February 20, 2023
 

The birth of the Bodhisatta was like knocking on a mysterious and supernatural door. The three realms of existence shook, the earth wobbled, and the waters of the four oceans rose with a roar which reverberated through space. Celestial music filled the air, heavenly flowers rained down; Brahmas and deities of the three thousand realms all celebrated with joy. Two golden dragons descended from the clouds, pouring hot and cold fragrant water to bathe the great Bodhisatta. The four great Brahmas in the Pure Abode heaven stood at the four corners, spreading a delicate golden net to support the Bodhisatta’s body and prevent him from falling. They whispered into Queen Mahāmāyā’s ear:
 
– Congratulations to the queen! This child will be incomparable and possess unparalleled intelligence and virtue in all three realms and six paths. He is the Supreme Being, without equal. As soon as these words were spoken, the Four Great Heavenly Kings covered the Bodhisatta with a precious parasol and received the newborn with a soft velvet blanket. They then handed him over to the royal maids, who carried him on a silk Dukūla.
 
In an instant, the great Bodhisatta stood up and took seven steps toward the east with seven lotus flowers sprouting from the ground as he walked, supporting his every step. Two deities carrying the five royal insignia of a universal monarch walked alongside him. With one hand pointing upwards and the other pointing downwards, the great Bodhisatta uttered the following verse:
 
“- Aggohamasmi lokasmiṃ
Jeṭṭho’ haṃ asmi lokassa!
Seṭṭho jeṭṭho anuttaro
Ayamantimāme jāti
Natthi dāni punabbhavoti.”
 
Meaning: “I am the most exalted among the living beings of the three worlds! This is my last birth! There is no more rebirth for me!”
 
According to the discourses (sutta), upon the birth of the great Bodhisatta, due to the accumulation of the Perfections (Paramī) over countless eons, seven beings were also born concurrently to assist him in attaining Self-Enlightenment:
 
1) Princess Yasodharā;
(2) Prince Ānanda, his father was Amitodana, brother of king Suddhodana
(3) Channa, the Bodhisatta’s charioteer;
(4) Minister Kāḷudāyī, a son of a high royal official, and was known for inviting the Buddha back to Kapilavatthu;
(5) The royal stallion Kandaka;
(6) The Mahābodhi tree, where the Buddha attained the Enlightenment;
(7) Four treasure pots.
 
Thus, on the full moon of the Vesākha month in the year 623 B.C.E., in the city of Kapilavatthu, capital of the ancient kingdom of Sakya located on the northwestern border of India, near what is present-day Nepal, a prince was born in the garden of Lumbinī at the foot of the mighty Himalayas. This prince later became the leader of leaders and the teacher of the greatest teachers in the world in the history of humanity. His name was Siddhattha Gotama, his father was Suddhodana, and his mother was Mahāmāyā. (Excerpted from Một Cuộc Đời Một Vầng Nhật Nguyệt 1)
 
Lumbinī has undergone many changes over the years. Nowadays, visitors can access the main entrance by walking or boat. Before entering the security gate, we will see a golden statue of Bodhisatta at birth. The foot-traveling Sangha circumambulated the statue and chanted, paying homage to the Triple Gem. Our voices reverberated throughout the Lumbinī garden.
 
The sacred site still exists the remnants of the stupa foundation made of old bricks maintained inside a fenced-in campus. The place where the Bodhisatta was born is marked by the foundation of a Stupa which is maintained inside another quadrilateral Stupa. The two lakes still exist, where it is said that two fountains of pure water – one warm and the other cold – flowed down from the sky to bathe the Bodhisatta. Despite its age, the Bodhi tree remains green and provides shade to the many devotees who visit the site.
 
Before departing from Lumbinī, the Sangha gathered in a courtyard before the Stupa to meditate and chant. Pilgrims from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and various other countries, such as France, the United States, Germany, and more, also stood by and observed, capturing photos and videos of the foot-traveling Sangha dressed in earthy yellow robes, sitting still and motionless, then echoing the deep and mighty sound of the suttas chanted in the peaceful surroundings of the late afternoon.
 
As night fell, the crowds dispersed, leaving only the foot-traveling Sangha, who continued reciting chants in honor of the Buddha. Following the recitation of the suttas, we paid homage to the sacred site of Lumbinī, where a great man revered by both humans and devas was welcomed.
 
In the quietness of the night, we departed from Lumbinī, with the stars twinkling in the clear sky as if leading the foot-traveling Sangha back to the Royal Wat Thai Lumbinī temple. There, we prepared for the journey back to India at two o’clock the next morning.
 
 

#chuahuongdao #chuahuongdaotemple #sbsstupas
#buddha #buddhism #Dhutanga #dhammajourney
 
Source: Dhammacetiya