Buddha Chronicle 12: Sujāta Buddhavaṃsa

After Buddha Sumedha had attained Parinibbāna, the life span of human beings gradually decreased from ninety thousand years to ten and then it again increased to asaṅkhyeyyas. When the life span reached ninety thousand years on its next decrease, Bodhisatta Sujātā was reborn in Tusitā on complete fulfilment of the Perfections which was a common practice of Bodhisattas. Having agreed to the entreaties of devas and Brahmās to becoming a Buddha, he descended to the human world to be conceived in the womb of Queen Pabhavati of King Uggaha, in the city of Sumangala. Ten months thereafter the Bodhisatta was born.

On his naming day, wise men who were to give him a name, named him Sujātā, on account of the fact that, at the time of his birth, all the people in Jambudīpa experienced both physical and mental happiness.

Royal Household Life

When he came of age, he lived in three palaces, namely, Siri, Upasiri and Nanda, and entertained and served by Princess Sirinanda and her twenty-three thousand maids of honour for nine thousand years.

Renunciation

When the Bodhisatta had seen the four omens and when Princess Sirinanda had given birth to a son, named Upasena, he went forth in renunciation riding the state steed, named Hamsavāha and became a recluse. A crore of men were inspired and became recluses themselves.

Attainment of Buddhahood

Bodhisatta Sujātā practised dukkaracariyā with that crore of recluses for nine months. On the full-moon day of Vesākha, the day of His Enlightenment, he ate the milk-rice offered by the daughter of the wealthy man Sirinandāna of the city of Sirinandāna and spent the daytime in the local sāla grove. In the evening, he proceeded alone to the Mahābodhi tree. On the way, he accepted eight handfuls of grass offered by Sunanda the heretic. As soon as he spread the grass at the foot of the Bodhi tree, Mahāveḷu, there appeared the Aparājita Pallanka, which measured thirty-three cubits, on which, he sat cross-legged and mustered his energy of four levels and dispelled Māra and his army and attained Omniscience, Perfectly Self- Enlightened Buddhahood and state of the Chief of the three worlds.

Three Occasions of The Buddha’s Teaching (Dhammābhisamaya)

Having attained Buddhahood and stayed in the neighbourhood of the Mahābodhi tree for forty-nine days, the Buddha accepted a Brahmā’s request for His Teaching and He contemplated as to whom He should teach first. He saw His younger half-brother, Prince Sudassana, and His purohita's son, Sudeva the youth, who were endowed with the merits of their past deeds, which would lead to the Path, Fruition and Nibbāna. Resolving to teach them first, by His psychic power, He immediately appeared in Sumangala Park, near Sumangala City and then He sent the gardener for Prince Sudassana and Sudeva the youth. To the audience of devas and humans headed by both, the Buddha taught the Dhammacakka-pavattana Sutta, which was also taught by previous Buddhas. At that time, eighty crores of devas and humans attained the Path and Fruition.

(This was the first Dhammābhisamaya.)

At another time, Buddha Sujātā defeated the heretics by displaying the Twin Miracle of water and fire, near the sāla tree close to the gate of Sudassana Royal Park. And while observing vassa sitting on the emerald stone slab, which was placed at the foot of Pāricchattaka tree in Sakka’s abode of Tāvatiṃsa, the Buddha taught the Abhidhamma. On that occasion of the Abhidhamma teaching, three million seven hundred thousand devas and Brahmās attained the Path and Fruition.

(This was the second Dhammābhisamaya.)

Still at another time, Buddha Sujātā paid a visit to His father in the city of Sumañgala 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 Dhammābhisamaya.)

Three Occasions of The Disciple’s Meeting (Sannipāta)

There were three meetings of Buddha Sujātā’s disciples; the first was at Sudhamma, near Sudhammavatī 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 Ovāda Pāṭimokkha amidst them.

(This was the first sannipāta.)

At another time, when Buddha Sujātā descended from Tāvatiṃsa, a meeting of five million monks took place.

(This was the second sannipāta.)

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 ehi-bhikkhus and recited the Ovāda Pāṭimokkha at their meeting of four features.

(This was the third sannipāta.)

Future Buddha Gotama, as Universal Monarch, received Prophecy from Buddha Sujātā.

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 Jambudīpa 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 Sujātā 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 Sujātā 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 Brahmā Vihāra Bhāvanā, meditation leading to rebirth in the Brahmā 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 Brahmās.

Particulars of Buddha Sujātā

Buddha Sujātā’s birthplace was Sumangala City. His father was King Uggata and His mother was Queen Pabhāvati.

He reigned for nine thousand years. His three palaces were Siri, Upasiri and Nanda.

His Chief Consort was Sirinandā who had twenty-three thousand maids of honour. His son was Prince Upasena.

He renounced the world riding a horse, after seeing the four omens. He practised dukkaracariyā for nine months.

His two male Chief Disciples were Sudassana Thera and Sudeva Thera. His attendant was Nārada Thera.

His two female Chief Disciples were Nāga Therī and Nāgasamāla Therī. His Bodhi tree was Mahāveḷu (a great bamboo plant).

(The bamboo plant had a massive trunk, its leaves were so luxuriant that there was no space to let the sunlight go through. It was pleasant to look at, straight and big and thus attractive. It grew from one stem and from that one stem came out branches, which were very beautiful like the feathers of a peacock’s tail being well tied together. The bamboo plant had absolutely no thorns. Its branches spread out in the four directions and were not so sparse, thus providing a delightful, cool and dense shade.)

His noble male lay-attendants were the wealthy men, Sudatta and Citta. His noble female lay attendants were Subhaddā Upāsikā and Paduma Upāsikā.

Buddha Sujātā’s height was fifty cubits. He was endowed with all the good physical qualities.

Buddha Sujātā’s physical rays (resembling those of past incomparable Buddhas) emanated from various parts of His body towards all directions as much as He desired. They could not be likened to any thing as they were beyond all comparisons.

The life span, during the time of Buddha Sujātā, was ninety thousand years, and living for four-fifths of this life span, He saved beings, such as devas, humans and Brahmās, from the currents of saṃsāra and placed them on the shores of Nibbāna. Just as the rising waves look wonderful in the ocean, like the stars and planets twinkling and shining look marvellous in the sky, even so Buddha Sujātā’s Dispensation shone forth with arahats.

Saṃvega

Buddha Sujātā, who was to be likened to past peerless Buddhas, and His attributes, which were equal to those of peerless Buddha, had all vanished. Unsubstantial and futile indeed are all conditioned things!

Cetiya

In this way, Buddha Sujātā, Conqueror of the five Māras, attained Parinibbāna in Sīlarama Park. In that very park (as has been said before) the cetiya dedicated to Him was three gāvutas high.

Here ends Sujātā Buddhavaṃsa