Soon after the enlightenment

A paean of joy – Udàna Gàthà

THERO’ many a birth in sansàra¹ wandered I,

Seeking but not finding, the builder² of this house.

Sorrowful is repeated birth.

O house – builder! Thou art seen.

Thou shalt build no house³ again,

All thy rafters⁴ are broken,

Thy ridge – pole⁵ is shattered.

The mind attains the unconditioned.⁶

Achieved is the end of craving.

Dhammapada vv. 153,154

1. Existence

2. i.e. Craving (Tanhà)

3. Body

4. Passions

5. Ignorance

6. Nibbàna

                                   

The Seven Week after the enlightenment

On the auspicious day preceding the enlightenment, the Bòdhisatta⁷ ate some milk – porridge offered by a generous lady named sujàtà. After the enlightenment for seven weeks the Buddha fasted, and spent his time under the Bòdhi tree and in its neighborhood.

The whole of the first week the Buddha sat under the Bòdhi tree in one posture, experiencing the bliss of emancipation – Vimutti Sukha.

At the end of the seven days the Buddha emerged from that state of concentration, and in the first watch of the night⁸ thoroughly reflected on dependent arising – Patcca Samuppàda, in direct order thus: when this (cause) exists, this (effect) is; with the arising of this (cause), this (effect) arises.

In the middle watch of the night⁹ the Buddha thoroughly reflected on “Dependent Arising” in reverse order thus:-

“When this (cause) does not exist, this (effect) is not; with the cessation of this (cause), this (effect) ceases.”

In the third watch of the night the Buddha reflected on “Dependent Arising” in direct and reverse order thus:-

“When this (cause) exist, this (effect) is, with the arising of this (cause) this (effect) arises; when this (cause) does not exist this (effect) is not; with the cessation of this (cause), this (effect) ceases.”

Throughout the second week, as a mark of gratitude to the Bòdhi tree that sheltered him during his struggle for enlightenment, the Buddha stood gazing at it with motionless eyes.¹⁰

During the third week the Buddha paced up and down on a jewelled promenade – Ratana cankamana near the Bòdhi tree.

The fourth week he spent in a jewelled chamber¹¹ – Ratanàghara meditating on the Abhidhamma.

During the fifth week he dwelt under the Ajapàla Banyan tree in the vicinity of the Bòdhi tree. Here the Buddha sat in one posture for seven days enjoying this bliss of emancipation. When he emerged form that state of concentration, a certainconceited Brahmin approached the Buddha and questioned him thus:-

“In what respect, O Venerable Gòtama, does one become a Brahmin, and what are the conditions that make a Brahmin?”

 

Then the blessed one uttered this paean of joy:-

 “That Brahmin who has discarded evil, without conceit – huhunka, free from defilements, self-controlled, versed in knowledge, who has led the holy life – rightly would call himself a Brahmin. For him there is no elation anywhere in this world.”

According to the jàtaka commentary it was during his stay at foot of this tree that the three daughters¹² of Màra – Tanhà, Arati, and Ràga came to tempt the Buddha.

From the ajapàla Banyan tree the Buddha proceeded to the mucalinda tree where he spent the sixth week. Here, too, the Buddha sat for seven days enjoying the bliss of emancipation. At that time there arose an unexpected great shower. Rain and gloomy weather with cold winds prevailed for seven days.

Thereupon mucalinda, the serpent – king,¹³came out of his abode and coiling round the body of the blessed one seven times, remained keeping his large hood over the head of the blessed one so that blessed one may not be touched by cold, heat, gadflies, gnats, wind, sun or reptiles.

At the close seven days Mucalinda seeing the clear, cloudless sky, uncoiled him-self from around the body of the blessed one, and leaving his own from, took the guise of a young – man, and stood in front of the blessed one with joined hands.

 

Thereupon the Buddha uttered this paean of joy:-

“Happy is seclusion to him who is contented, to him who has heard the truth, and to him who sees. Happy is goodwill in this world, is non – attachment, the passing beyond sense – desires. The suppression of the ‘I am’ conceit is indeed the highest happiness.”

The seventh week the Buddha spent at the Ràjàyatana tree. Here too the Buddha sat in one posture for seven days enjoying the Bliss of emancipation.

 

7. One who is aspiring to attain Buddhahood is called a bòdhisatta (bòdhi – Enlightenment; satta - being).this term was applied to    princes’ siddhattha before he gained enlightenment.

8. i.e. from 66 p.m. to 10p.m.

9. i.e. from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

10. On the spot where the Buddha stood, a caitya has been erected by king dharmàsòka. This was named Animisalòcana Caitya and still to be seen.

11. So called because the Buddha reflected on the jewels of the Abhidhamma.

12. These three cannot be passions as this incident took place after the enlightenment.

13. This Nàga king cannot be a human being. The Vinya text also cites an intesesting story of a serpent who, assuming the form of a human being. Lived for some time as a Bhikkhu in robes.