Chapter IX
and BrahmÈs attained the Path and Fruition.
(This was the second
DhammÈbhisamaya
.)
Still at another time, Buddha SujÈtÈ paid a visit to His father in the city of SumaÒgala and
taught him the Dhamma. By the end of His teaching, six million devas and humans attained
the Path and Fruition.
(This was the third
DhammÈbhisamaya
.)
Three Occasions of The Disciple's Meeting (SannipÈta)
There were three meetings of Buddha SujÈtÈ’s disciples; the first was at Sudhamma, near
SudhammavatÊ City, where the Buddha taught people who visited Him and admitted six
million men into the Order by calling upon them: ‚
Ehi Bhikkhus
‛, and recited the
OvÈda
PÈÔimokkha
amidst them.
(This was the first
sannipÈta
.)
At another time, when Buddha SujÈtÈ descended from TÈvatiÑsa, a meeting of five
million monks took place.
(This was the second
sannipÈta
.)
Still at another time, when the Chief Disciple, Sudassana Thera, who sat on the right side
of the Buddha, took four hundred thousand men to the Buddha. These men had decided
among themselves to go forth on hearing that the Buddha's younger brother, Prince
Sudassana had become a monk in the presence of the Buddha and had attained arahantship
and were thus inspired. The Buddha gave them instructions, made them e
hi-bhikkhus
and
recited the
OvÈda PÈÔimokkha
at their meeting of four features.
(This was the third
sannipÈta
.)
Future Buddha Gotama, as Universal Monarch, received Prophecy from Buddha SujÈtÈ.
At that time, our Bodhisatta was a Universal Monarch. Hearing that there had appeared a
Buddha in the world, he approached the Buddha, listened to the Dhamma discourses,
offered his kingship with his seven treasures to the Sangha with the Buddha as its head and
then he became a monk. The inhabitants of JambudÊpa made themselves monastery-keepers
(monastic attendants), collected taxes from his domain and constantly supplied the Buddha
and His Sangha with the four requisites of robes, food, shelter and medicines.
Then Buddha SujÈtÈ made a prophecy: ‚He will indeed become a Buddha in future.‛
Having received the Buddha's prophecy, the Bodhisatta was most rejoiced and determined
to fulfil the Ten Perfections even more energetically.
He joined the Sangha of Buddha SujÈtÈ and became accomplished in the studies of the
Buddha's teachings which are of nine divisions together with the Sutta and Vinaya. Thus he
contributed to the beauty of the Buddha's Dispensation.
Having cultivated the practice of BrahmÈ VihÈra BhÈvanÈ, meditation leading to rebirth
in the BrahmÈ abode, without absent-mindedness in three postures of sitting, standing and
walking (but not in the posture of lying down), he reached the apex, not only of the eight
attainments but also of the Five Psychic Powers. On his death, he was reborn in the world
of BrahmÈs.
Particulars of Buddha SujÈtÈ
Buddha SujÈtÈ’s birthplace was Sumangala City. His father was King Uggata and
His mother was Queen PabhÈvati.
He reigned for nine thousand years. His three palaces were Siri, Upasiri and
Nanda.
His Chief Consort was SirinandÈ who had twenty-three thousand maids of honour.
His son was Prince Upasena.