Supplement (a): Brief Statement of Future Buddha Gotama’s Live

As has been narrated, future Buddha Gotama received the prophecy from the twenty-four Buddhas, from Dīpaṅkarā to Kassapa. His lives, in which the prophecy was declared, may be classified as follows.

Five Lives as Hermit

(a) After receiving the first definite prophecy as Sumedha the Hermit from Buddha Dīpaṅkarā, he heard the same prophecy
(b) as Jatila the hermit, from Buddha Nārada,
(c) as Susima the hermit, from Buddha Atthadassī,
(d) as Maṅgala the hermit, from Buddha Siddhattha, and
(e) as Sujātā the hermit, from Buddha Tissa.

Thus he received the prophecy as a hermit five times.

Nine Lives as Monk

The event also occurred when he was born:

(a) as Universal Monarch Vijitāvī and became a monk in Buddha Kondañña’s presence,
(b) as Brahmin Suruci and became a monk in Buddha Maṅgala’s presence,
(c) as Brahmin Uttara and became a monk in Buddha Sumedha’s presence,
(d) as Universal Monarch and became a monk in Buddha Sujātā’s presence,
(e) as King Vijitāvī and became a monk in Buddha Phussa’s presence,
(f) as King Sudassana and became a monk in Buddha Vessabhū’s presence,
(g) as King Khema and became a monk in Buddha Kakusandha’s presence,
(h) as King Pabbata and became a monk in Buddha Konāgamana’’s presence, and
(i) as Jotipāla the brahmin youth and became a monk in Buddha Kassapa’s presence.

Thus he received the prophecy as a monk nine times.

Five Lives as Layman

He also received the prophecy:

(a) as a lay man, Brahmin Atideva, from Buddha Revata,
(b) as a lay man, Brahmin Ajita, from Buddha Sobhita,
(c)as a lay man, the wealthy Jatila, from Buddha Padumuttara,
(d) as a lay man, Kassapa the brahmin youth, from Buddha Piyadassī and
(e) as a lay man, King Arindama, from Buddha Sikhī.

Thus he received the prophecy as a lay man five times.

Two Lives as Nāga

He also received the prophecy:

(a) as Atula Nāga King, from Buddha Sumanā, and
(b) as another Nāga King, also named Atula, from Buddha Vipassī .

hus he received prophecy twice as a Nāga.

Three Different Lives

(a) In one life as a Sakka, King of Devas, he received the prophecy from Buddha Dhammadassī,
(b) in another life as a warrior King of ogres, he received from Buddha Anomadassī, and
(c) still in another life as a lion king, from Buddha Paduma.

Thus he received the prophecy in three different lives.

Rare Chance of Encountering A Buddha Dispensation

In this way, throughout the duration of four asaṅkhyeyya and a hundred thousand aeons in which our future Buddha Gotama was fulfiling the Perfections. It was only in the twenty-four existences from Buddha Dīpaṅkarā’s Dispensation to Buddha Kassapa’s that he encountered a Buddha’s Dispensation. Bearing this in mind, we should profoundly realize the rarity of such an encounter and should strive to make the most of the opportunity we are blessed with.