Part 14: Abhinandana’s samavasaraṇa

Then the sixty-four Indras came and made fittingly for the Lord a lofty samavasaraṇa in a place measuring a yojana. Then setting his feet on golden lotuses which were moved by the gods, the Master entered the samavasaraṇa by the east door. The Lord Jina made the pradakṣiṇā to the caitya-tree in it, which rose two gavyūtas and twenty bows. Saying “Homage to the congregation,” the Supreme Lord adorned the lion-throne in the middle of a dais, facing the east. Then the fourfold congregation, gods, asuras, and humans entered by the proper doors and sat down in their proper places.^[1]

After bowing to the Blessed One, Śakra, his hands folded in submission, his body horripilated, recited a hymn of praise to the Master.

Stuti:

“Any defect of the mind is removed by its very looseness by you who have restrained completely evil conduct of mind, speech, and body. Victory over the senses was achieved by you with the correct understanding, ‘The sense-organs are not restrained, and they are not unrestrained.’ The eight divisions of yoga^[2] are certainly only a detailed development. How can it be otherwise? Even from childhood it (yoga) has been part of your nature. For a long time you have been indifferent to sense-objects and friends also. In your unseen concentration also there is inherent nature. O Master, this is unusual. Just as others are not delighted at an enemy doing good, so you are not delighted at one doing evil. Oh! everything is unusual. Even evil-doers are benefited; even followers are disregarded. Who can question this different conduct of yours? Just as your mind has been devoted to the highest concentration, so it has not considered, ‘I am happy or not; I am unhappy or not.’ The meditator, meditation, and thing to be meditated on—the triad has united in one soul. How could this greatness of concentration on your part be believed by others?”