55 (Day) Notes | Dhajagga Sutta (SN 11.3) | Sutta Study @ Buddhist Maha Vihara, Brickfields | Bhante Dr. G. Chandima

 

1. Why is the Buddha called "arahaṃ"?

- breaker of the spokes of the wheel of samsara (ārakattā arahaṃ)
- destroyer of the akusala enemies, wielding the weapon of wisdom (paññāsatthena arīnaṃ hatattāpi arahaṃ)
- the one most worthy of the requisites (paccayādīnaṃ arahattāpi arahaṃ)
- the Buddha never engages in any akusala, even in secret (pāpakaraṇe rahābhāvatopi arahaṃ)

2. Why is the Buddha called "sammāsambuddho"?

Sammā sāmañca sabbadhammānaṃ buddhattā (The Buddha acquired all the essential Dhamma expertise through five key avenues.)

(i) The Buddha fully knew all that needed to be known.(abhiññeyye dhamme abhiññeyyato buddho)
(ii) The Buddha completely realized everything that was meant to be fully understood. (pariññeyye dhamme pariññeyyato)
(iii) The Buddha entirely relinquished all that needed to be given up.(pahātabbe dhamme pahātabbato)
(iv) The Buddha fully realized all that is meant to be realized. (sacchikātabbe dhamme sacchikātabbato)
(v) The Buddha completely developed all that needed to be developed. (bhāvetabbe dhamme bhāvetabbato)

2. Why is the Buddha called "vijjācaraṇasampanno"?

Vijjā is the word for great knowledge, and carana is the word for great practices that guide a bodhisattva to the Buddhahood.

1. Knowledge of past existences (pubbenivāsa-ñāṇa): By this knowledge, the Buddha can see the past existences of Himself and other beings.
2. Knowledge of the deva eye (dibbacakkhu-ñāṇa): By this knowledge, the Buddha can see things at far away places, things concealed, and things too subtle for the ordinary human eyes to see.
3. Knowledge of the extinction of fermentations (āsavakkhaya-ñāṇa): This is arahatta-phala-ñāṇa which extinguishes all four fermentations
4. Insight Knowledge (vipassanā-ñāṇa): Understanding the impermanence, woefulness and unsubstantiality of all conditioned mental and physical phenomena.
5. Psychic power of the mind (manomayiddhi-ñāṇa): Power to assume various forms through mastery of mind accomplished by jhāna practice.
6. Multifarious kinds of psychic power (iddhividha-ñāṇa): Power to conjure up great numbers of various forms, human or otherwise.
7. Knowledge of the Deva Ear (dibbasota-ñāṇa): Power to hear sounds from far away places, sounds muffled up and sounds too subtle to hear by the ordinary human ear.
8. Knowledge of reading the mind of others (cetopariya-ñāṇa): The Buddha can know the mind of others in sixteen different ways.

15 Virtuous Conduct /Practices (carana)

1. Morality of restraint(sīla saṇvara): Observance of bhikkhu precepts of restraint, Pātimokkha Saṇvara Sīla.
2. Restraint of the faculties (indriyesugutta dvāratā): Keeping watch over the doors of eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind with constant mindfulness so as not to allow any demeritoriousness to enter. 
3. Knowing the proper extent regarding food (bojane matanutā): Knowing the proper extent in receiving alms-food and in enjoying it. In receiving alms-food, the Buddha considers the degree of devotion of the donor. If the devotion is strong but the gift is small, the Buddha does not scorn the gift for its smallness but accepts it. On the hand, if the gift is big but the donor’s devotion is weak, the Buddha accepts only a small amount of the gift, considering the weak devotion of the donor. If the gift is big and the donor’s devotion is strong, the Buddha accepts just an appropriate amount to satisfy His need. This is called knowing the proper extent regarding acceptance of alms-food. In enjoying the food thus collected, the Buddha never eats to the full but stops four or five morsels short of filling His stomach. More important, He never takes food without cultivating the bhikkhu's contemplation while eating.
4. Wakefulness (jāgariyā nuyoga): Wakefulness does not mean not just remaining without sleep. The Buddha spends the whole day; during the first watch of the night and the last watch of the night in meditation, while walking or sitting, thus keeping away the hindrances. This purposeful waking is called wakefulness. 
5. Confidence in the Triple Gem, saddhā.
6. Mindfulness, sati.
7. Sense of shame to do akusala, hirī
8. Sense of fear to do akusala, ottapa.
9. Wide learning (of the doctrine), bāhusacca.
10. Diligence, viriya.
11. Knowledge, paññā.
12. First Jhāna
13. Second Jhāna
14. Third Jhāna
15. Fourth Jhāna

4. Well-gone(Sugato)

(i) The Buddha's journey to enlightenment is the purest (sobhanagamanattā)

(ii) The Buddha achieved the most sublime state of mind. (sundaraṃ ṭhānaṃ gatattā)

(iii) The Buddha's walk is a manifestation of the most exquisite grace and beauty.(sammā gatattā)

(iv) The Buddha's words are the epitome of purity. (sammā ca gadattā)

sugato.