The Buddha's return from Space

Tipitaka.net, Dhammapada 181, edited by Wisdom Quarterly

Higher Buddhist heavens (akasha deva lokas) 20th anniversary Hubble (NASA)

  

SANKASSANAGARA, ancient India - On returning from space, the Realm of the Thirty-Three, the Buddha uttered this verse (181) in reply to Sariputra's welcome. 

  

On one occasion, while at Savatthi, the Buddha performed the "miracle of the pairs" in answer to the challenge of the ascetics of various sects. After this, he went to Tavatimsa. His mother -- who had been reborn in another space realm, Tusita, as the deva Santusita -- also went to Tavatimsa. 

  

There the Buddha met her and expounded the Higher Teachings (Abhidharma) to the devas and the brahmas throughout the three-month Rains Retreat. As a result, Santusita attained the fruition of stream entry along with numerous devas and brahmas. 

  

Sariputra -- the Buddha's chief male disciple foremost in wisdom -- spent the Rains Retreat at Sankassanagara, 30 yojanas [estimated 210 miles] from Savatthi. While there, regularly instructed by the Buddha, he taught the Abhidharma to the large number of ascetics staying with him. He covered the entire course by the end of the retreat.

   

Towards the end Great Moggallana -- the Buddha's other chief male disciple foremost in psychic powers -- went to Tavatimsa to see the Buddha. He was told the Buddha would return to the human world at Sankassanagara on the full moon day at the end of the retreat. As promised, the Buddha came with his aura's six colored rays shining forth from his body to the city gate during the month of Assayuja as the Moon shone brightly.

   

Butterfly Nebula (NASA/Hubble)

He was accompanied by a large following of devas on one side and a large following of brahmas on the other. A large gathering led by Sariputra welcomed the Buddha as the whole town was lit up.

  

Sariputra was awed by the grandeur and glory of the scene. He reverently approached the Buddha and said, "Venerable sir! We have never seen or even heard of such magnificent and resplendent glory. Indeed, venerable sir, you are loved, respected, and revered by devas, brahmas, and humans alike!"

  

The Buddha replied, "Sariputra, buddhas endowed as they are with unique qualities are truly loved by humans and devas alike." Then the Buddha uttered this verse:

The wise who practice absorbed concentration

and insight meditation [jhana and vipassana]

take delight in the peace of liberation from

sensual pleasures and mental defilements. 

Such wise and mindful ones truly comprehend 

the Four Noble Truths

and are also held dear by the devas.

  

At the end of the discourse the large number of ascetics who were Sariputra's pupils attained full enlightenment (arhatship) and a great many from the congregation attained steam entry (the first stage of enlightenment).