Learning from the Buddha's Teachings 從佛陀的教法中學習

Suvannakaratthera Vatthu Dhammapada Verse 285 Ucchinda sinehamattano kumudam saradikamva panina santimaggameva 1  bruhaya Nibbanam sugatena desitam. Verse 285: Cut off your craving as one plucks an autumn lily with the hand. Nibbana has been expounded on by the Buddha; cultivate that Path which leads to it. 1. santimaggam: the Path that leads to Nibbana, i.e. the Path with Eight Constituents. The Story of a Thera who had been a Goldsmith While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (285) of this book, with reference to a bhikkhu, a pupil of Thera Sariputta. Once, a young, handsome son of a goldsmith was admitted into the Order by Thera Sariputta. The young bhikkhu was given loathsomeness of the dead body as the subject of meditation by Thera Sariputta. After taking the subject of meditation he left for the forest and practised meditation there; but he made very little progress. So he returned twice to Thera Sariputta for further instructions. Still, he made no...

  Pancamahallakabhikkhu Vatthu Dhammapada Verses 283 and 284 Vanam chindatha ma rukkham vanato jayate bhayam chetva vananca vanathanca nibbana hotha bhikkhavo. Yava hi vanatho na chijjati anumattopi narassa narisu patibaddhamanova tava so vaccho khirapakova matari. Verse 283: O bhikkhus, cut down the forest of craving, not the real tree; the forest of craving breeds danger (of rebirth). Cut down the forest of craving as well as its undergrowth and be free from craving. Verse 284: So long as craving of man for woman is not cut down and the slightest trace of it remains, so long is his mind in bondage as the calf is bound to its mother. The Story of Five Old Bhikkhus While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (283) and (284) of this book, with reference to five old bhikkhus. Once, in Savatthi, there were five friends who became bhikkhus only in their old age. These five bhikkhus were in the habit of going together to their old homes for alms-food. Of the form...

  Potthilatthera Vatthu Dhammapada Verse 282 Yoga ve jayati bhuri ayoga bhurisankhayo etam dvedhapatham natva bhavaya vibhavaya ca tatha ttanam niveseyya yatha bhuri pavaddhati. Verse 282: Indeed, wisdom is born of meditation; without meditation wisdom is lost. Knowing this twofold path of gain and loss of wisdom, one should conduct oneself so that wisdom may increase. The Story of Thera Potthila While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (282) of this book, with reference to Thera Potthila. Potthila was a senior bhikkhu who knew the Pitaka well and was actually teaching the Dhamma to five hundred bhikkhus. Because he knew the Pitaka, he was also very conceited. The Buddha knew his weakness and wanted him to mend his ways and put him on the right path. So, whenever Potthila came to pay obeisance, the Buddha would address him as ' Useless Potthila '. When Potthila heard these remarks, he pondered over those words of the Buddha and came to realize that the...

  Sukarapeta Vatthu  Dhammapada Verse 281 Vacanurakkhi manasa susamvuto kayena ca nakusalam kayira ete tayo kammapathe visodhaye aradhaye magga' misippaveditam. Verse 281: One should be careful in speech, be well-restrained in mind, and physically, too, one should do no evil. One should purify these three courses of action and accomplish the practice of the Path of Eight Constituents made known by the Buddhas. The Story of a Swine-Peta While residing at the Veluvana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (281) of this book, with reference to a swine-peta. Once Thera Maha Moggallana was coming down the Gijjhakuta hill with Thera Lakkhana when he saw a miserable, ever-hungry peta, with the head of a swine and the body of a human being. On seeing the peta, Thera Maha Moggallana smiled but did not say anything. Back at the monastery, Thera Maha Moggallana, in the presence of the Buddha, talked about the swine-peta with its mouth swarming with maggots. The Buddha also said that he him...

Padhanakammikatissatthera Vatthu Dhammapada Verse 280 Utthana kalamhi anutthahano yuva bali Alasiyam upeto samsanna sankappamano kusito pannaya maggam alaso na vindati. Verse 280: The idler who does not strive when he should be striving, who though young and strong is given to idleness, whose thoughts are weak and wandering, will not attain Magga Insight which can only be perceived by wisdom. The Story of Thera Tissa the Idle One While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (280) of this book, with reference to Tissa, a lazy bhikkhu. Once, five hundred young men were admitted into the Order by the Buddha in Savatthi. After receiving a subject of meditation from the Buddha, all the new bhikkhus except one went to the forest to practise meditation. They practised zealously and vigilantly so that in due course all of them attained arahatship. When they returned to the monastery to pay homage to him, the Buddha was very pleased and satisfied with their achievement. Bh...

Aniccalakkhana Vatthu/ Dukkhalakkhana Vatthu/ Anattalakkhana Vatthu   Dhammapada Verses 277, 278 and 279 "Sabbe sankhara anicca" ti yada pannaya 1  passati atha nibbindati dukkhe esa maggo visuddhiya. "Sabbe sankhara dukkha" ti yada pannaya passati atha nibbindati dukkhe esa maggo visuddhiya. "Sabbe sankhara anatta" ti yada pannaya passati atha nibbindati dukkhe esa maggo visuddhiya. Verse 277: "All conditioned phenomena are impermanent"; when one sees this with Insight-wisdom, one becomes weary of dukkha (i.e., the khandhas). This is the Path to Purity. Verse 278: "All conditioned phenomena are dukkha"; when one sees this with Insight-wisdom, one becomes weary of dukkha (i.e., the khandhas). This is the Path to Purity. Verse 279: "All phenomena (dhammas) are without Self"; when one sees this with Insight-wisdom, one becomes weary of dukkha (i.e., the khandhas). This is the Path to Purity. 1. panna: Insight-wisdom (Vipassana p...