is the gift for you?" The prince was startled, like a man waking up from a dream. The prince looked down and saw that there was nothing on the table. All gifts have been given to the beauties. "Here, take this." The prince said as he took off the ring on his finger. "This is my gift to you." Ya Dudala happily took the ring and slowly walked back to her place. The ministers, who witnessed everything happening, rushed to see the king. They happily said: "Your Majesty, we have chosen a perfect wife for the crown prince. She is Princess Yadhyamika, daughter of King Thien Giac (Suprabuddha) (8) neighboring country. We will visit this king right away to take care of the princess's marriage for the crown prince." King Tinh San agreed and not long after that went to visit Yadu Da La's father. He was graciously received by King Thien Giac and said: "I'm sure your prince is a perfect young man, but I cannot give my daughter to anyone for nothing. Many other princes wanted to marry her and they were all outstanding young men. They are good at archery and other sports. So, if your son wants to marry my daughter, the crown prince will have to compete with other suitors, because that is the custom of our country." Then a great talent contest was held with the prize being the beautiful Princess Yau Da La. King Tinh San was worried. “My son has never shown any interest in soldier sports,” he thought. So how can the crown prince win this contest?" But the prince knew his father's worries, so he said: "Please don't worry, Father. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to win the Yajuda award on my part." The first competition was archery. The young men competed on steles to shoot from a long distance, but each one hit the center point on the stele. When it came to Devadatta's turn - because Siddhartha's cousin was also one of the suitors - he not only hit the target, but Devad's arrow pierced the stele and landed on the side. that. The crowd cheered, but Ya Dudala closed his eyes in horror. She thought, "How can my beloved Siddhartha shoot such a shot, and how horrible it would be if I had to marry Devadatta!" But Siddhartha was very confident. In turn, the prince placed the stele so far away that most of the onlookers could not see it. Then the prince took an arrow from the place where the quiver fitted the bow and pulled it back. However, the prince pulled so hard that the bow broke in two, and he threw it far behind! The prince asked, "Please bring me another bow, but this time choose a stronger one so that it won't break like the first bow." A great minister said loudly: "Your Highness, there is a very old bow in the palace. It belongs to one of the most heroic warriors of old. But since he passed away many years ago, no one has had the strength to use it and few people shoot with that bow.” The prince said, "I will use it", and everyone was amazed. When the crown prince holds the bow, he carefully bends and pulls the bowstring with ease. The prince put the arrow on the sling and pulled it back so far that the ends of the bow almost touched, then aimed and fired the arrow. Toan! The cry that came from the bow was so loud that people in remote villages could hear it. The arrow shot away too fast. After hitting the target – in the center of the target – it did not fall to the ground, but continued to fly away until it disappeared from view. The crowd watching cheered and cheered! “The Crown Prince has won! The Crown Prince has won!". But archery was only the first competition of the day, the next competition was sword dance. Each young man chose a tree trunk and demonstrated his strength by slashing at the tree with his sword. The first suitor cut down a six-inch-thick then nine-inch-thick trunk, and the third, with a single sword strike, cut the tree a foot-thick. The prince's turn. He chooses a tree with two trunks that grow side by side. The prince swung the blade so fast that when it cut into the tree no one could see. The crown prince's sword was so sharp and flat that the tree trunk was cut but did not fall. But still completely keep the balance stationary. When the tree was still standing upright, the crowd watching, especially Da Du Da La, shouted: "The crown prince has lost. The crown prince's sword did not cut even the first tree." But a gentle breeze passed and blew the trunks down. The crowd became overjoyed and shouted again: "The crown prince has won." The final competition is horse riding. A fierce horse no one has ridden before, held by strong men, while a young contestant tried to climb up and ride it. But the horse jumped up and kicked so fiercely that no one could sit on its back for more than a few seconds. Finally one young man managed to hold on and the others restrained themselves from leading the horse. But it leapt and leapt forward with frenzy, and with fury sent its rider to the ground. And the horse would be stomped and trampled if not many people jumped in to hold it still. The crowd started shouting, “Stop the contest! Don't let the prince come near that horse! It's too dangerous, it will kill the crown prince!". But Siddhartha was not afraid. Prince thinks: "Tenderness can conquer a violent beast," and slowly approached and grasped the mane on the horse's head. With a soft, gentle voice, caressing the head and cheeks of the aggressive horse, the prince calmed its fury, madness, and fear. The horse immediately became gentle and began to lick Siddhartha's hand. Then, continuing to talk sweetly to the horse, the prince climbed on its back. As the people cheered for joy, the prince performed his steed before the kings and ministers and bowed to his tender award, dear Yadhyamika. The talent contest has ended, young Tat Dada won! And the crown prince proved to be a man not only almighty in great strength, but also by virtue of his gentleness and immense compassion. Palaces Full of Pleasure Not long after that, Crown Prince Siddhartha was married to Princess Yadu-Dala. King Tinh San was sure that his son would never want to leave the kingdom, so he ordered the construction of not one but three magnificent castles for this newlywed couple. The king said to the main contractor, "Make them as beautiful as possible. I want you to build really magnificent palaces so that when people enter them, they will think they are lost in paradise. “I want to build a summer palace out of cool marble and surrounded by lakes and clear springs. The second is a warm and comfortable winter palace. And the third palace is for the rainy season. These castles should be set up in the middle of a large park with beautiful views from all directions. Surrounding the garden is a high wall to prevent any sad scenery from the outside world from entering it. Everything is so perfect that Prince Siddhartha will never have any intention of leaving the palace.” The father in every way ordered the construction of these new castles which attracted the crown prince. He recruited the most talented musicians in the country to go there to perform day and night. All the servants were beautiful dancers, and many of the main cooks were instructed to cook and regularly offer the crown prince delicious dishes. The king forbade bringing into the palace anything that would cause trouble in the prince's soul to make him want to leave the palace. For many years Prince Siddhartha lived in this magical realm. From morning to evening, the prince enjoyed thousands of pleasures. The prince never witnessed any evil sight, nor heard any sound that was not sweet or soothing. For example, if one of the maids fell ill, she had to leave the palace, and only return after she had recovered. This way the prince never saw illness or anything that might have a distressing effect on his sensitive soul. The king ordered that no one should tell the crown prince sad or troublesome stories. Even in the garden when a tree begins to dry up or wither, the gardener immediately cuts it off. Therefore, the prince never saw a flower wither or die. Therefore, the prince did not know the suffering and sorrow in the world. Time passed like a dream. Yadu-dala gave birth to a son, Rahula (9) and everything went well. The father was very pleased and happy to see that the plans to help the prince take care of the royal life had worked out perfectly. But that does not mean that Siddhartha, whose birth was to bring blessings to the world's humanity, will live a life of idleness like that. Finally, when he meets a favorable opportunity, the crown prince will discover the true purpose of his life. Charming Singing One afternoon, after dinner, Prince Siddhartha rested on the bed with his head resting on Yadhya's knee. The musicians were playing melodious songs and the maids were laughing and talking and whispering to each other. The evening was like many other evenings the prince had spent since entering these pleasure palaces. But tonight, the prince was awake and could not sleep. Turning to one of the dear female singers, the prince asked: "Sing a song to lull me to sleep. Which song should you choose that you've never sung to me before?" The female singer politely obeyed and sang a new song with the lyrics coming from her mind, while she was playing along. The music she sings describes the beauties of the world, the faraway lands where as a child she has visited; and magnificent cities where people live happily. The song enthralled the prince, and when it was over, he asked the singer: “Tell me, are there really beautiful places beyond the walls of this garden. What kind of lives did the people in the capital live? Are there more sights in the world than what we have seen in these palaces? Tell me everything you know." She replied: "Your Highness, these castles are certainly the most magnificent, but there are many other beautiful sights in the wide world today. There are many metropolises, cities, mountains and valleys, as well as faraway lands where people speak foreign languages. There are many things I have seen, and other things that I have heard. The prince's palaces and gardens are indeed beautiful, but there is still much to see beyond these walls." Hearing this, the prince was very much looking forward to seeing these strange and unusual sights for himself, because for many years he had been content to live in gardens and palaces full of pleasures and completely ignorant of the world. outside. But now, the prince wanted to go out for a walk, so he sent a letter asking his father to organize an excursion outside the city of the park. The father received the letter from the crown prince and thought to himself: "Now my son wants to go see this country. Hope that happens! The prince has lived a long time in the palaces of pleasure. Now is the time for the crown prince to go out and see the kingdom in which he can reign in the future.” Unexpected Scenes King Tinh San wanted to make sure that his son, on his trip outside the city, would not encounter any sight that would cause disturbance in the prince's soul. As this will cause him to decide to leave the kingdom to pursue a hermit life. So before the prince planned to go out for a walk outside the city, the king sent his courtiers and soldiers to announce: "Due to the king's command, tomorrow Prince Siddhartha will visit the Kapilavastu city. (Kapilavastu) (10). People, to show respect, decorate their houses and roads and hang lights with colorful flowers everywhere. Those who are old and sick with poor health tomorrow, should stay at home. In the capital, don't let the crown prince see old, ugly, and unbeautiful scenes." And, very slowly, The next morning, the servant Xa Nac (Channa) (11), prepared the prince's beloved horse Kien Trac (Kantaka) (12), and drove him out of the city gates. This was the first time that the prince, since he was a child, had seen Kapilavastu city, and also the first time that most of the people in the city had met their prince. Everyone was delighted and stood along the newly decorated streets looking forward to seeing the handsome young prince. When the people's carriage passed, they admired each other: "How tall and handsome the prince looks! The crown prince's eyes and forehead are so bright! We are so blessed that one day the crown prince will be our king.” And the prince was also very happy. The city was bright and clean, and the prince saw that the people everywhere were laughing, rejoicing, and dancing. The streets the prince passed through were filled with flower petals that the people joyfully threw at the beloved prince. The prince happily recalled: “The song describes it right. It is clear that this is a splendid and strange city of splendor!”. But the prince and his servant Xa Nac were driving the carriage, and suddenly saw in the midst of this cheerful crowd an old man with a stooped waist with a sad expression. Out of curiosity because the prince had never seen anything like it before, so he turned around and asked: "Hey Xa Nac, who is that old man? Why did he stoop and not dance like the young people? Why was the skin on his face wrinkled and not as bright as everyone else's, but pale and parched? Why are you so different from the rest of the world?" Sa Nac pointed to the old man standing but no one saw and replied: "Why, Your Highness, because it is an old man." The prince asked: "Old? Has this person always been this old since or did it just happen recently?” Xa Nac replied: "Your Highness, no. Many years ago that old man was as young and healthy as everyone else the prince saw here today. But his strength gradually diminished. His back was stooped, the color of his cheeks had faded, most of his teeth had fallen out, and that's what the old man looks like now." Very surprised and sad, Prince Siddhartha asked again: "Isn't that old man alone suffering from old age? Or are others just like you?” “Your Highness, as you know, it is certain that all men must pass through old age. You, me, Yadu-Dala, His Highness's wife, and Rahula, everyone who lives in the palace - we are growing old every moment. One day we will all look as old as that old man.” These words of Xa Nac surprised the crown prince, causing him to sit silently for a long time without saying anything. The prince looked like a lost soul, frightened by a sudden lightning strike. At last the prince spoke up again and said, "Sanna, today I witnessed things that I never expected to see. Among these happy young people, the sight of old age terrifies me. Well, let's drive back to the palace, all my joy in this excursion has been lost. Come back. I don't want to see any more." Xa Nac obeyed the crown prince. When he returned to the palace, the prince entered the palace without greeting anyone, the prince hurried upstairs to his own room, and sat in silence for a long time. Everyone was surprised at the prince's strange behavior, and they all tried to cheer him up. But completely failed. At dinner, the crown prince did not earnestly resort to food, even though the head chef cooked special dishes for the prince. The crown prince also no longer desired to enjoy music and watch; dancing but always sitting alone thinking about "aging, old age, old age". 2nd trip The king's father learned that the crown prince was not very happy and was surprised that his plan might have gone wrong. The king thought: "The prince needs to see more scenes. I will arrange another excursion for the crown prince, but this time should bring you to see which is more beautiful in the city." Then Sa Nac prepared Kien Trac horse again, and the two rode the carriage out of the city of Kapilavastu. The streets were decorated as before, and the people rejoiced to see their prince again. But on this occasion, only Prince Siddhartha and Shanna saw a sick person appear in the midst of a laughing crowd. The crown prince exclaimed: "Xa Nac, look there. Who is that person, that they are coughing violently, with their whole bodies shaking and groaning in agony?” “Your Highness, it is a sick person.” The prince asked again, "Why is he sick?" “Your Highness, people get sick for many reasons. Maybe they ate bad food, or caught the cold weather. At that time, their bodies are out of balance and they may catch a fever.” “Can even the happy in the crowd get sick?” The charioteer replied, “Yes, sir. People are healthy today, tomorrow they can be sick. No one is free from illness.” The second time, the prince was very surprised. He said: “I cannot understand, how a person with no worries and so happy could fall ill at any time. Well, you drive the car back. Today we consider that more than enough.” When he returned to the palace, the prince did not feel any happier than before. No one could make the prince laugh and the prince did not want to talk to anyone. The king's father, after realizing his son's misfortune, was extremely worried and puzzled: "I have tried in every possible way to make my son happy, but in the end, the crown prince's heart is still full of troubles. late. Perhaps we should consult the courtiers to see if there is a way to help the prince become more optimistic and love life." They advised the next time, the prince wants to go outside the city, do not let the prince go alone. Better yet, accompanying the crown prince should have musicians, dancers, and court officials. They needed to organize a visit to a specially decorated garden where the crown prince could entertain and be captivated by all sorts of amusements. Therefore, when Prince Siddhartha again wanted to go out of the city to visit, all arrangements were made to make his trip as enjoyable as possible. The city was decorated more beautifully than before. Sad scenes are hidden and a special garden is prepared in all its bright and cheerful colors. The Last Shocking Scene Prince Siddhartha and Shanna again left the palace by carriage. Accompanying them were courtiers, musicians, and attendants, resembling a procession. People, as before, stood along the streets, their eyes fixed on the resplendent royal procession. But, for the third time, a scene appeared that only the crown prince and the charioteer saw. It was a group of sad-faced people carrying a long trunk with a dead body wrapped in a white cloth bag, emerging from the housing complex and walking slowly down a street. “Hey Xa Nac. Why did the person lying in the box not move like that? Is he sleeping? Why are the followers crying? Where do they take him?" “Your highness, it is the body of a dead man. They are carrying him to the river to be cremated." The prince was surprised and asked: "What do you mean by 'dead'? If the person's body was burned, would he have any pain? O Shana, explain it to me.” And Shanna answered, telling the Prince all the truth that his father had hidden from the crown prince for many years: "In the past, that person lived like you and me now. They are born, grow up as children, and become young adults. He enjoys many pleasures and pains in life, starts a family, goes to work and earns a living, and grows old. Then his body became weaker and weaker. He had to lie in bed. Before long, he was unable to recognize his closest friends. His health was getting worse and worse, and then he could no longer breathe. With this last breath, the life force and the sense of knowing were also far from his body. Now he has passed away. All he could see was the motionless body he had cared so much for while he was alive. It lay there cold and unfeeling. When his family members cremated the body, he knew nothing more; because he's dead." "Tell me, Shannau, isn't it very rare for people to die like that?" The charioteer replied, "Not really, Your Highness. In fact, some people never age quickly and rarely get sick. However, everyone, without exception, one day all must die.” These words, Xa Nac spoke innocently, making the crown prince extremely surprised. He asked passionately: “Do you mean that one day my wife and children, my friends and myself will all have to die? And the people we see here today, well dressed, will also have to close their eyes? Alas, it is bewildering how the people of this world can dance and sing with joy knowing that death awaits them! Why should people be so preoccupied with wearing fancy and elegant clothes when they know that one day at the time of death their body will also be wrapped in a rudimentary white cloth? Do people have poor memory so they have forgotten about death? Or is it that people's wills are so strong that they no longer worry about death? Come here, Xa Nah, turn the car around. I want to return to the palace to meditate.” However, Xa Nac, drove to a beautiful garden. Here, the most beautiful singers and dancers in the palace await, along with musicians, courtiers and a banquet organized by royal chefs. Everyone was warm and happy to welcome the prince as soon as he got out of the carriage. But the prince did not smile, nor utter a word. The crown prince was completely thinking about the scene he had seen that day. Fascinating Pleasures Everyone tried their best to bring joy to the crown prince. The flirtatious dancers wanted to put a smile on the prince's melancholy handsome face. But Siddhartha showed little interest in them. The crown prince couldn't get out of his mind the scenes of old age, sickness, and death. One of the courtiers noticed that the crown prince was not interested in attending the lavish parties held exclusively for him, so he went to see the prince. In the joking manner of a friend, he said, "Sir, Siddhartha, it is unreasonable for the prince not to know these lovely and beautiful dancers, and refuses to attend the parties. . Come back here! The prince is young and full of energy, so enjoy yourself. Why? Aren't these young ladies quite pretty for the crown prince?" But the prince replied to him in a voice that was both as hard and gentle as thunder: “You have misunderstood me. It's not that I don't enjoy looking at the lovely people and sights here. However, when we think of the fading beauties and the impermanent change of things, we no longer feel any pleasure. “If there were no aging, sickness, and death, then I, too, would find much pleasure looking at those lovely images. But in the midst of suffering, and knowing that awaits all of us in the future, how can we be satisfied with pleasures that will pass so quickly? “My friend, if you have a harder heart than mine, you can easily enjoy these pleasures. But for me everything I see is burning in the flames of suffering. As long as we have not found a way out of this suffering, all worldly pleasures will not be able to seduce us.” Because it was impossible to make the prince optimistic about life, everyone returned to the palace sadly. When the courtiers informed the father that nothing could make the prince happy or pleased, the king was so worried that he could not sleep. The emperor thought: "Hey, my dear child, what can keep you with me in this kingdom? What other pleasure can I provide so that my child will not have to leave?” With anxious thoughts of soon losing his only prince, the king spent the night in despair. An Lac Meditation session The crown prince became more and more immersed in cynical pessimism. It seems that people are no longer interested in anything. The prince was lazy to eat and drink and as a result, the crown prince became pale and thin. His Majesty and the others were very troubled by these unfortunate changes that had befallen their dear Prince Siddhartha. One day, the crown prince went to his father and said, "Father, lately, my mind has been troubled all the time. I feel insecure and ask you to allow me to once again travel outside the city. This change of perspective can help you to be at peace.” The king's father agreed to listen to the prince's request right away because the king wanted to do anything to make the prince happy and happy. Just like before, the father instructed his trusted courtiers. The best thing to do is to stay close and watch over the crown prince. This time, Siddhartha himself rode Kien Trac horse to go out of the city to find beautiful countryside scenes. Finally, the prince approached a field and dismounted. The courtiers followed behind. They tried to keep the crown prince happy by telling funny stories about news and gossip at the court. But the prince did not like to hear such gossip; so the courtiers left the prince alone, then they left, chatting happily with each other. Prince Siddhartha stood looking out over the field. The farmer was plowing the field with the cows and the birds singing under the bright sunlight. The prince thought to himself, “This place is so beautiful. The furrows in the fields look like the ripples in the surface of a lake.” The prince sat down, and for the first time his soul felt at ease for a moment. But when he took a closer look at the scene before him, the prince began to realize that these were things he had not seen before. No matter where the plow cut the ground into furrows, the prince saw the bodies of hundreds of small insects that had been killed there. The prince saw countless other insects crawling back and forth in chaos as their nests were destroyed. The prince also realized that the birds were no longer singing happily. They are constantly searching for food, swooping down to peck at frightened worms. And many of the smaller birds were afraid of the swarms of hawks and other hungry large birds circling above them. The prince witnessed hard-working cows trying to pull heavy plows across the field. The farmer whipped whips that caused painful blisters on the cow's back. And farmers also work hard. Like an animal, his hard, sun-tanned body was also drenched in sweat. The prince thought: "It is the cycle of suffering. The farmer, his animals, the birds, the insects - they work all day long in search of a happy, comfortable life with enough to eat. But in fact, they are constantly killing, destroying themselves and killing each other! How I feel so sorry for earthly life.” The prince's heart was filled with immense love for these unfortunate creatures. The prince did not want to see them suffer. He went to a shady place, sat under a jujube tree, and began to concentrate and meditate on all the sights the prince had witnessed. When the prince contemplated deeply the nature of the suffering he had seen, the prince's mind became more still and calm. The prince felt that his mind was completely empty, which he had never had before. With a pure mind, the prince now began to visualize: “All sentient beings seek happiness. But most are obscured by ignorance and craving that make them see life as nothing but suffering. Anxiety, depression, poverty, old age, illness, and death–these are the rewards that people receive in their pensive life! “Now that I have realized it, I no longer enjoy living in this small and ever-changing world of sensuality. We must seek the truth that will bring us joy and eternal peace. But how can we have peace of mind knowing only how to find relief from our own suffering? We must find a way to save all other sentient beings. Those people are all dear to me, and they are suffering! We must find a way to end this suffering and share that liberation with others.” After this compassionate meditation session ended, Prince Siddhartha immediately opened his eyes. Then appeared in front of the prince was a Taoist dressed as a poor beggar, which the prince had never seen before. His eyes were very kind and pure, and his face revealed a very peaceful expression. The prince asked: "Tell me who you are?" The ascetic replied: “I am a person who feels disgusted by the sufferings of the world. I am tired of the sensual pleasures that everyone else is looking for; So now I wander alone. I have left my home; Now we live and sleep in caves, in forests or wherever we find ourselves. My only source of joy is the wish to attain the most illusory peace and ultimate liberation.” As soon as he finished saying these words, the ascetic seemed to have miraculously disappeared, leaving the crown prince alone with amazement and joy in his heart. The prince thought to himself, “I have finally found the true meaning of life. I will also leave my palace to begin the search for true happiness and the way to end all suffering." With a strong will and resolute will, the prince climbed on the Kien Trac horse and returned to the palace. Worried King Pure Sanskrit After returning to the palace, the crown prince went straight to his father's room. The prince clasped his hands together because it was customary to make an important request, and said: "I want to become a homeless wanderer in order to find a way to end all suffering. Please, Father, allow me to leave the palace." Since the crown prince was young, the king had feared that one day he would hear this terrible request. So the king was very shocked when he heard the prince utter such a statement. In a voice choked with tears, the king replied: “Dear child, don't think about leaving the palace. I am too young to pursue the unmarried life of a saint. Wait until the day you grow up. For now, you should stay in the city of Kapilavastu and rule this kingdom." “Father, I will only stay here, if you can promise me four things: Make sure I never grow old; you will never get sick; I will never die and I will never suffer. If your father cannot help you with the above, then you will have to leave the palace immediately.” King Tinh San was surprised to hear the prince express these strange ideas, and he became angry. The king shouted, "Sadatta, forget about those crazy ideas." But the prince still resolutely said: "Father, if you cannot save me from the sufferings of old age, sickness, death and insecurity, then you should let me go to find a way to save myself. me. It makes no sense if the father keeps holding me like a prisoner here.” However, the emperor did not want to hear any more, and he became angry, shouting loudly and commanding his officials: "Don't let the prince pass the city! Bring your troops to surround the royal city!” Ordained Prince Siddhartha left his father's palace and returned to his room. The prince passed the beautifully decorated suites, the brightly lit corridors, the sparkling faucets, and entered his room upstairs. The prince passed between famous musicians and beautiful maids. But not a single splendid scene caught the attention of the prince's soul. The person who has only one idea is to get out of the city. That night, after dinner, it seemed that some miracle power had entered the palace. The musicians, dancers, and maids all got tired one by one, and fell asleep. In the end, even Princess Yajuda fell asleep beside her baby Rahula. The prince looked at his wife and sleeping baby and thought to himself: "I should hold my baby in my arms for the last time before I cross the monastic city, but doing so may wake up Yau-Dala. It is very difficult for me to leave. No, I must quickly, and quietly leave the palace, before anyone can wake up.” Walking softly among the sleeping bodies, the prince reached the window, climbed over the roof, and slid down to the ground. The prince went to where Xa Nac, the charioteer was sleeping, and gently woke him up: "Hurry, Xa Nac, saddle the horse for me. I want to leave tonight." Xa Nac was very surprised that the crown prince wanted to cross the city in the middle of the night, but he still followed the prince's request. Xa Nac prepared Kien Trac horse and brought it to the crown prince. Siddhartha patted the horse and said softly, "Kien Trac, my dear friend, we should keep quiet. I don't want to wake any of the guards. Tonight is a very big night.” Prince, Xa Nac, and Kien Trac horse, when the three reached the sturdy city gates near the parks, the doors opened automatically. They quietly walked out of the city into the night. When they approached a city, the prince looked back and made a vow: "Until I find a way to be free from all suffering, I will not return to this resplendent Kapilavastu!" The three walked all night. When the sun was about to rise, they came to a quiet forest, where many ascetics were retreating. The prince was happy and thought to himself: "Now my real search for enlightenment begins." Then the prince turned to Xa Nac and said: "Dear Xa Nac, I thank you for your help. I have come to where I want to be. Now I ask you to bring my horse back to the palace." Xa Nac did not believe that the Crown Prince would not go back to the palace with him. So he stood in surprise, his eyes filled with tears. The prince understood his servant's grief and very gently said to him again: "My faithful Xa Nac, you should not weep. Sooner or later we will have to part. Behold, take hold of the ornaments that I am wearing; We won't need them anymore. Go back to the palace and tell my father that I did not go away angry. It's not that I don't love my family anymore. But because I love my royal relatives so much, I now have to leave everything. If one day we find the way to liberation, end all suffering, we will return to visit our homeland. If it doesn't work, leaving my capital today must still happen one day. For sooner or later death will come to separate us. Now let us go so that I may begin the investigation.” Sa Nau realized that it was impossible to shake the will of the crown prince. He took the reins of Kien Trac's horse from the crown prince's hand and slowly guided the horse forward. Xa Nac and Kien Trac horse many times looked back at the crown prince with tearful eyes. Finally, the two returned to the city of Kapilavastu, where Shanna had the sad duty to tell everyone that Prince Siddhartha had given up life in the palace forever. The Search Begins Standing alone in the forest, preparing to begin his great quest, Siddhartha thought to himself: "From now on I am no longer a prince. Therefore, it is not appropriate for me to continue living and dressing like a prince." The prince took a knife and cut off his long and shiny hair, a symbol of kingship. Then the prince came in contact and said to the poor hunter: "My friend, I don't need to use these silks anymore. If I want to live a hermit in the forest, I just need to wear a rudimentary cloth like you. So let's take off our clothes to exchange." The hunter was delighted and quickly agreed to Siddhartha's offer to exchange his shabby clothes in order to receive from the crown prince expensive expensive clothes. Now dressed as a monk, ascetic, Prince Siddhartha set out to find a teacher who could show him the way to the end of all suffering. The prince traveled through the forests looking for saints to learn morality. He was warmly welcomed by people everywhere with respect. Although the crown prince wore ragged clothes and ate the frugal food he could get, his figure still looked handsome and attractive. When the ascetics in the forest saw the prince coming, they immediately said to each other: "Here comes another very special person. His face looks bright and resolute! If that person goes looking for the Truth, he will surely prove the Way." Siddhartha sought out many gurus, but he was not satisfied with what he learned from them. The prince thought: "What the Taoists teach is very useful, but does not guide people to the realm of complete happiness." Finally, the crown prince heard that some ascetics who understood the truth were living in the kingdom of Magadha (Magadha) (13), under the reign of King Tan Ba ​​Sa La (Bimbisara) (14). So the prince decided to travel far south and east to find them. One day, when the prince arrived at Rajagriha (15), the capital of the country of Magadha, he passed near the gate of the city. A minister of King Tan Ba ​​Sa La saw the crown prince and ran to meet the king. He said impatiently, "Your Majesty, I have just seen a very strange ascetic appear in the city. He wore ragged clothes and went from house to house begging for food, but the gods were sure that the Taoist was a great man. His face looked very compassionate with a very dignified gait. And almost where the ascetic radiates a special light.” The king was very happy to invite the ascetic Siddhartha to meet. The two talked for a moment, the king was very impressed by the wise, humble quality and benevolence of the ascetic. Then the king said, "I have never met a person in whom I can put my full trust more than the Taoist. Please stay in Kingsara to help me rule this kingdom." But Siddhartha politely replied, "Great King, the poor man had the opportunity to rule a kingdom, but the poor man refused. The poor do not like to live in wealth and power, but only want to find the truth. The poor thank you for your dedication, but the poor come to this country just hoping to meet the masters who can help the poor to find the truth.” Then the king bowed to the ascetic in ragged clothes and said: "I wish the Taoist the best of luck on his path to enlightenment. If someday he realizes the truth that he is looking for, please come back here to teach me to understand that principle. Even if the ascetic fails, I always look forward to welcoming him back to the capital of this kingdom." Siddhartha thanked the king very much and the ascetic continued his journey. Six Years of Asceticism Then the recluse Siddhartha went to the forest where wise ascetics were practicing. He first studied with A La La (Arada) (16) and then with Udraka (Udraka) (17). In a short time, he understood everything that these masters taught. But he was still not satisfied, and thought to himself: "Even though my teachers are holy teachers, all their teachings still do not help people to put an end to suffering. So we must try to find the truth by ourselves.” The ascetic continued his journey until he reached the river Ni Lien Boat (Nairangana)(18), near the sacred city of Ca Da (Gaya)(19). The monk crossed the river and entered the forest on the other side of the river. There he met a group of five ascetics practicing. Their life is very simple. They ate very little food, lived outdoors, and sat quietly meditating for many hours each day. The ascetic asked these ascetics, "Why do you torture yourself and hurt your body like that?" They replied, “Most people in the world cherish their bodies, so they are still suffering a lot. We think that if we can control pain we will find a way to overcome suffering.” The recluse Siddhartha thought to himself, "For many years I have lived in palaces full of sensual pleasures. We have indulged our bodies so much that our minds cannot find peace. Maybe these monks are right. I will join them in their practice to see if this method leads to the end of suffering.” Then he began to practice the above-mentioned strenuous and arduous spiritual practices. The monk sat continuously for many hours in one place. Although his legs and back were in great pain, he remained unmoved. The recluse burns his body in the scorching summer sun and freezes his skin by the freezing cold winds. The ascetic only used enough food to sustain life. And no matter how hard it was, he still said to himself: "I must continue to find the way to end all suffering". Five fellow monks looked at the recluse Siddhartha, full of amazement. They said to each other: "We have not seen anyone with the determination to practice like this one. He was always diligent and never gave up. The one who is about to succeed with this ascetic practice will be Siddhartha. We should sit next to the monk so that when he finds the right path, we will be able to practice with him.” The recluse Siddhartha tortured his body more and more. At first he slept only a few hours a night; but then he ceases to sleep at all. Usually when a monk eats a frugal meal a day, now he doesn't eat anymore. He used only a few grains of cereals and lean fruit that were blown by the wind on the lapels of his clothes. The ascetic became more and more thin. His body lost its pure beauty, covered with dirt and filth. Looking at the samana is like a living skeleton. But he still did not give up the ascetic practice. Six long years passed. When he left the palace and renounced all worldly pleasures, the recluse Siddhartha was exactly twenty-nine years old. Now he is thirty-five years old and has undergone six years of austere practice in eating, sleeping, shelter, and clothing. One day, the ascetic thought to himself, "Am I now any closer to my goal of seeking liberation than six years ago? Or are we still as confused as before? As a crown prince, living in a state of riches, one enjoys everything a prince could wish for. I have wasted many years in those prisons of pleasure. “Then I left the home life to become a monk and started my spiritual quest. I have lived in forests and caves and have yet to reap any results but fasting and tormenting the body. But we still can't find the way to end all suffering. We can now see it as a mistake in self-destruction body like this, it is no more than a mistake that I have wasted much time before in the royal palaces. In order to find the truth, one should follow the middle path between the two lives of too much sensuality and too much asceticism. The recluse recalled that many years ago, after seeing a dead man, he sat in meditation under a jujube tree. The recluse thought to himself, “After that meditation, my mind became very concentrated. For the first time we can clearly see things clearly. Now I will try to meditate again like that.” But when he looked at himself, the recluse realized: "I have been sitting here practicing fasting for many years, now my body is tired, dirty, and weak. I was so thin that I was only skin and bones. How can we meditate clearly, observing things when our bodies are dirty and too hungry?" The monk slowly got up and went down to the river to bathe. But the person was so weak that he almost fell into the water. The ascetic tried his best to reach the shore. Then He sat for a moment, resting. Faithful Offering In a small village next to the forest, there lived a cowherd. Lives with his wife named Tu Gia Da (Sujata)(20). She was very happy that she had just given birth to her first grandson. She used the finest milk from her husband's cows to prepare a hearty meal. She brought food into the forest to offer to the gods she believed lived there. She often prayed to these gods and now wants to thank them for helping her give birth to a healthy child. When she entered the forest, she saw the recluse Siddhartha sitting there. The Taoist's body looked thin and weak, but his face was still pure and beautiful. The Tu Gia Da looked at the monk with astonishment. She said to herself, "I have never seen such a blessed character before. Maybe you're the king of the tree gods here!" And she brought that special food to offer to people. The recluse Siddhartha slowly opened his eyes and saw the bowl of food in front of him. He smiled silently, looked at Tu Gia Da, then brought the bowl of milk to his mouth and began to drink. She was surprised to see that after using milk, the health of the monk's body increased day by day. After drinking milk, he put down his bowl, thanked Tu Gia Da and said: "You think I am a god, but I am just a Taoist searching for truth. Thanks to the offering of breast milk, I feel well again. Now I firmly believe that I will find the way to liberation. You will receive many blessings from the good deed you have done today. Thank you". Five friends practicing with the recluse Siddhartha in the forest saw him accept special food from Ms. Tu Gia Da. They were very upset and said to each other, "The recluse Siddhartha has given up his search for the Way. He no longer pursues the holy life. Look, he showers and eats good food again. How can we live with people like that? Come back here. We should leave this forest and go to Benares (21). We can continue our ascetic path at the nearby Deer Park (22).” Then they left thinking that the recluse Siddhartha was no longer interested in the search for truth. But Siddhartha regained his health through eating and drinking, and prepared to meditate in order to realize the path of liberation he had been searching for for many years. He got up, crossed the river and headed for what would later be known as the Bodhi tree. Great battle The moment the world has been waiting for is now drawing near. The recluse Siddhartha, who had abandoned his kingdom to seek truth, headed towards the Bodhi tree. On the way, the monk met a man carrying fresh grass and asked him for a small bundle. He used this grass to make a seat. When the recluse approached the bodhi tree, the sky became clear. The whole world seemed to hold its breath, anxiously awaiting the great event that would follow. The branches all bent down as if welcoming him to sit under the tree of enlightenment. The recluse Siddhartha used carefully prepared grass to make a small pillow to sit on and face east. The recluse sits in a firm full lotus position with his hands resting on his knees. Then he made a brave and determined vow: "I will not leave this place until I die, until I have attained enlightenment." The angels in the sky looked down with joy, hearing the noble vow of the ascetic Siddhartha. It was the full moon of April, just as the sun was about to rise. But the ancient scriptures record that at that time not everyone was happy. But there is a force called Demon King (Mara)(23), they are very scared and angry. Because Mara is the title used by the people of ancient India to refer to the evil forces of evil that often disturb the soul. people all the insecurities and afflictions. Therefore, when he saw the recluse Siddhartha sitting in meditation under the Bodhi tree, Mara was very angry. He immediately called, gathered boys and girls around, and shouted: “Look, children. Prince Siddhartha was sitting in meditation. If people succeed and find the way to end all suffering, what will happen to us? Do you know that then we will lose all power? We cannot harm others if the teacher makes them aware of the truth. So we need to disrupt the prince's meditation, or we will be destroyed!" Then Mara, together with his evil forces, tried by all means to destroy the ascetic Siddhartha. They created a terrible storm with fierce thunderclouds surrounding Him. They blew up a hurricane causing the surrounding landscape to almost collapse. But beneath the branches of the Bodhi tree, everything, covered by the meditative power of the recluse Siddhartha, was calm. Realizing that the storm had no effect, the Demon King gathered the remnants of his army and shouted: "Attack!". Immediately, all the armies of demons, demons and horrible scenes appeared aimed at the ascetic Siddhartha to attack. They rushed to surround them screaming, cursing and cursing people. They shot Him with poisonous arrows of hatred. But when these arrows flew to the crown prince, they turned into harmless lotus petals that fell at his feet. Nothing can disturb the serenity of the samana's meditative mind. Mara thought, "If these grisly weapons and spectacles cannot destroy the crown prince, perhaps the beautiful, provocative images will disturb his meditative mind." The Demon King instantly transformed terrible demons into the most beautiful and alluring women. These ravishingly beautiful dancers danced in front of the meditating samana, but they still couldn't shake him. Memories of pleasure-filled palaces, images of the crown prince's wife and children, heavenly music, and delicious food - nothing can break the quiet concentration in which man is determined to find this truth. The Demon King had to lose. But he tries to execute the last plan. Drive away all their belongings, Demon King appeared alone before the crown prince. In a mocking voice he said to the crown prince: "Are you the crown prince Siddhartha? You think you are the great meditator. How many holy ascetics have failed to find the truth; but you think you can succeed! “You really are crazy! You don't see how much effort it takes to achieve the path and fruition you are seeking. What have you done to achieve success? First, you have enjoyed pampering yourself for twenty-nine years. Then spent six years torturing his own body. And now sitting here meditating, one hopes to realize the path and fruition of enlightenment. "Is crazy! You should stop doing zazen or at least tell me who is the witness who can guarantee that you will definitely succeed where others fail!" These condescending words did not move the ascetic Siddhartha. From his knees, he silently raised his right arm, put it in front of Mara, and dabbed it on the ground. Yes, it is this world that bears witness to Siddhartha! Over the course of countless lifetimes, he appeared in this world in many forms. He has practiced generosity, patience; practiced compassion without harming other sentient beings; and he meditated to find the truth. He practiced these vows in his life as a man, when he became a woman, he appeared as a rich man, and when he was a poor man, he reincarnated many times. He has accomplished all those blessings, with the intention of finding a way to save sentient beings from suffering. And this world is His witness. The Demon King realized that now he really had completely failed, and disappeared like a nightmare. Only the recluse Siddhartha remained. The storm clouds swept away, and the moonlight shone brightly in the sky. The air became gentle and the morning dew glittered on the tips of the grass. All scenes are ready. Enlightenment The recluse Siddhartha felt his mind light and calm. Gradually he looked deeply into himself and his wisdom became more and more clear. With the eyes of the enlightened mind, he saw and knew everything that happened in the past. He discovered that when this life ends, a new life begins. Death is only the destruction of the body; but its life stream continues to exist to be reborn in a new body, forever reincarnation. He realized that those who do evil deeds in the present life such as harming others, they (male as well as female) will receive painful retribution in the next life. But if someone has compassion for everyone, they will reap the results of happiness and joy. Any action done by people will never be lost, and it will also result in happiness or suffering for them for many lives to come. He also discovered that all the lives of all beings are interrelated and interdependent; His mind penetrated the profound and mysterious truth. The sun, planets, stars, and galaxies of the universe His mind all discerned during meditation. He realized that objects from the smallest dust particle to the largest star are related. Everything is always changing: arising and passing away, and then passing away again. Nothing happens without a cause, and causes cause effects. Then he discovered that the world is full of suffering. He saw that all beings from the smallest insect to the most powerful king chase after sensual pleasures, and end up reaping only suffering. And he discovered the cause of all suffering. Poverty realizes that people do not understand that all things are impermanent. They do not see this truth. Due to confusion, people have quarreled, stolen and killed in order to obtain the possessions they are greedy for; but those possessions never bring them a source of lasting happiness. They will quickly change or decline and people will start looking for new possessions again. He also saw that ordinary people oppose things they do not like. Their lives are filled with hatred and hatred. People always think of harming others, and then they have to receive grief. From life to life, people create many unhappiness for themselves. They want to find peace, but they are met with suffering. Finally, he found the way to the end of suffering. If anyone could clearly see the truth as He himself did this night, all their lusts and suffering would come to an end. The human mind is no longer greedy or angry. They also don't do anything to harm others. So they feel very happy. When all hatred is destroyed, When the recluse Siddhartha thoroughly understood all of this, his true mind was not attached to a single speck of ignorance. He has obtained the light of perfect wisdom. He is no longer an ordinary person but one who has completely attained enlightenment. Now he is a Buddha (Buddha)(24) He has accomplished his goal! With a pure and peaceful smile, he emerged from meditation and stood up. It was early morning and the sun was rising in the east. Teachings To Who All things rejoiced on that glorious morning. Fresh flowers bloom everywhere, emitting a sweet fragrance in the space. The birds chirped and sang, and every living thing was fearless. Colorful rainbows and clouds appeared in the sky, and everyone was amazed to see such strange phenomena. The Buddha with his heart full of peace and liberation. His mind was free of ignorance and afflictions and felt an endless source of joy. Over the course of many days and weeks, he sat near the Bodhi (enlightenment) tree to reflect on the miraculous joy and bliss he had achieved. Then he thought: " I have gone through many hardships in practice to find the path to end suffering and become a Buddha, I have practiced asceticism for many years. When we see that most people are confused and covered by ignorance, it is not clear who understands the teachings that we have realized. How can I teach them that teaching? So it is better to live alone in the forest for the rest of our lives to enjoy the peace of a Buddha .” But then he heard a voice from within: " Please don't forget us! We are people in the world who are suffering. We have been looking forward to this moment since You were born and even before that time. We have hoped and prayed for many years that you will give up your royal life to become a monk to find a way to save sentient beings. Now that you have realized that teaching, please teach us. Unlike you, we are still suffering .” But from the Buddha's mind another thought arose: " Who can practice the teachings I teach? Who is strong-willed and full of courage? Who will try their best and endure for the long haul? ” Then the latent voice spoke again: "Venerable Sir, it is true that our minds are covered by a veil of ignorance. But there are still people who are not so deluded. They can understand and practice His teachings. For the sake of saving sentient beings, please kindly teach us the true Dharma!" The Buddha smiled and said: " Of course, of course, I will teach. The only reason why I gave up the royal life was to find a way to save humanity from suffering. Now that I have become a Buddha, I will do whatever I can. “ But even the Buddha could not end the suffering of others if they did not make an effort to save themselves. People need to know how to prevent disease before a doctor can cure them. In the same way they should take the trouble to listen to the true Dharma before others can help them. But anyone who turns to Me with an open mind will find that I am available in any way to teach them .” Then the Buddha thought to himself: “ Who among the people in this world should I teach first? Who is most ready? He immediately remembered A La La ( Adrada ) and Udraka ( Udraka ), the two masters he had met six years ago. “ They are the ones that should be taught first, but I know that now they have passed away and are no longer in this world .” The Buddha remembered five friends practicing asceticism with him in the forest. He thought to himself, " They are ready to be able to understand the truth that I will teach them first ." He knew that he would meet these friends at the Deer Park near the city of Balanai, the most sacred place in ancient India. The Buddha said to himself: " I will go there, and begin the work of preaching the Dharma that I have decided to do ." The First Lesson The road to Ba La Nai was quite far, the Buddha walked slowly through villages and fields. Everyone paid attention to Him. His figure looks majestic, good-looking with dignified and graceful steps. At first sight, people feel peaceful and happy. He spoke in a gentle and gentle voice to everyone he met. Regardless of whether people are rich or poor, intelligent or ignorant, high or low, the Buddha treats them equally with immense respect and compassion. Finally, the Buddha came to the Deer Park. From afar, five old friends saw Him coming. They said to each other, "Behold, here comes the incompetent and useless Siddhartha Siddhartha. We don't need to welcome that weak man! Let's just ignore him." But when the Buddha approached, everyone noticed in him there were very special good marks. So at first they did not want to welcome him, but after all, they automatically stood up to greet him. With full reverence, they prepared a seat to hold the Buddha's robe, brought him water, and said: "Welcome to Siddhartha Siddhartha to the Deer Park. We are honored to have him come to study with us here.” The Buddha replied: " Dear monks, the Tathagata thanks you for your warm welcome. But you should know that I am no longer Prince Siddhartha, so it is not right for you to call me by that name ." The Magi asked, "What name should we call him?" The World-Honored One said: “The whole world is engulfed in ignorance. Now. Once a person has discovered the truth, they no longer live in confusion. Now I am enlightened and have found the truth. All Enlightened Ones are called Buddhas ”. Then the five ascetics respectfully said: "Venerable One, please teach us what you already know so that we too can be enlightened like you." And in response to their request, the Buddha gave his first sermon. It was called: "Turning the Wheel of France" and "French" ( Dharma ) is the truth he had discovered. He began to preach: "You should know, monks, that there are four Noble Truths. One is the Truth of Suffering. Life is filled with sufferings such as old age, sickness, death, and unhappiness. People are always chasing after sensual pleasures, but in the end they only see suffering. As soon as they gain pleasure, they quickly get tired of it. Nowhere does one find true satisfaction or complete peace. “ The second is the Sublime Truth of the Cause of Suffering. When our mind is filled with greed and lust we will encounter all kinds of suffering. For example, a rich person keeps his possessions, that stinginess will bring him suffering only. “The third is the Sublime Truth of the Cessation of Suffering. When our mind completely destroys greed and lust, suffering will end. We will feel peace and happiness beyond words. “ Finally, the fourth is the Sublime Truth of the Cessation of Suffering. This is the path leading to the cessation of all suffering. If we keep all sentient beings from killing, if we learn to tame and repair our dispositions, and if we gain wisdom, each of us can attain complete peace , the cessation of all suffering”. After listening to this discourse, the five ascetics felt extremely happy as if they had found a great treasure of gold. They all said: " World-Honored One, you have truly realized the truth. Please show us the way to ultimate wisdom and perfect peace. We vow to be His disciples ." It is known that at that time, many angels also heard this first sermon, so they flew down to earth and exclaimed: " The Blessed One has begun to turn the wheel of Dharma. May the human world all enjoy happiness .” A Mother's Grief Ð the Buddha used many methods for teaching. For the common people and children, he taught by telling them stories of religion. As for the behavior of quite intelligent people, he taught the Dharma with thorough explanations. And there are those who he teaches with silence without saying a word. But perhaps, the teaching with the most powerful teaching ability is his shining example and his own moral life. The Buddha always acted with generosity and compassion. He patiently teaches sentient beings, even for the most ignorant and crazy people. Before long, many admirers followed and became disciples of the Buddha. If good men or women encounter any difficulties or troubles, they immediately go to the Blessed One to receive his instruction. One day, a young woman named Gotami ( Gottami ) had a child who had just died. She was in so much pain that she became mad. She went everywhere looking for a teacher who could bring her child back to life. The friends said sympathetically, "Gottami, you should see the Buddha. Hope He can save her.” Then Gotami hugged the child tightly in his arms, went to the weeping Buddha, and said, "Please kindly save my baby boy's life." In a gentle voice, He replied, “ Gottami, I can help you, but first, please go get Me a small mustard seed. And that mustard seed must belong to a family where no one has died before .” Gotami hurried to find the mustard seed. She went to a certain house and was told by the young woman, “ You can find mustard seeds and anything you want. ... But please know that my husband passed away last year .” Gotami immediately said, “Oh! That's it, let me go somewhere else." Then she went to the house next door. But in any house she visited, relatives in those families answered the same. Everyone wanted to help Gotami, but every house she visited had a dead person. This person said: "My daughter died three years ago". Another said, "My brother just died yesterday." Every house says the same thing. At the end of the day, she returned to meet the Buddha. He asked, “ How about Gotami, do you have a mustard seed? And where is your child? You don't bring it with you anymore? ". She replied, "World-Honored One, today I realize that I am not the only one who has lost a loved one. And everywhere everyone dies. I feel how crazy it is to think that I can have my baby resurrected. Now I have to accept the death of the baby and this afternoon I buried him. Now I come back and ask you to teach me the Dharma. I'm ready to listen." The Buddha said: " Gotami, you have learned many things today. Sooner or later death must come to everyone. But if you understand the truth, you can live and die in peace. Come here, I will teach you." Then He preached the doctrine to Gotami, and soon she found a peace and happiness that she had never known before. Rude Humans N Explosion, Buddha was walking through a village. An angry and rude young man approached him, taunting him. He shouted, “You must not preach to others. He was as stupid as anyone. He is a hypocrite.” The Buddha was not angry when he heard these insults. He gently said to the young man: " I ask you, if you buy a gift for someone, if he does not accept it, to whom does the gift belong? ” The rude guy was surprised at such a strange question and replied: "The gift belongs to me because I bought it". The Buddha laughed and said, " That's right. The same is true of people's insults. If you were angry and cursed at me, but I did not accept it, the insult would return to you. Then it was he who was unhappy, not me. All the evil deeds you do will harm you. “ If you want to stop self-harming, you have to get rid of anger and should open up to compassion. When you hate others, you yourself suffer. But when he loves everyone, all are happy. ” The young man listened to these wise teachings of the Buddha. He said: "Venerable One, you are very correct. Please teach me the doctrine of compassion. I want to be your disciple.” And the Buddha replied: “ Of course. I will teach anyone who really wants to practice. Come to Me ." Words of Praise C rows long, Buddha had a large number of devotees and disciples followed him from place to place. One day a disciple came to see him and said, "Venerable sir, you are truly one of the greatest cardinals ever seen!" The Buddha did not take pleasure in hearing this flattery. But he asked the disciple: " Have you met all the great cardinals that appear in this world? He replied, "Of course not, sir." “ And do you know all the great masters who are living and will be born in the future? ” The disciple replied: "Venerable sir, no." The Buddha said, “ So it is foolish for you to say that I am the greatest teacher of all. Because how do you know if it's right or wrong? " The disciple replied, "Venerable Sir, I want to praise you, because your teaching is so sublime and useful." The Buddha continued: " If you find my teaching useful, the best thing is that you should practice it. Do not waste your time praising Me. The sole purpose of my birth is to teach all sentient beings. If you want to make Me happy, you should listen to what I say. This will make Me happier than you will praise Me .” Another time, the Buddha asked his disciple: "When you buy a piece of jewelry, do you pay without trying it first?" The disciple replied: Yes, sir, of course not. Because it could be a fake and you will lose your money.” The Buddha continued: “My teaching is the same. Do not believe that what I say is true, simply because I have said it. You better practice My teachings to know if they are right or wrong. If you find My teaching to be consistent with the truth and helpful, then you try to follow it. But don't practice just because you respect Me. “ Nor should you criticize the teachings of other religions and say that they are not good. There are many other great cardinals in the world, and all of them help humanity according to their own direction. Do not disparage any religion. Because it's not my job. What you should practice is how to be happy and help others be as happy as you are .” In that way, the Buddha taught his disciples to be reflective, to examine themselves, to behave well with all, and to respect everyone. Love for Animals V loud at that time in India for people who kill animals for sacrifice to the gods. They believed that doing so would make the gods happy. Then the gods would give the people everything they prayed for such as wealth or rains for their crops. The Buddha, wherever he went, taught the people that it was wrong for people to kill animals for sacrifice. Some people heard the Buddha preach like this, they got angry and said: "Our scriptures teach that killing animals to make offerings to the gods is the right thing to do. Why do you dare say otherwise?”. And the Buddha replied: “ It is wrong to say that making others suffer so that you can be happy. All sentient beings desire life like you. So if you kill animals, you are being selfish. And I have taught many times that he who lives selfishly will suffer in life. “ Again, any god who asks to drink the fresh blood of another creature and then bless you is not a perfect god. And that god is not worthy to be worshiped. But if you show love and kindness to all sentient beings – animals as well as humans – then even the gods themselves must worship you .” Many of the people, hearing these wise teachings of the Buddha, realized that they were true. Immediately they abandoned the custom of killing animals. Thus ended their great suffering. The Power of Compassion The Buddha did not forget his promise to King Tan Ba ​​Sala that he would return to teach him the Dharma. Then when the time came, he returned to the city of Rajagaha. Outside the capital has a hill called "United Soap Exposed" or " Mountain Pictures Vulture " (Vulture's Peak) ( 25 ) and Buddha with his disciples went and lived in caves there . King Tan Ba ​​Sa La often went to the top of that mountain to listen to the Buddha preach. The people of the city also went there, and soon a large number of followers followed him. After a while the King and many other rich people happily offered to the Buddha and his disciples parks and here people could stay comfortably to listen to the Buddha's teachings. Devadatta, a relative of the Buddha, was envious. He thought to himself, “The Buddha has many followers, and everyone respects him. But not everyone knows me, even though I am as great as the Buddha. Then we must destroy him!". Devadatta knew that he needed help to kill the Buddha, so he went to see the crown prince, son of King Tan Ba ​​Sala ( 26 ). He asked: "Hey, don't the prince like to be king? Why does your father have all the wealth and power? Follow me, if you help me assassinate the Buddha, I will help you kill your father king. Then you can replace him as king.” The son of King Tan Ba ​​Sa La agreed to listen to this cruel advice. Then both of them tried to find ways to harm the Buddha. One day, while the Blessed One was sitting in meditation near the top of the Vulture Mountain, they pushed a large stone down the hill towards him. But just when I was about to win crushed the Buddha, the stone was broken in two, so he could not harm him. The other day, the Buddha was going for alms in the city of Rajasthan with his closest disciples. Both of the Buddha's enemies knew he was near, so they prepared. They bought an elephant and gave it a lot of wine to drink. When the elephant got drunk, they beat him with sticks until he became frenzied. Then the two let the elephant run towards the Buddha and hoped that it would trample and kill him. When the Buddha's disciples saw the mad elephant rushing towards them, they all ran away in fear. The disciples, except Venerable Ananda ( Ananda )( 27 ), who served the Buddha, still stood beside their teacher and hugged his robe tightly. When the Buddha saw an elephant approaching, and instead of being scared or angry, he showed boundless compassion for the poor animal. Although the elephant was drunk and crazy, it still felt the power of the Buddha's compassion. It stopped attacking and meekly approached the Buddha and lowered its large head to his feet. The Buddha gently patted the drunken elephant and turned to teach Ananda: " Only love can destroy hatred. Hatred cannot end with hatred. This is an important lesson that you should remember.” Return N skinny other, the Buddha told his disciples: "It's time I will return to Kapilavastu, the capital city of my father." And all the disciples started the long trip back to visit the homeland of the Buddha's childhood. News of his coming soon spread to the city and everyone was happy and happy. They said to each other: "Somehow our dear prince will return! Now he is a great master with thousands of followers. How dignified when we meet the crown prince again!”. King Tinh San was overjoyed when he heard that his son had returned. The king knew that the Buddha had many followers, so he thought to himself: "My son has become a great teacher. The crown prince has brought me many honors.” The king could not wait for the Buddha to come, so he sent a courtier to ride ahead to see how the prince was after many years of separation. The next day, he went to the place where the Buddha and his disciples were staying. All carry wooden bowls. They entered the village to beg from house to house. Then the monks return to the place where they live to live together in silence. The courtier returned to Kapilavastu and reported everything to the king. The king angrily shouted: “My son, a prince, has become a beggar! I feel humiliated. I must put an end to this immediately!” King Tinh San immediately rode out of the palace and went to the place where the crown prince was. When he saw Siddhartha this was a shining Buddha, surrounded by thousands of disciples, the king was deeply moved. Meet both of them warmly welcoming each other. Then the king asked the prince: "I heard that every morning you bring a bowl to beg for food, is that true?" The Buddha replied, " Yes, that's right. Begging for alms is our tradition. ” Hearing that, the king became even more angry than before. He shouted: “Our tradition? I come from the line of many kings, they never ask anyone for anything to live. Our custom is to use food in gold and silver plates, not in simple wooden bowls. What is our tradition that you mean?" The Buddha calmly replied: " Father, you come from the line of kings. That's right. But I come from the great masters, the Buddhas of the past. These monks are very ordinary. They ask for food from anyone they meet. When you say our tradition is to go for alms, you mean it's the tradition of the Buddhas ." Then the Buddha took his father's hand and walked with him for a long time. He preached to the king about the Four Noble Truths and the way leading to the end of suffering. After a long time listening to the Buddha's teaching, King Tinh San San said: "Yes, today you are indeed more noble than a son of mine in the past. As the ascetic Asita prophesied that when I was a child, I would later become a Great Buddha Cardinals. I bow my head to you, a Buddha. Please accept me, who once wanted you to be king, as one of your disciples." Not long after, the Buddha's wife, Ya Du Da La; His son, Rahula; The mother-in-law (Ma Ha Ba Xa Ba De) who raised the Buddha, and many other matrons in the palace also asked to be disciples of the Blessed One. They said to the Buddha: " We were very sad when you rode across the city to become ordained years ago. But now Father Tu has brought us many sources of joy with peace of mind thanks to our understanding of His true teachings. We are very pleased to see that you have left us in the past to return today as a Buddha .” The King And The Tree God V noisy at thirty-five years old, the Buddha preached to those who are interested. For the remaining forty-five years, he traveled throughout India teaching and helping people to be at peace. Sometimes when the Buddha wanted to teach people about love and benevolence he would tell stories to get their attention. Here is one of those stories. Once upon a time, there was a very proud king. He wanted to build a very large palace for himself, so he ordered his courtiers: “ Go into the forest and find me the tallest tree there. Tram will use it to build his palace ." The courtiers went into the forest and found such a tree. This tree is huge and is surrounded by many other small trees. That evening, they reported to the king and said, "Sir, we have found the tree you want. Tomorrow morning, we will go back into the forest to cut it down.” The king was delighted and went on vacation. That night, he had a strange dream. The king dreamed that the god who lived in that tree appeared to him and said: "Your Majesty, please do not destroy the house in which I live. If He did, every slice of the tree would cause me great pain and I would die.” But the king replied, “ You are the most beautiful tree in this forest. Tram needs to use that tree to build Tram's palace ." The god resisted, but the king was stubborn and determined to cut down the tree. Finally, the tree god said to the king, “Okay, you can cut down the tree. But expect Him to do so. Please don't cut it from the root like people usually do. You should have him climb to the top of the tree and cut it down slowly. First they cut a piece, then another until they cut down the whole tree.” The king was surprised to hear that, so he said, “ But if I order people to do as you say and cut down the tree many times, it will cause you more pain than they cut. a moment to the base to lower the tree ”. The genie replied, “Yes, that's right. But if you do as I suggest, it will be safer for the other creatures in this forest. You see, my tree is very big. If down, it will hit the low trees and kill countless small creatures around. The nests of birds and insects will be destroyed and many other small trees will be destroyed. If He cut the tree in short pieces, it would cause less damage.” The king heard the tree god say this, immediately awakened. He thought, " The tree god willingly wants to be cut down a hundred times to avoid causing suffering to the small animals in the forest. The tree god has sacrificed wholeheartedly and has immense true love! And we are too selfish to want to cut down the tree for our own pleasure and pride , so instead of cutting it down we should worship the tree god. This dream also teaches us to have compassion and be kind to people .” The next day, the king went to the forest to decorate the tree god. And from that day on, he became a virtuous and just ruler. Equal Mercy For All M ot day, Devadatta sickness. Many doctors came to examine him, but no one could cure him. Then the Buddha, relatives and Devadatta visited him. One of the Buddha's disciples asked him: "Venerable One, why do you want to help Devadatta? Many times he plotted to kill even he wanted to kill him!”. The Buddha replied, " There is no reason for me to be nice to one person and to hate others. All are equal because everyone wants to be happy and no one likes sickness or suffering. Therefore, we should love everyone .” Then the Buddha came to Devadatta's bed and said: " If I really loved Devadatta who always wanted to harm me, just as I loved Rahula, my only son, then may my kinsman get well! ". Immediately Devadatta recovered, and was healthy again. The Buddha immediately turned to teach his disciples: " You should remember that the Buddhas often help all sentient beings equally ." The last day When the Buddha was eighty years old, he thought to himself: “I have done everything I can to save everyone. I have taught them to love each other and not be afraid of anything that happens in life. Now is the time when I will teach them how to leave this world without worries." Then the Buddha called the venerable Venerable Ananda and said, " Ananda, now we should return to Kapilavastu for the last time. I want to pass away in the city where I was born and raised ." Venerable Ananda was very sad and lamented: "Dear World Honored One, please don't leave us! For many years, you have been the guru who has guided us. Without You, we don't know what to do." Then Venerable Ananda wept bitterly. The Buddha advised: " Ananda, don't cry. I have always taught that death is a natural part of life. There's nothing for me to fear. You should understand that. And when I am no more, take My teaching as your guide. If your mind can penetrate My teachings, then there is no need for you to have Me. Come, let's hit the road ." The Buddha and his disciples went north. When they reached a place not far from the city of Kapilavastu, they all passed by the village of Kusinara (Kusinara) (28). Here the Buddha told his disciples to stop to rest. Then he turned around and said to Venerable Ananda: "This is where I will pass away." Even though it was the last day of the Buddha's life, he still saved others. An old man from the village asked to see the Buddha and he accepted. The Buddha listened to the sufferings of the old disciple and comforted him with words of conciliation. Old man's heart feel peaceful and happy again. Then the Buddha went into the garden and rested between two trees. The Buddha's disciples gathered around him kneeling. Some were weeping, but others kept their minds completely pure and looked at him silently. The Buddha exhorted his disciples for the last time: "Remember the words I have taught you. Greed and desire are the cause of all suffering. Life is always changing and impermanent, so you should not be attached to anything in the world. But it takes effort to cultivate, to change body and mind to find it true and lasting happiness”. Then the Blessed One turned to face him and placed his right hand under his head. The Buddha closed his eyes and entered Nirvana peacefully. That day falls on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month. After a while the disciples carried his body and placed it on a large pile of cribs. According to custom, they prepared to burn Him, but they were unable to light the fire. Had to wait for the great disciple of the Buddha to arrive. When the Buddha passed away, he was far away, so he rushed back to Kosina as soon as he heard that the Buddha had passed away. When he reached the place, this great disciple bowed to the Blessed One for the last time, when the crib spontaneously caught fire. The golden body of the Buddha was cremated for a long time until nothing was left except the bones and ashes. The kings living in northern India at that time all wanted to keep the ashes and bones of the Buddha. They thought to themselves, “I will build a stupa in my kingdom to worship this great master and place his relics in it. This will bring me and my country great pride.” Because every king wanted to have the relics of the Buddha, they began to argue with each other. One man said: "These relics are mine". The other man said, "No, they belong to me." Finally, a virtuous man said: “ The Buddha spent his entire life teaching us to love one another. Now, after His passing, you lunatics are preparing to fight over His relics (ash bones). By fighting, we have betrayed the compassionate teachings of the Blessed One. So we should equally divide His relics. And each kneeling can build a stupa to worship the relics in his kingdom ”. The kings found these advice wise, so they put an end to the dispute. They equally divided the relics (ash bones) of the Father Tu and set off to return home. Then, the kings built stupas to worship relics to remember the Buddha who taught and lived according to the Way of peace and wisdom. The Dharma STILL LIVES Ð the Buddha has passed away more than 2500 years ago in a small village in India. But his teachings full of love and wisdom never lost. The disciples who lived with the Blessed One spread his teachings to many others. And these Buddhists take turns preaching the Dharma to the generations to come. In this way the Buddha's teachings are passed on to mankind today. Everyone in every country, no matter what religion they belong to, male or female, can practice and study this compassionate teaching of the Buddha. By strictly practicing those teachings, we will eradicate selfishness, anger, and greed. We can overcome all worries, have inner peace and wisdom that Prince Siddhartha found under the Bodhi (Tree of Enlightenment). Just as he accomplished, each of us can become a Buddha, the Enlightened One. We can also bring happiness to others as the Blessed One did. Wishing all sentient beings well! “Do not do evil deeds. Do good deeds. Keep your mind pure. That is the teaching of the Buddhas.” Translator's Notes Regarding the abbreviations used below, P stands for Pali (Paris); S stands for Sanskrit (Sanskrit) and Jap. is Japanese. 1. (Queen) MA GIA: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates the word Maya (Ba Li and Sanskrit) or Maka (Japanese). Mother of Buddha and wife of King Pure Sanskrit (Paris: Suddhodana). She lived in the ancient country of Koli (Paris: Koliya), which is now part of the kingdom of Nepal. She is also known as Ma Ha Ma Gia (Ba Li: Mahā Mayà). 2. TINH SANITATION: Sino-Vietnamese noun translated into Suddhodana (Ba Li); Suddhodana (Sanskrit) or Jòbonnò (Japanese). The father of Prince Siddhartha (Sanskrit: Siddharta) and the patriarch of the Sakya clan (Paris: Sakiya). He was the king who ruled a small country at the foot of the Himalayas (Himalayas) whose capital was located in the city of Kapilavatthu, today in the kingdom of Nepal. 3. LAM TU NI: A Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates the word Lumbini (Ba Li and Sanskrit). The name of a garden where Buddha Shakyamuni was born more than 2,600 years ago. It is located near the capital Kapilavastu of the Shakyamuni tribe. Today Lumbini is called Rummindei in the territory of Nepal. King Ashoka (Asoka) of India (273-232 BC) visited this place around 250 BC. The king built a stone pillar here to commemorate his pilgrimage. Lumbini is one of the four most important relics of Buddhism. The other three Buddha relics are Buddha Da Ca Da (Buddha Gaya), Deer Park (Sarnath) and Cau Thi Na (Kusinara). 4. ALL DAT DA: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates the word Siddhattha (Ba Li), Siddhartha (Sanskrit) or Shittta-Taishi (Japanese language). Literally means "one who has fulfilled his vow goal". The Buddha's customary name before he left home. 5. A TU DA: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates into Asita (Paris and Sanskrit) or Ashida (Japanese). The ascetic hermit in the ancient state of Kapilavastu (now in Nepal). When Prince Siddhartha was born, he came to visit and prophesied that in the future, if the prince lived in this world, he would be a great king and if he left home to become a monk, he would become a Buddha. 6. DEBA DA: A Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates into Devadatta (Paris and Sanskrit) or Daibadatta (Japanese). Relatives of Buddha. At first, Devadatta was a disciple of the Blessed One, but later he gave up and became his enemy. Twice he attempted to assassinate the Buddha. The first time, he stood on a hill and rolled down a stone, injuring the Buddha, but after he was healed by the physician Jivaka. The second time, Devadatta incited the elephant keeper in Rajagaha city in the country of Magadha in the past to let the drunken elephant Nalagiri run to the street to kill the Buddha, but when he approached the elephant knelt at his feet. Sir. At the end of her life, Devadatta realized her mistake. One day, he was on his way to meet the Buddha hoping to repent so that he could forgive him, but before he could meet the Buddha, he fell into hell. 7. DA DU DA LA: A Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates the word Yasodharà (Ba Li), Yásodhara (Sanskrit) or Yashudara (Japan). The wife of Prince Siddhartha (Siddharta) before he entered the monkhood and was the mother of Rahula, the child of the Buddha. Later, she ordained as a Bhikkhuni. 8. THIEN GIAC: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates the word Suprabuddha (Ba Li) or Zenkaku (Japanese). The king ruled the Koli tribe (Koliya) whose capital was at Devadaha, now in Nepal. He was born of Yasodhara (Yasodhara). 9. LA HAU LA: A Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates into Rahula (Paris and Sanskrit), or Ragora (Japanese). The Buddha's son, born before he passed the monastic life. Rahula's mother is Yasodhàra. Later, he became one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha. 10. LA VET CASE: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates into Kapilavatthu (Ba Li), Kapilavastu (Sanskrit) or Kabira-e (Japanese). The capital of the tribe. Shakyamuni (Sakya) under the rule of King Tinh San (Suddhodana) Buddha was born in Lumbini garden near the town of Kapilavatthu (Kapilavatthu) and he spent his childhood there. Today, Kapilavatthu is confirmed by Indian archaeologists to belong to Tilaurakota village in Terai district, Nepal. 11. XA NOC: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates into Channa (Ba Li), Chandaka (Sanskrit) or Shanoku (Japanese). A close servant of Prince Siddhartha (Buddha). He brought the horse Kien Trac (Kanthaka) for the prince to ride to cross the city. Later, Shanna became a disciple of the Buddha. 12. KIEN TRUC: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates into Kanthaka (Ba Li), Kanthaka (Sanskrit) or Kenchoku (Japanese). The name of the horse that the Buddha used to ride when he left the palace to go forth. 13. MA KIET DA: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates into Magadha (Paris and Sanskrit) or Makada (Japanese). One of the 16 great countries of India when the Buddha was still alive. At that time, Magadha, under the rule of King Tan Ba ​​Sa La (Bimbisàra: 543-493 B.C.E.) had its capital at Vuong Xa (Rajagaha) in the old Magadha country. present day in Patna and Gaya districts, Bihar state, northeastern India. 14. TAN BA SA LA: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates into Bimbisàra (Patriarchal and Sanskrit) or Bimbashara (Japanese). The name of the king who ruled the kingdom of Magadha (543-493 BC) when the Buddha was still alive. He created the Rajagaha (Ràjagaha). The Pali scriptures record that Tan Ba ​​Sa La (Bimbisàra) ascended the throne at the age of fifteen, and the following year he took refuge as a disciple of the Blessed One. He was a king who wholeheartedly supported Buddhism and donated Truc Lam Monastery to the Buddha and monks. 15. Vuong Xa Thanh: Sino-Vietnamese noun transliterating Ràjagaha (Ba Li), Ràjagrha (Sanskrit) or Òsha-jò (Japanese): The capital of the ancient kingdom of Magadha (Magadha), now the city of Rajgir in the state of Bihar, northeastern India. 16. A LA LA:: Sino-Vietnamese noun with short pronunciation of the word Alàra-Kàlàa (Ba Li), Àràda-Kàlàma (Sanskrit) or Aarakaran (Japan). Prince Siddhartha came to ask about the path of liberation right after he left the palace to go forth and become an ascetic. It is known that the ascetic A La La was a philosopher of the Samkhya sect and lived near the city of Vesali (Paris: Vesali), now the city of Besàrh in Muzzaffapur district, Bihar state, northeastern India. . 17. UAT TAM LAM PHAT: A Sino-Vietnamese noun that briefly translates the words Uddaka-Ràmaputta (Ba Li), Udraka-Ràmaputra (Sanskrit). The name of one of the masters, Prince Siddhartha, came to inquire about the Way after he left home and before he became a Buddha. 18. NI LIEN THUYEN: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates into Neranjarà (Ba Li), Nairanjanà (Sanskrit) or Nirenzenga (Japanese). The name of a river in the Buddha's life, today the people of India call it Phalgu or Lilajana river with clear, clean and cool water. The river originates near Simeria, in the district of Hazaribagh, central Bihar state, northeastern India. The recluse Siddhartha visited and bathed in this river after he abandoned the ascetic practice. Next to the river is the Sala forest, where the Buddha rested in the afternoon just before his enlightenment after 49 days meditating under the Bodhi tree in the village of Buddha Gaya, located far away. a short distance west of this river. 19. CA DA: Sino-Vietnamese noun transliterating the word Gayà (Ba Li) or Gaya (Japanese). The name of a sacred city in the state of Bihar, northeastern India. This is the place the Buddha used to visit when he was still alive. Present-day Ca Da (Gaya) includes the city of Sahebganj to the northwest and the old town of Gaya to the south. The place where the Buddha attained enlightenment is about 10 kilometers south of the city of Gaya (Gaya). 20. TU GIA DA: A Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates the word Sujàtà (Ba Li). The name of the landowner's daughter in the village of Senani near the town of Ulou Tan Loa (Paris: Uruvela) during the Buddha's life, now the village of Urel, six miles away from the town of Ca Da (Gaya) in the Gaya district of Bihar state, northeastern region of India. She made a vow to give the god of the banyan tree next to her house a meal of milk porridge if she gave birth to a son. After that, she gave birth to a grandson, and her wish was fulfilled. She sent a maid to prepare a place for her to come to give thanks. The maidservant saw the recluse Siddhartha sitting under the banyan tree, she thought he was the tree god who appeared to receive the gift. After being informed by the maid, the faithful Sister Sujatà (Sujatà) was very happy, brought food in a white bowl to make offerings to him. 21. THREE LAYERS: Sino-Vietnamese nouns transliterate the word Braânasi (Paris and Sanskrit) or Haranashi (Japanese). The old name is also known as Banaras. The city is located on the banks of the Ganges River, the capital of the kingdom of Ca Thi (Paris: Kasi), one of the 16 countries of India when the Buddha was still alive. About seven miles from the city of Benares is the Deer Park (Sarnath) where the Buddha gave his first sermon, "The Law Turning Sutra" to his five monastic disciples. The ancient city of Baranasi (Baranasi or Banaras), today is the town of Varanasi or Benares in the state of Uttar Pradesh, northern India (See footnote 22). 22. LOC UYEN: Sino-Vietnamese noun transliterating the words Migadàya (Ba Li), Mrgadàva (Sanskrit) Rokuya-on (Japan). Literally means "Deer Garden". It is one of the four important holy places of Buddhism. In the past, the Deer Park (Migadaya) was named Isipatana (Paris) or Rsipatana (Sanskrit). Today called Sarnath, seven miles away from the city of Benares (Benares or Varanasi), in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This is where the Buddha gave his five monastic disciples the first sermon "Zhuan the Dharma Wheel" in Pali which is "Dhammacakkappavattana-Sutta" or Sanskrit "Dharmacakrapravartana-Sùtra". Sarnath is also the place where the Blessed One spent the first summer retreat. 23. MA Vuong: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates the word Mara (Ba Li and Sanskrit) or Ma (Japanese). Meaning devil, demon, god of lust, sin and death. Ma Vuong is the king who owns the heaven "Thao Hoa Tu At Thien" or "Paranirmita-vasavartin" (Sanskrit) which means the sixth heaven in the Desire Realm. Mara is often depicted as having a hundred arms and sitting on an elephant. In Buddhism, Mara is a symbol of desires to control and prevent people as well as all our actions towards good deeds and progress on the path to liberation and enlightenment. 24. BUDDHA or BUDDHA: A Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates the word Buddha (Paris and Sanskrit), or Butsuda (Japan). The word "Buddha" comes from the Sanskrit root word "Budh" which means to understand, to see or to be aware. Buddha is a person who is enlightened, no longer subject to samsara and is completely liberated. 25. KI DAO QUOC SON: Sino-Vietnamese noun transliterating the word Gijjhakùta (Ba Li), Grdhrakùta (Sanskrit) or Gishakutsu-sen (Japan). Also called Linh Thuu mountain or "Vulture's Peak" because the mountain is shaped like a vulture and also because vultures often gather on the top of this mountain. This is one of the five famous mountains in Rajagaha during the Buddha's life, ie the city of Rajgir today, in the state of Bihar, northeastern India. In the past, many ascetics used to go to hermitages in caves on this mountain, and the Buddha often stopped to meditate here every time he came to preach at Vuong Xa. It is known that on the top of this mountain the Buddha preached many important Mahayana sutras, including the Lotus Sutra. 26. A XARA: A Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates into Ajàtasattu (Ba Li), Ajàtasatru (Sanskrit) or Ajase (Japanese). Son of King Tan Ba ​​Sa La (Bimbisàra) and Queen Videhi (Vaidehi). He reigned as king of the country of Magadha (494-462 B.C.E.) about the last eight years of the Buddha and 24 years after the Buddha's death. The name Ajatasattu means "unborn enemy (sattu) (Ajata)" because legend has it that when Queen Videhi was pregnant with him, she often craved blood from his knees. husband. Therefore, astrologers predict that the future child in her womb will kill its father (Qin Ba Sala) to take over the country to rule. Indeed, according to Buddhist history, Asha The later imprisoned and starved to kill his father in a prison. Together with Devadatta, he conspired against the Buddha but failed. After that, he took refuge as a disciple of the Blessed One and strongly supported Buddhism. In the end, Asha Thea was killed by his own son, crown prince Udayabadra, who had been on the throne for 14 years. 27. A NAN or AN ANA: Sino-Vietnamese noun that translates into Ananda (Ba Li and Sanskrit) or Anan (Japanese). Venerable Ananda or Ananda, a relative of the Buddha, was one of his ten great disciples. The Venerable Venerable was a disciple who followed (as an attendant) the Blessed One for more than twenty years. The Venerable Venerable was a man with a superhuman memory, was able to recite by heart the discourses of the Buddha that were later recorded in the Canon. It is known that after the Buddha passed away, Venerable Ananda attained enlightenment (achieved Arahantship) and lived to the age of 120. 28. QUESTION: Sino-Vietnamese nouns transliterating the words Kusinàrà (Ba Li), Kúsinagara (Sanskrit) or Kushinagara (Japan, the capital of the Maltese land (Paris: Mallas), one of the 16 kingdoms of India at that time. Buddha is still alive. Today is the village of Kasia 55 kilometers to the east of town the city of Gorakhpur in the Uttar Pradesh state of the northern India. This is the place the Buddha entered Nirvana or died in the Sala Grove in about 543 BC After his death, his mortal remains were burned and a part of his relics were preserved in a stupa or pagoda in Kusinara. As the place of Buddha;s death, it became one of the most holy Buddhist places of pilgrimage. Gorakhpur, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, northern India. This is the place where the Buddha entered Nirvana (passing away) in the Sala forest in 543 BC. After that, his golden body was cremated and a part of the Buddha's relics were worshiped in a stupa at Cu Thi Na. Because it is the place where the Buddha died, this city has become one of the four most sacred places of Buddhism.END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).WORLD VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST ORDER=BUDDHIST DHARMA WHEEL GOLDEN MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THE WOMEN OF THE SAKYA CLAN CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.22/12/2021.