16: The Arrival of Upatissa and Kolita – 574
robes, they willed: “Let us be off,” and instantaneously they found themselves,
with the aid of the Devas, sitting in the presence of Buddha Vipassī, in the
Observance Hall, and paying respects to him.
When the full assembly of monastics had congregated, Buddha Vipassī, recited
the Advisory Rules (
Ovāda-Pātimokkha
) as follows (Dhp 184-183-185):
Khantī paramaṁ tapo titikkhā,
Nibbānaṁ paramaṁ vadanti Buddhā,
na hi pabbajito parūpaghātī,
na samaṇo hoti paraṁ viheṭhayanto.
Forbearing patience (
adhivāsana-khanti
) is the most excellent moral
practice. Buddhas proclaim: “Nibbāna, which is freedom from craving, is
supreme.” He who injures or kills others is not one who has gone forth.
One who harms others is not a noble monastic who has extinguished all
the defilements.
Patience (
khanti
) means exertion or putting forth energy to bear patiently
the blames and accusations made by others, forbearance to withstand cold
and heat without the slightest sign of discomfort (
adhivasana-khantī
).
Sabba-pāpassa akaraṇaṁ, kusalassa upasampadā,
sacitta-pariyodapanaṁ, etaṁ Buddhānasāsanaṁ.
Not to do anything evil, to cultivate faultless meritorious deeds pertaining
to the four realms, to purify ones mind by discarding the fivefold
hindrances which defile it – these are the instructions, exhortations,
advice given by each and every Buddha.
One should endeavour to refrain from demeritorious deeds by observing
moral precepts; to perform meritorious deeds pertaining to the four realms
through practice of concentration and insight meditations of both
mundane and supermundane levels; and bring about complete purification
of one’s mind
[439]
through attainment of the Arahat fruition (
Arahatta-
phala
). This is the express exhortation, instruction laid down by all the
Buddhas.
Anūpavādo anūpaghāto, Pātimokkhe ca saṁvaro,
mattaññutā ca bhattasmiṁ, pantañ-ca sayanāsanaṁ,
adhicitte ca āyogo, etaṁ Buddhānasāsanaṁ.
Not to accuse others or cause others to accuse, meaning vocal restraint;
not to ill-treat others or cause others to kill or ill treat others, meaning