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."
"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."
 |
| 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."
"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."
No comments:
Post a Comment