Ven. Ananda's Attainment of Arahantship

 Today I am sharing with you the story of Venerable Ananda, the Buddha's cousin that we all know is the person whom we are in-debted with for remembering the Buddha's teachings and re-collecting them for us. As Buddhists know, the first few words in a Buddhist Sutra/Sutta - "Thus have I heard" - the "I" is referring to Ven. Ananda. This post here contain rare stories on Ven. Ananda that even senior Buddhists have not heard before. But I am going to share it. 

Many Buddhist temples have the statue of Ven. Ananda. He is usually depicted as a young monk on the right side of the Buddha. Ven. Mahakasyapa being the other monk on the left side of the Buddha. Ven. Mahakasyapa is usually depicted as an elderly monk. This may lead us to believe that Ven. Ananda is very much younger than the Gautama Buddha. But this is so far from the truth. In actual fact, Ven. Ananda is of the same age as Siddhartha Gautama. They were even born on the same day (together with a few others). He served the Buddha only at the age of 50 onwards (according to Theravadian texts) and served the Buddha not only as an attendant but also memorising his teachings. Whenever Ven. Ananda was not around, the Buddha would brief him at another private session so that Ven. Ananda could be the main person who has all the teachings of the Buddha. It is not like what we have now - a video recorder and other equipment. We are very fortunate and yet, many of us takes the Buddha's teachings for granted. We should be very grateful to Ven. Ananda. 

Ven. Ananda attained Enlightenment at a late age, i.e. after the Buddha's passing (parinibbana). He was indeed very worried he was the only one not yet an Arahant. He was at that time only a Sotapanna. Many senior monks had convened a council of meeting to collect the Buddha's teachings and being the main person responsible to memorise the teachings, he was not invited by the Sangha yet (being not yet an Arahant). He was, indeed, hard pressed to achieve Arahantship before the meeting date. People may wonder whether he was too "loaded with knowledge" to achieve Enlightenment. Not really. It was a case of him not having the time to really practice properly, time being taken to memorise the Buddha's teachings and attending to the Buddha's daily needs. He was also the Buddha's secretary and possibly the chief administrator. But I am sure he does practice and through the years, he had built up a strong practice base, and certainly a huge accumulation of merits by serving the Buddha and memorising the Dharma. After the Buddha's passing, he practices late into the night, constantly pushing himself. But still nothing. No attainment. Then one day, he realised that he might have pushed himself too hard. 

As the simile goes, if the guitar string is too tight, it may break. And if too loose, the tune will not be correct. He decided to take a rest and relax a little. He sat down on one side on a chair. Then he started to lie down. As he took his feet up and slowly lower down his body, suddenly he achieved Arahantship. Yes, finally he achieved this Enlightenment! This was very similar to what Ch'an Buddhism would call as "sudden enlightenment". So, it's not true that "sudden enlightenment" cases are confined only to Ch'an/Zen Buddhist practitioners. 

But was it really "sudden"? Yes, it may be "sudden" but it is not like Ven. Ananda had no prior practice at all. He had, as I mentioned. It only took the right condition to break up the final barriers and whereupon he could penetrate the truth through his vipassana practice. Another source, stated that it was Vajjiputta who had advised Ven. Ananda to put aside his worldly chores, isolate himself to do some serious retreat to the forest to deepen his practice, which the latter heeded, and resulted in his attaining Arahant. So, we all can learn from this advice. There are benefits to doing long and proper retreats, away from the hustle and bustle of daily living. 

I want to note here that it was early this morning around 1am plus, before I go to sleep, that I finally understood how the method of vipassana practice could lead one to understand the nature of anicca, dukkha and anatta. Once this is understood, the propensity to create defilements is cut off, and existing defilements is eliminated. Thus, enlightenment is attained. This is what I was looking for. Some teachings only emphasise to you the enlightenment aspects without telling you the cutting off of defilements. If attainment is without cutting of defilement, then it is NOT a true attainment. Attainment of samadhi, for example, do not cut off defilements, although some samadhi could be useful. Samapatti samadhi could be used to sort of "push aside" physical illnesses to delay one's death, so that one could help more sentient beings. 

I will end this post by relating the story of Ven. Ananda's own parinibbana. He was served by two communities - one on each side of a river. As he approached his death, each community invited him to their village to be the site of his parinibbana. Do you know what he did? He told both communities he will passed into parinibbana at the middle of the river. Indeed, he floated to the middle of the river, and in mid-air, his body burst into flames. The relics split into two - one on each side of the river. So, both community got their share of Ven. Ananda's relic. Wow! I thought this was spectacular.  

Ven. Ananda lived to 120 years old for the sake of the Buddha's dispensation of the Dharma. Ven. Hsu Yun also lived to 120 years old. I am not saying they used this samadhi. But one disciple of the Buddha who was said to have probably used this was Ven. Sariputta (who was the Buddha's chief disciple). He was without illness for most of his life. One day he knew he had only one week of life left. And he sought the Buddha's permission to return to his hometown to teach the Dharma to his mother. Only after he successfully guided his mother whereupon his mother attained Sotapanna-hood, then only at the break of dawn he vomitted pots and pots of blood. And then he passed into parinirvana. Only with this kind of samadhi, can a person do that. I will possibly relate in more detail in another post on how he guided his mother if you guys are interested. 

So, if you like this post on Venerable Ananda, I hope you would take the time to read my older posts, such as this one - https://buddha-and-me.blogspot.com/2010/07/tantric-lessons-from-miss-tatsy.html

#VenerableAnanda #vipassana #Sariputta #samadhi #suddenenlightenment 

note: pic of Ven. Ananda is sourced from wikimedia.org. 

Mindfulness : The Dharma of Wonder Woman

 I saw this clip of the movie "Wonder Woman 1984" showing a young Diana taking part in the Amazon Games. She was leading in the tournament until nearly towards the end of the game when she lost her focus and was thrown off the back of a horse. Then she thought of an idea to use a shortcut route towards the end line and still be able to win the tournament. She was about to win when one of the referees withheld the spear she was about to throw, thus preventing her from being the winner. They knew she was not being truthful and honest, which are the ideals of a true hero. Basically, that's saying she cheated. Her mother, the Amazon Queen, told Diana that her time has not yet come to be a hero. We can also ponder on these words... 

"It is not a shame (not being a winner)"
"Knowing the truth and not accepting it...no hero is born out of lies"

I thought that this is a great example of applying mindfulness in what we are doing and staying focus. She was distracted and kept looking back at her opponents, instead of focusing on her own game. Due to the lack of mindfulness, she did not see a branch of a tree in front of her and therefore was thrown off her horse. While I have yet to see the entire movie, I have seen the first one, also starring Gal Gadot. I thought she portrayed the Amazon warrior very well. The producers enhanced  her abilities and focuses more of her origins from Zeus (i.e. the Greek God), instead of earlier takes that focus more of her human-ness.  

So, this is my take of a movie with an element of the Dharma. But mindfulness is not strictly a Buddhist Dharma. It is a universal virtue to be focus and mindful in whatever our current task at hand. If you enjoy this post, do read my other comments on movies, including one on Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. It stars the lovable and amazing actress Julia Roberts. Read here https://buddha-and-me.blogspot.com/2010/12/gilberts-eat-pray-love-vs-our-own-3.html

#GalGadot #wonderwoman #wonderwoman1984 #mindfulness #juliaroberts 

Master Lu Jun Hong

Referring to this news link https://bitterwinter.org/ccp-cracks-down-on-guan-yin-citta/

My thoughts on this are that people have the right to join any deviationist cult. At least that's the personal freedom that I subscribe to as far as believing in any religious or spiritual matters. That's according to individuals. No government should be cracking them and preventing on these believers. If the government wants to crackdown, then investigate directly on the head of the group and their principal leaders. Check their organisation headquarters. But not to disturb the followers, unless they are doing physical harm to others. While I do not believe in interference of the government on the personal believes of sentient beings, that does not mean I believe in the perpetuating of cults or deviationist groups. Not at all. There are two different issues and we must be able to distinguish our personal right to believe in something and whether that "believe" is right or not. 

Moreover, according to this article, it was listed as a heterodox teachings because of two reasons. One, it was not legally registered in China. Two, it is out of the control of the Chinese Communist Party. Based on these two reasons alone, I am afraid it does not warrant being regarded as "heterodox". You must have solid facts based on the founder's /group's teachings that totally deviate from the original teachings. And not just deviate, it must result in harmful practices to the followers themselves or to others. However, I also recognise it is difficult to really define what is "harmful".

Master Lu Jun Hong (based in Australia but was born in China) was reported to pass away suddenly last Wednesday (Nov. 10, 2021). He was born in 1959, so he was 62 years old. He mainly teaches what he calls the "Guan Yin Citta" method. He has a considerable size of followers in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia and elsewhere. Whenever he came to Malaysia or Singapore,  the arena will also be very crowded. People with all sorts of problems and issues flock to see him. Out of curiosity, I had been to one of these events in the past. Even though I was not a member, I managed to get myself into the main arena (I suppose it was due to the crowd was too huge, hence a few might slip in) but at a higher lever. So I can only watch from a distance. 

In economics, we know about supply and demand. Similarly, when there is demand for such services, there is such teachers like Master Lu to fulfil the demand. All those local mediums and "sinsehs" are in fact fulfilling such demands. 

Of course, some of the things he talked about, did not make sense to me, or that I thought he was just imagining things. But nevertheless, I see that most people do believe him and in most cases (but not all), some of his prescriptions do work. If none of his prescriptions work, do you think he would have that many millions of followers worldwide? Surely, a lot of them works. You can see from publicly available videos of him doing his public "consultations" that he looked like he was possessed by some spirit or something... not very different from those local people who supposedly are "Arhat CheGong", "Kuan Yin" and others who supposedly heal people through human mediums. Was he possessed? I don't know for sure. Regardless, I see him as the lesser heterodox leader than some other groups such as Happy Science and the other Master Lu. Falun Gong is also another group that has members in this part of the region that is said to be only doing physical exercise activities. But I am not sure whether the members are unaware or a certain smaller group within the larger group is doing it, or what, ...but people have noted there were some small group that distributes pamphlets that are seemingly anti-CCP. I suppose many people may not be aware of this. On the other hand, I am not aware of Master Lu Jun Hong's group doing these things. 

I cannot blame so many millions of Budhists believing in him. I personally know someone who does. This "someone" do go to one major Buddhist temple in Penang. But when asked, why she does not refer her "problems" to the temple Abbot. She answered negatively. She does not believe the Abbot would be able to help at all. What would this Abbot do to help? Perhaps do more chanting of certain mantras? Perhaps recite more "Namo Amitabha Buddha"? Do more repentance? Basically there is a perception that Buddhist Sangha is not able to help sentient beings in need. I find this feedback very disturbing because I do support the Buddhist Sangha and I think the Sangha has done many things to help sentient beings. But I suppose, we cannot just brush aside this "feedback". It merits our deeper consideration and self-reflection on how the entire Buddhist Community can do MORE to help one another, particularly in social engagement with the public. That is, doing more in the personal life of Buddhists who need help. As we know, ever since the Covid-19 pandemic started, there are millions of people affected in terms of being out of jobs, bankruptcies, and not to forget, the suicide rate has sky rocketed. 

I end this post with that thought for you to ponder. "What can I do to help another human in need"? However, I noted that many Buddhist temples are still close and are not letting in Buddhists into their temples to do prayers or to consult the Monks/Nuns. I know the temples are being cautious about the spread of the coronavirus to the Sangha community. But then, I feel that there must be balance between this and opening up to allow a controlled number of followers into their temples to do their worships (and of course, following all the required covid-related SOPs). To close the temple gates indefinitely is incorrect Buddhist attitude! I am sorry I have to say this.  

So, for me, the real dharma to learn from Master Lu Jun Hong is that even lay Buddhists can do a lot to help people. If you do not believe in his ways, or if you think his ways are wrong, then find your own way to help others. In the future, just as in the past, there will always be people like him who will be able to attract millions of followers. Then people will say these are cults. We have to use our wisdom to judge ourselves. But try to help more people. That is what I think we can learn from him.   

If you like this post, try read another https://buddha-and-me.blogspot.com/2012/09/helping-sentient-beings-through-rites.html

#lujunhong #guanyincitta #cults

note: I do hope that there is nothing in this post that directly or indirectly encouraging people to believe in him. That was not the intention. 

Truth of Buddhadharma: Story of Master Juxing

The goal of Enlightenment is real. The Pure Land of the Buddhas is real. The Buddhadharma is real. From the time of Sakyamuni Buddha until now there are countless people who have achieved various levels of attainments or Enlightenment. Be it Sotapanna, Sakadagami, Anagamin, Arahant, or achieving Amitabha's Pure Land, there are stories of these people. Of course, a lot of these cases, they did not proclaim themselves as having attained such and such. Of course, not. But there are circumstantial evidence that point to them having achieved those levels. And in this blog, I am going to relate to you one true story of such a person who lived in the early 20th century. 

His name was Ah Bian. Born in Yunnan province, he was a disciple of the great Ch'an Master Hsu Yun. He was not so educated... a bit of a foolish person you might say. He came from a poor family. One day he went to Elder Master Hsu Yun's monastery to seek work saying that he needed money to feed his wife and family members. And so he was admitted into the monastery to work. He worked very hard and he did many things. He did not complain and kept mostly quiet. As he was slightly deaf, he did not bother with others' conversations. Very soon his family members come to the monastery too and asked to stay there. Out of compassion, Elder Master Hsu Yun allowed them to stay in a hut behind the monastery. After some years, Ah Bian pleaded with the Master to be accepted as a monk. Yes, he wanted to leave the home life. He told the Master that he may be dumb and could not read the scriptures but he will do whatever the Master asked him to. 

Then Elder Master Hsu Yun shave Ah Bian's head. Ah Bian is then known as Venerable Juxing. Elder Master Hsu Yun just asked Ven. Juxing to recite Amitabha Buddha's Name every time and everywhere. That is all he needed to practice. So, Master Juxing did exactly that. After sometime, Elder Master Hsu Yun asked him to venture out to see the world. He did just that, but came back to the monastery a few years thereafter. The Elder Master noted the progress his disciple had made through the years. Then the Master Juxing came to know of this pagoda project that the Elder Master had planned to build. Master Juxing asked Elder Master Hsu Yun for permission to be the pagoda's guardian. The latter knew what he meant. After the pagoda was completed, one night the local folks was awakened by a great blinding light that shot up from inside the pagoda. Everyone thought that there was a fire inside it. But there was no fire. Instead they found Master Juxing inside sitting in meditation posture. Completely still.  

Very soon many people gathered there, including many journalists and reporters from the local press. The Elder Master Hsu Yun instructed the people not to touch his body because if they do, it will just collapse into a pile of ashes. He explained that Master Juxing had just "burned" his body through the Samadhi of Fire and had achieved rebirth in Amitabha Pure Land. After a while, the Elder Master verbally said that it was time for Master Juxing to "stop his show" and he was sending him off. He struck the bell 3 times and immediately the body went up in ashes and disappeared. Everyone who was there witnessed this spectacular event and was in awe. They all went back with so much faith in the Pure Land method, but more generally, the faith in the Buddhadharma grew by leaps and bounds. This true story not just demonstrated the truth of the Pure Land of Amitabha. But more importantly, it tells us that the Buddhist Path is a true path. If you really put your heart and mind into your practice, you can achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. In fact, you can purify your delusions and attain the various levels of Enlightenment, just as the Buddha and his disciples did a long time ago. So many people have walked the path and accomplished the same. If they can do it, so can we! Have faith! Namo Amitabha Buddha!

      

Please click and watch this video here. Share this blog with your friends. If you like this, you might want to read this other post here. https://buddha-and-me.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-would-like-to-share-with-you-poem-i.html

#masterjuxing #pureland #masterhsuyun #amitabhabuddha