[无量香光 · 显密文库 · 手机站]
fowap.goodweb.net.cn
{返回首页}


18. Seven Weeks After Enlightenment
 
{返回 Life of the Buddha 文集}
{返回网页版}
点击:1808

(Part One) 18. Seven Weeks After Enlightenment

Under the Bodhi Tree

During the first week after enlightenment, the Buddha sat under the bodhi tree experiencing the happiness of freedom and peace. He was free from disturbing thoughts, calm and blissful.

Gazing at the Tree

During the second week, in thanks and gratitude to the tree that had sheltered him during his struggle for Buddhahood, the Buddha stood without moving his eyes as he meditated on the bodhi tree.

Following this example, it is the custom of Buddhists to pay respect to not only the original bodhi tree, but also to the descendants of the bodhi tree that still thrive today.

The Golden Bridge

In the third week, the Buddha saw through his mind’s eye that the devas in the heavens were not sure whether he had attained enlightenment or not. To prove his enlightenment the Buddha created a golden bridge in the air and walked up and down it for a whole week.

The Jewelled Chamber

In the fourth week, he created a beautiful jewelled chamber and sitting inside it meditated on what was later known as the "Detailed Teaching" (Abhidhamma). His mind and body were so purified that six coloured rays came out of his body — blue, yellow, red, white, orange and a mixture of these five. Today these six colours make up the Buddhist flag. Each colour represented one noble quality of the Buddha: yellow for holiness, white for purity, blue for confidence, red for wisdom and orange for desirelessness. The mixed colour represented all these noble qualities.

Three Girls

During the fifth week, while meditating under a banyan tree, three most charming girls called Tanha, Rati and Raga came to disturb his meditation. They danced in a most seductive and charming manner and did everything to tempt the Buddha to watch their dance. Yet he continued to meditate unperturbed, and soon they tired and left him alone.

The Mucalinda Tree

The Buddha then went and meditated at the foot of a mucalinda tree. It began to rain heavily and a huge king cobra came out and coiled his body seven times around the Buddha to keep him warm and placed his hood over the Buddha’s head to protect him from the rain. After seven days the rain stopped and the snake changed into a young man who paid his respects to the Buddha. The Buddha then said:

"Happy are they who are contented. Happiness is for those who hear and know the truth. Happy are they who have good will in this world towards all sentient beings. Happy are they who have no attachments and have passed beyond sense-desires. The disappearance of the word "I AM " is indeed the highest happiness."

The Rajayatana Tree

During the seventh week, the Buddha meditated under the rajayatana tree. On the fiftieth morning, after seven weeks of fasting, two merchants came into his presence. They were called Tapussa and Bhallika. They offered the Buddha rice cakes and honey to break his fast and the Buddha told them some of what he had found in his enlightenment.

These two merchants, by taking refuge in the Buddha and his Dharma (translated as "teachings of the Buddha"), became the first lay followers. There was no Sangha (order of monks and nuns) then. They asked the Buddha for something sacred to keep with them. The Buddha wiped his head with his right hand and pulled out some hair to give to them. These hair relics, called Kesa Datu, were later reputed to be enshrined by the merchants on their return home to what is now known as Burma, in the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon.


{返回 Life of the Buddha 文集}
{返回网页版}
{返回首页}

上一篇:19. The First Five Monks
下一篇:17. The Sun of Enlightenment Shines
 8. The Four Sights: Sickness
 21. The Buddhas Attitude Towards Ot..
 1. Queen Maha Mayas Dream
 6. Prince Siddharthas Wife
 30. Wakkali and the Buddha
 25. The Story of Prince Rahula
 16. An Attempt to Discredit the Bud..
 29. Angulimala, the Bandit
 18. Seven Weeks After Enlightenment..
 12. King Bimbisaras Offer
全文 标题
 
【佛教文章随机阅读】
 你可以不信佛,但不可以不信因果!(星云法师)[栏目:因果原理]
 如何相貌好 如何环境好[栏目:净空法师]
 学习的方法[栏目:万行法语]
 君主法规论[栏目:索达吉堪布]
 对青年僧人的几点希望——在栖霞山侩伽培训班结业典礼上的讲话[栏目:真禅法师]
 安守本分 精诚念佛[栏目:仁焕法师]
 佛说十善业道经-第76集[栏目:佛说十善业道经讲记·净空法师]
 相应3经 作善恶二重者经[栏目:相应部 30.金翅鸟相应]
 Buddhism: A Method of Mind Training[栏目:Buddhist Article]
 No Ajahn Chah《062》[栏目:何来阿姜查 No Ajahn Chah]


{返回首页}

△TOP

- 手机版 -
[无量香光·显密文库·佛教文集]
教育、非赢利、公益性的佛教文化传播
白玛若拙佛教文化传播工作室制作
www.goodweb.net.cn Copyrights reserved
(2003-2015)
站长信箱:yjp990@163.com