The Twenty-Four Buddhas – 196
They were hanging from here and there young fruits on one side of the tree and
medium-sized fruits on another side. Those ripe enough were all very tasty as if
celestial nutriments were put in them. In fact, they all possessed wonderful
colour, flavour and taste. Likewise, all fruit-trees and flower-trees in the 10,000
world-element bore fruits and flowers on that very day.
Three Occasions of the Buddha’s Teaching
1. After becoming a Buddha, Buddha Sikhī stayed in the neighbourhood of the
Fragrant Mango Mahā Bodhi tree for 49 days. Having complied with a Brahma’s
request for his teaching, he contemplated who he should teach first, and he saw
the seven million fellow monastics who were endowed with the merits of their
past deeds, which could lead to the paths and fruitions. By his psychic power he
then immediately appeared in Migājina Park, their residence near the city of
Aruṇavatī. Sitting gracefully in the midst of these seven million recluses,
Buddha Sikhī taught the Dhamma Wheel (
Dhamma-cakka
) discourse, which was
also taught by previous Buddhas, to Devas and humans who had come to listen.
Then 1,000 billion Devas and humans attained the paths and fruitions.
2. At a later time, also near the city of Aruṇavatī, the Buddha taught Dhamma to
his future chief disciples, Prince Abhibhū and Prince Sambhava and their
retinues, and administered the elixir of immortality to 900 billion Devas and
humans.
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3. Still at another time, near a Campak tree, close to the gate of Sūriyavatī city,
the Buddha displayed the twin miracle and gave a discourse in order to suppress
the arrogance of the heretics and to free beings from the bondage to the
defilements. At that time, 800 billion Devas and humans attained the paths and
fruitions.
Three Occasions of the Disciples’ Meeting
1. There were three meetings of Buddha Sikhī’s Arahat disciples. At the first
meeting, in the midst of 100,000 Arahats, who were princes Abhibhū’s and
Sambhava’s companions during their renunciation, Buddha Sikhī recited the
Advisory Rules (
Ovāda-Pātimokkha
).
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[The translation stated 90,000, but BvA states 90,000 crore, i.e. 900 billion.]