THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
1616
purpose of practising the Dhamma to achieve liberation from
saÑsÈra
. Alms food is not
for the lazy or the indolent. Only men of diligence are worthy of it.‛
(5) Reflecting on the nobility of the inheritance (DÈyajjamahatta paccavekkhanatÈ).
Energy will develop in him who reflects thus: ‚The heritage of the Buddha known as ‘the
treasures of the virtuous’ to be received by His disciples is of seven kinds: faith (
saddhÈ
),
morality (
sÊla
), learning (
suta
), liberality (
cÈga
), wisdom (
paÒÒÈ
), moral shame (
hirÊ
), and
moral dread (
ottappa
).
The indolent are not entitled to inherit from the Buddha. Just as bad children, disowned
by their parents, cannot inherit from them, even so those who are lazy cannot receive the
‘treasures of the virtuous’ as heritage from the Buddha. Only men of diligence deserve this
inheritance.‛
(6) Reflecting on the nobility of the Teacher, the Buddha (Satthumahatta-
paccavekkhanatÈ).
Energy will develop in him who reflects thus: ‚My Teacher, the Buddha, is so noble that
the ten-thousand world-universe shook when He took conception (as a Bodhisatta for His
last life), when He renounced the world, when He became the Enlightened One, when He
expounded the First Sermon (Dhammacakka-pavattana Sutta), when He performed the
Twin Miracle at Savatthi to defeat the heretics (
titthiya
), when He descended from the
TÈvatiÑsa deva-world to Sankassa Nagara, when He renounced the Vital Principle
(
ŒyusankhÈra
) and when He passed into ParinibbÈna. Being a true son (or daughter) of
such a noble Buddha, should I remain care-free and lazy without exerting myself to
practise His Teachings?‛
(7) Reflecting on the nobility of own lineage (JÈti mahatta paccavekkhanatÈ).
Energy will develop in him who reflects thus: ‚My lineage is not humble; I am descended
from (the first king) Mahasammata of pure and high caste; I am the brother of RÈhula who
is the grandson of King SuddhodÈna and Queen MahÈ MÈyÈ, who belonged to the House of
King OkkÈka, one of the descendants of MahÈsammata; RÈhula is the Buddha's son; since I
have also taken the name of Buddha's son of Sakya ancestry, we are brothers. Being of
such noble ancestry, I should not live a life of indolence but exert myself to practise the
noble Teaching.‛
(8) Reflecting on the nobility of companions in the holy life (SabrahmacÈrimahatta-
paccavevekkhanatÈ).
Energy will develop in him who reflects thus: ‚My companions in the holy life, the
MahÈthera SÈriputta and MahÈ MoggallÈna, as well as eighty Great Disciples, who
practised the noble Dhamma, have already realized the supramundane Paths and Fruition
States. I should follow the way of the venerable companions in the holy life.‛
(9) Keeping away from those who are indolent (Kusita puggala parivajjanata).
Energy will develop in him who avoids idle ones, i.e. those who forsake all physical,
verbal and mental activities to lie down and roll in sleep like a python that has eaten its fill.
(10) Associating with people who are industrious and energetic (Araddha vÊriya puggala
sevanatÈ).
Energy will develop in him who associates himself with industrious and energetic people
who are devoted only to their task whole-heartedly.
Men of dedication (
pahitatta
) are always determined not to leave their efforts in
carrying out a set task until success is achieved (or if not successful until death).
Those lacking dedication hesitate even before beginning a work with the thought.
"Shall I succeed or not?" While carrying out the work, if the expected goal is not
easily achieved, he flinches with the thought, "Even though I carry on with the
work, I shall not succeed" and thus they stop putting effort.
(11) Inclination towards development of Energy in all four postures (Tad adhimuttatÈ).
Energy will develop in him who is intent on and inclined to cultivating it in all four