Buddha Chronicle 18: Phussa Buddhavaṃsa

After Buddha Tissa’s Parinibbānain that manda-kappa of two Buddhas, the human life span decreased from a hundred thousand years to ten years and then increased to asaṅkhyeyyas. When it reached ninety thousand years on its next decline, Bodhisatta Phussa, on completion of his Perfections, was reborn in Tusitā which was a common practice of Bodhisattas. Having accepted the request made by devas and Brahmās to becoming a Buddha, he descended to the human world to be conceived in the womb of Queen Sirīmā, consort of King Jayasena, in the city of Kāsika. When ten months had elapsed, the Bodhisatta was born in Sirīmā Park.

Royal Household Life

When Prince Tissa came of age, he lived in three palaces, Garulapekkha, Haṃsa and Suvaṇṇabhāra. Being entertained and served by thirty thousand female attendants headed by Princess Kisā Gotamī, he thus enjoyed a divine-like royal household life for nine thousand years.

Renunciation

When the Bodhisatta, Prince Phussa, had seen the four omens while thus enjoying life and when Princess Kisā Gotamī had given birth to a son, named Anupama, he renounced the world, riding an elephant. Ten million men joined him and also became recluses by themselves.

Attainment of Buddhahood

With these ten million recluses, the Bodhisatta Phussa practised dukkaracariyā for six months. Thereafter, leaving his followers, he cultivated the practice of living a solitary life for seven days. On the full-moon day of Vesākha, the day of his Enlightenment, he partook the milk-rice offered by Sirivaddha, daughter of a certain wealthy man of a certain town, and spent the daytime in the local simsapa grove. In the evening, he went alone to the Amanda Mahābodhi tree. On the way, he accepted eight handfuls of grass offered by an ascetic, Sirivaddha by name. As soon as he spread the grass at the foot of the Mahābodhi tree, there appeared the Aparājita Pallanka, measuring thirty eight cubits. Sitting crosslegged on the pallanka, he attained Buddhahood in the same manner as previous Buddhas.

Three Occasions of The Buddha’s Teaching (Dhammābhisamaya)

After His attainment of Buddhahood, Buddha Phussa stayed in the neighbourhood of the Mahābodhi tree for forty-nine days. Having agreed to the request made by a Brahmā for His Teaching, He contemplated as to whom He should teach first and He saw the one crore of monks, who were His companions in renunciation and who were endowed with past meritorious deeds which could lead to the Path and Fruition. By His psychic power, He immediately appeared at Deer Park, called Isipatana, near the city of Sankassa. In the midst of these recluses, the Buddha taught the sermon of Dhammacakka to all the listeners, as had been done by former Buddhas. Then a hundred thousand crores of devas and humans attained the Path and Fruition.

(This was the first Dhammābhisamaya.)

At another time, King Sirivaddha of Bārāṇasī, 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 Dhammābhisamaya.)

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 Dhammābhisamaya.)

Three Occasions of The Disciples’ Meeting (Sannipāta)

There were three meetings of Buddha Phussa’s disciples. The first took place at Kaṇṇakujja. 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 almsgiving 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 Ovāda Pāṭimokkha.

(That was the first sannipāta.)

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 ehi-bhikkhus and attained arahantship. At the meeting of these five million arahats, Buddha Phussa recited the Ovāda Pāṭimokkha.

(This was the second sannipāta.)

Still at another time, when devas and humans discussed what constituted auspiciousness (maṅgala) 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 Maṅgala Sutta. After listening to this discourse, four million people became bhikkhus and attained arahantship. In the midst of these arahats, the Buddha recited the Ovāda Pāṭimokkha.

(This was the third sannipāta.)

Future Buddha Gotama, as King Vijitāvī, received Prophecy from Buddha Phussa

Meanwhile our Bodhisatta was King Vijitāvī, 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 Piṭakas. Being well-versed in Piṭakas, 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 Vijitāvī: “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 Vijitāvi, 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 (brahmavihāra) without negligence, attained not only the Eight Attainments but also the apex of the Five Higher Knowledges. He was reborn in the Brahmā-world.

Particulars of Buddha Phussa

Buddha Phussa’s birthplace was Kāsika City. His father was King Jayasena and His mother was Queen Sirīmā.

He reigned for nine thousand years. His three palaces were Garulapakkha, Haṃsa and Suvannabhāra.

His Chief Consort was Kisā Gotamī who had thirty thousand maids of honour. His son was Prince Anupama.

The vehicle He used in His renunciation, after seeing the four omens, was an elephant. He practised dukkaracariyā for six months.

His two male Chief Disciples were Surakkhita Thera and Dhammasena Thera. His attendant was Sabhiya Thera.

His two female Chief Disciples were Cāda Therī and Upacālā Therī. His Bodhi tree was an Amanda.

His noble male lay supporters were the wealthy men Dhananjaya and Visākha. His noble female supporters were Paduma Upāsikā and Naga Upāsikā.

Buddha Phussa was fifty eight cubits tall. He shone forth like the sun and was endowed with pleasing qualities of the moon.

The life span in the aeon in which He appeared was ninety thousand years. He lived for four-fifths of the life span. He rescued beings, such as devas, humans and Brahmās, from saṃsāric waters and placed them on Nibbānic shores.

Saṃvega

Endowed with unparalleled retinue and fame, Buddha Phussa, together with His arahatdisciples, attained Parinibbāna and came to the end of their final existence.

Cetīya

In this way, Buddha Phussa, Conqueror of the five Maras, attained Parinibbāna in a park, named Sena, near the city of Kusinārā. In accordance with His resolve, His relics dispersed all over Jambudīpa and were honoured by devas, humans and Brahmās.

Here ends Phussa Buddhavaṃsa.