Friday, December 4, 2015

100+ years of bliss (sutra)

Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Crystal Quintero, Wisdom Quarterly translation based on Ven. Thanissaro (trans.), Sakka Sutra: "To the Sakyans on the Lunar Observance Day" (AN 10.46)
The Buddha and noble ones entered the stages of enlightenment -- experience bliss (FB).
Suppose one were to earn a buck. Would that person deserve to be called a capable person?
Kapilavastu: Bamyan, Buddhist-Afghanistan with world's largest Buddha statues (W).
 
On one occasion the Blessed One (the Buddha) was staying near [his hometown, the Shakyan capital, west of India] Kapilavatthu at the Banyan Park. Many Shakyan lay followers, because it was the lunar observance (uposatha) day, went to the Blessed One.
 
On arrival, they respectfully bowed and sat to one side. The Blessed One then said to them, "Shakyans, do you observe the eight-factored lunar observance day?"
 
"Sometimes we do, venerable sir, and sometimes we do not."
The Buddha-to-come (flickr.com)
"It is no gain for you, Shakyans. It is ill-gotten that in this life so endangered by grief, in this life so endangered by death, you sometimes observe the eight-factored observance and sometimes do not.
 
"What do you think, Shakyans: Suppose someone of some profession or other, without encountering a bad day, were to earn half a kahapana. Would that person deserve to be called a capable person, full of initiative?"
 
Does life seem like it's all about getting money?
"Yes, venerable sir."

"Suppose a person of some profession or other, without encountering an bad day, were to earn a kahapana... two kahapanas... three... four... five... six... seven... eight... nine... ten... 20...30 ... 40... 50... 100 kahapanas. Would that person deserve to be called a capable person, full of initiative?"
 
"Yes, venerable sir."
 
We work for money, wage slaves, to find bliss.
"Now what do you think: Earning 100 or 1,000 kahapanas a day, saving up these gains, and living for one hundred years, would a person arrive at a great mass of wealth?"
 
"Yes, venerable sir."

"Fare lonely like a rhinoceros" following the path-to-freedom and win true freedom (RobertoPazziPhotography.weebly.com/flickr.com)
The Buddha grew up in three seasonal capitals, one for the rains, winter, heat: Bamiyan (cool Kapilavastu by foothills), Mes Aynak (Copper Well), Kabul (administrative Kapilavastu)?
Bamiyan is the original Kapilavastu, a capital of Shakya Land (US military, 2012, wiki).
 
"Now what do you think: Would that person, because of that money, on account of that wealth, with that wealth as the cause, live in bliss for a day, a night, half a day, or half a night?"
 
"No, venerable sir! Why? Sensual pleasures are inconstant, hollow, false, deceptive by nature."
 
Bliss trumps cash, stream-winning tops all.
"Now, Shakyans, there is the case where a disciple spends ten years practicing as I instruct and lives in bliss for 100 years, 100 centuries, 100 millennia. And that person is a once-returner, a non-returner, or at the very least a stream-winner.
 
"Let alone ten years, there is the case where a disciple, spending nine years... eight years... seven... six... five... four... three... two years... one year practicing as I instruct lives experiencing bliss for 100 years, 100 centuries, 100 millennia. And that person is a once-returner, a non-returner, or at the very least a stream-winner.
 
"Let alone one year, there is the case where a disciple, spending ten months... nine months... eight months... seven... six... five... four... three... two months... one month... half a month practicing as I instruct, lives experiencing bliss for 100 years, 100 centuries, 100 millennia. And that person is a once-returner, a non-returner, or at the very least a stream-winner.
 
Afghan Shakya Land in Bactria, Scythia
"Let alone half a month, there is the case where a disciple, spending ten days and nights... nine days and nights... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two days and nights... one day and night practicing as I instruct lives experiencing bliss for 100 years, 100 centuries, 100 millennia. And that person is a once-returner, a non-returner, or at the very least a stream-winner.
 
"It is no gain for you, Shakyans. It is ill-gotten that in this life, so endangered by grief, in this life so endangered by death, you sometimes observe the eight-factored observance and sometimes do not."

"Then from this day forward, venerable sir, we will observe the eight-factored observance."
Does the real location of the Buddha's birth matter? It does to us, and it does to historian Dr. Ranajit Pal (ranajitpal.com) Kapilavastu in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, not Jones' British bluff.

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