Mettavalokanaya Buddhist Magazine - December 13 2016

craving will traverse this very long Sansara, Simultaneously as
this and that (ITHTHATHA, ANGNATHA) and will never end this
Sansara.
Thus it is very evident that we the worldly people
endowed and under the influence of the six agencies are
never alone but is with the second person of craving all the
time. But the enlightened, Buddha, Pachcheka Buddha or
Arahath are without the second person and thus are all by
themselves. So we say Eka Vihari which means by self only
and no another with that person. Often people say they will
go to a retreat and be all alone. Yet if one has not attained
the ultimate of becoming an Arahath, then that person will be
with the second, that of craving. On the other hand, Buddha
and his Arahath disciples were dwelling in the Jethawana Vihar
as well as in other temples amid tens of thousands of people
who would come to Vihar, yet they were all by them self.
Those lay who meditate, once having learned the path
may not necessarily need to be in a retreat all the time, but
can do the meditation practice at home by striving to find that
isolation from the second person of craving. Often people
will say that they cannot meditate at their homes because
of sounds and disturbances. Yet such things can disturb only
if one volitionally seek to grapple with such sounds without
learning to let go.
One may go to a retreat for an extended period yet
may not be alone if that person tries to grapple with the
Nama & Rupa that illustrate our consciousness. So the path
as shown by the Enlightened One is letting go. Such a person
will discharge his/her responsibilities to the immediate family,
friends, society, to the country etc and yet will walk on the
path to ultimate purification.
Fourth Week - The fourth week after enlightenment
Buddha spent in the golden abode. The location of this place
is to the left of the main temple and today the walls are often
pasted with golden foil paper by many devotees. The traditional
commentary has it that Buddha spent the fourth week in the
golden abode created by gods. In Marghadi language (Pali)
the fourth week is termed as dwelling in Rathana Agara or
golden abode. In the months prior to the dispensation of the
first discourse to the five ascetics at Varanasi, there was only
the Buddha and the Dhamma had not been expounded to the
worldly or the Sangha Sasana yet not established. Thus of the
three Rathanas only the Buddha Rathana was in existence at
that time.
We the worldly people too have an abode that has been
created by the consciousness together with nama & rupa.
Our abode is worldly and subject decay and death. But the
golden abode of the Buddha is that which arises after having
attained enlightenment. Thus Buddha was in the golden
abode while the rest of the beings were in the abodes made
by the consciousness. Our abodes made by the consciousness
are illustrated with nama & rupa (Nidassana Vingnana) while
the Enlightened One is in non-illustrated consciousness
(Anidassana Vingnana).
Fifth Week - After enlightenment Buddha spent the
fifth week under the Ficus Bengalansis tree Ajapala. In the
traditional commentary, it is said that the Goatherds used
the shade of the tree to spend the day, (Aja meaning Goat
and Pala meaning the herder). But as I have stated afore, the
Buddha has always told us to look at the inner depth of the
Dhamma and not take the Dhamma in a very cosmetic way.
(Opaniko pachchaththan vedithabbo vinnuhithi)
The Ajitha Manawa Sutta in Parayana Vagga Suththa
Nipatha, Ajitha asked Buddha as to what this adhesive is?
Buddha replied that this great adhesive is Jappa or craving.
The Enlightened One in the fifth week chose the base of the
Ficus tree Ajappa. Thus Ajappa means that which does not
stick/bind/attach etc.
The Ficus Bengalansis tree as it grows starts spreading
across the terrain with branches often parallel to the ground
and supported by buttress roots springing from the branches
reaching the ground. After some years there would be many
such buttress roots that it often becomes difficult to find the
real base of the tree.
It is the same with us the mundane humans. After
birth we grow up and with craving and supported by the six
touch agencies grasp this world. We are thus termed Lokika,
worldly or under the influence of the six touch agencies whilst
the Enlightened are termed Lokauththara or no longer under
the six touch agencies influence and beyond the world. Even
though the Enlightened One was seated under the Ficus tree
just as the Goatherds, yet he was not under the influence of
the worldly phenomena. Three girls Thanha, Rathi and Raga
came and danced in front of Buddha trying to disturb him and
later left having failed left him alone.
Chasu Loko Samuppanno, Chasu kubbathi santhvan,
Channameva upadaya, Chasu loko vihannathi. This world of
self is of the six touch agencies, and with the six we associate
it all, having grasped it all with the six touch agencies, we the
worldly ones lament and wail.
Sixth Week - The sixth week Buddha spent near the
Muchalinda pond. During that period there were heavy rains
and a giant cobra named Muchalinda gave shelter to Buddha
from rain by coiling around Enlightened One’s body and with
the hood over his head.
The term NAGA is also used for the enlightened such as
Buddha and Arahath. We the worldly people are all the time
susceptible to this defiling rain (KILESA WARSA) and defile
ourselves with the six touch agencies. But the Buddha has
totally eradicated it all and no such things can impact the
Enlightened.
Seventh Week - The last of the seven weeks was known
to have spent under the Rajayathana tree. It was here that
the two merchants from Ukkala (now Odisha) came and
worshipped Buddha and offered him alms of honey and
cereals. The later requested for something sacred which they
could take and Buddha gave them some hair relics.
What is the significance of Rajayathana? We the worldly
people are under the influence of six touch agencies and are
thus under the Salayathana which our illustrated consciousness
built for us. But the enlightened are no longer under the
influence of the six agencies and now in their own abode built
and is termed Rajayathana. Buddha after enlightenment said
that the abode built by the maker has now been shattered
and destroyed. That abode is the six agencies abode built by
illustrated consciousness. Buddha and all Arahaths have nonillustrated
Consciousness (Anidassana Vinnana).
Sugath Rajapakse
BSC-Graduated Peradeniya University, Former Senior
Sales Manager, Regional Manager of Sri Lankan Airlines in
Sri Lanka and overseas, Presently Consultant to
Air India GSA in Sri Lanka.
www.meththawalokanaya.com
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