..续本文上一页red his two initial teachers (see 5) above), however, both of them had already passed away. Next he recalled the five ascetics who had attended upon him during his asceticism. These he sought out in the Deer Park at Sarnath near present day Varanasi. To them he gave his first teaching, with immediate results.
16. "Then the venerable Aññata Kondañña, having seen, reached, known, and penetrated into Dhamma, having crossed over doubt, without uncertainty, having attained perfect confidence in the Master”s Teaching without depending upon another, said to the Exalted One: `May I, sir, receive the going forth in the Exalted One”s presence. May I receive the acceptance.”
`Come, bhikkhu”, the Exalted One said, `well-taught is Dhamma. Live the religious life for the complete ending of suffering.”"
Vin.I,12
Annata Kondanna, being the first to understand this new teaching, immediately requested to become a committed disciple of the Buddha. He thus became the first bhikkhu to enter the Buddhist Sangha. He was soon followed by the other four ascetics as they also penetrated to the true meaning of the Buddha´s message.
17. "Wander about, bhikkhus, for the benefit and happiness of the manyfolk, out of compassion for the world, for the welfare, benefit and well-being of human and celestial beings. Let not two of you go by one path. Teach the Dhamma which is beautiful in the beginning, beautiful in the middle and beautiful in the end. Explain the religious life, in spirit and in letter, completely fulfilled and pure." Vin.I,21
As the Buddha travelled and taught an increasing number of people realised the truth of his teaching and became fully awakened. When the number reached 60 the Buddha exhorted them to wander further afield in order to share the teaching with other suffering beings. For the next 45 years the Buddha himself wandered about northern India tirelessly teaching innumerable people, from highly-educated brahmins to simple farmers, from members of others sects to the rulers of neighbouring territories.
18. “Ananda, I am now decrepit, old, aged, one who has traversed the span of life, reached the term of eighty. Just as an old cart is made to go on with the help of supports, so too the Tathagatha´s body is made to go on with the help of supports. It is only when the Tathagatha withdraws attention from all signs, and with the cessation of certain feelings, he enters the signless concentration that his body is at ease.
Therefore, Ananda, you should make your self your lamp [16] , your self and no other your refuge. You should make the Dhamma your lamp, the Dhamma and no other your lamp. And how does a bhikkhu do that
Here a bhikkhu abides contemplating the four foundations of mindfulness. “ D.II,100
Finally, after living some 80 years, the Buddha´s body reached it limits. Only through the powers of his meditation could he maintain some degree of physical comfort.
His emphasis upon taking one´s self as lamp and refuge reinforces the contemplative nature of his teaching – only within oneself can the source of suffering be discovered and together with the Dhamma, the Buddha´s specific path of spiritual practice, suffering can be resolved.
19. “Then the Exalted One said to the monks: `Thus, monks, I declare to you – it is the nature of all conditioned things to decay; strive on with vigilance.´
These were the Tathagata´s last words.” D.II,156
Part Two: The Dhamma
The Right Attitude
1. "Now I say this, Nigrodha: Whatever discerning persons come to me who are honest, open and straightforward -- I will instruct them, I will teach them Dhamma. If they practice in accordance with what is taught, in this very life, within seven years, they will enter on and abide i…
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