Chapter IX
At another time, King Sirivaddha of BÈrÈÓasÊ, having abandoned his great wealth, became
an ascetic. Nine million people did the same as the King. Buddha Phussa went to the place
of these ascetics and taught them the Dhamma. Then nine million beings attained the Path
and Fruition.
(This was the second
DhammÈbhisamaya
.)
Still at another time, Buddha Phussa preached to his son, Prince Anupama. Then eight
million devas and humans attained the Path and Fruition.
(This was the third
DhammÈbhisamaya
.)
Three Occasions of The Disciples' Meeting (SannipÈta)
There were three meetings of Buddha Phussa's disciples. The first took place at
KaÓÓakujja. There, Prince Surakkhita and the Purohita's son, Dhammasena, both His future
Chief Disciples and residents of the city, with six million men welcomed the Buddha who
was on a visit to the city. They also respectfully invited Him and performed a great alms-
giving ceremony for seven days. After listening to the Buddha's sermon, they developed
faith in Him and became monks together with their six million companions and together
they attained arahantship. In the midst of these
arahats
, the Buddha recited the
OvÈda
PÈÔimokkha
.
(That was the first
sannipÈta
.)
At another time, at the assembly of His relatives headed by His father, King Jayasena of
the city of Kasika, the Buddha narrated the ‘Chronicle of Buddhas’. Having listened to the
Chronicle five million people became e
hi-bhikkhus
and attained arahantship. At the meeting
of these five million
arahats
, Buddha Phussa recited the
OvÈda PÈÔimokkha
.
(This was the second
sannipÈta
.)
Still at another time, when devas and humans discussed what constituted auspiciousness
(
ma~gala
) leading to prosperity in the world but could not agree on an answer acceptable
to all and when they put the same question to Buddha, He taught the Ma~gala Sutta. After
listening to this discourse, four million people became
bhikkhus
and attained arahantship. In
the midst of these
arahats,
the Buddha recited the
OvÈda PÈÔimokkha
.
(This was the third
sannipÈta
.)
Future Buddha Gotama, as King VijitÈvÊ, received Prophecy from Buddha Phussa
Meanwhile our Bodhisatta was King VijitÈvÊ, in the city of Arindama. Having listened to
the Buddha's discourse, he developed faith in Him, and performed a great alms-giving by
giving his city and he became a
bhikkhu
and learned the three
PiÔakas
. Being well-versed in
PiÔakas
, he disseminated the Dhamma to all people. He also fulfilled the Perfection of
Morality.
Then Buddha Phussa, noble leader of the three worlds, made a prophecy concerning
Bodhisatta, Bhikkhu VijitÈvÊ: ‚In the ninety-second aeon from the present one, this Bhikkhu
Vijitavi will become a Buddha, Gotama by name.‛
Having listened to Buddha Phussa's prophecy, Bodhisatta, Bhikkhu VijitÈvi, was filled
with devotional faith and was determined to fulfil the Ten Perfections even more
energetically.
Having become a
bhikkhu
and a servant in the Dispensation of Buddha Phussa and
becoming accomplished in the studies of the Buddha's Teachings which are of nine
divisions together with the Sutta and the Vinaya, the noble Bodhisatta contributed to the
glory of the Buddha's Dispensation.
(Without lying down at all), meditating only in the three postures of sitting, standing and
walking, the Bodhisatta developed the sublime mode of living (
brahmavihÈra
) without