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Contents
32. THE BEGINNING OF
BUDDHISM (II)
32.1 Another Great Bodhimanda - Jetavanna
Grove
The Bamboo Grove in Rajagaha, the capital
of Magadha and the Jetavanna Grove in
Savatthi, the capital of Kosala were the
two important Bodhimandala, where Shakyamuni Buddha spoke of many sutras. Both places were large and located at
the two new cultural centres along the Ganges in India. Thereafter,
Shakyamuni preached actively around 600 km between the two Bodhimandalas.
During his 45 years of preaching, except the 4-month raining season in each
year, Shakyamuni used to travel from cities to cities, countries to countries
to disseminate the Buddhist Dharma with his
disciples.
32.2 Peaceful and harmonized development of
Buddhism
For 45 years the Buddha moved from place to place in north-eastern part of
India. As the Order expanded and the preaching continued, none was refused.
However, it was recorded in history that the Buddha were calumniated by other
religious groups twice. Both of them accused the Buddha of having sexual
misconduct. The fraud was easily seen through by the Buddha, causing
insignificant adverse effect in the development of Buddhism. On the contrary,
the threat came from the internal split of the Sangha Order, started by one of Buddha's
disciples, Devadatta.
32.3 The Split of Sangha Order
As the Buddhist teaching stressed on democracy and freedom, it can be easily
manipulated and misinterpreted by others to create crisis and confusion. The
rapid growth of the Buddhist order was another reason to give rise to the
split of the Sangha Order.
Devadatta, the cousin of the Buddha, became disciple of Shakyamuni when
Shakyamuni once returned to his mother country. However, for years, Devadatta
was not well-respected and unable to one of Sangha leaders or chief disciples.
He then persuaded a number of Bhikhus to
leave. The Buddha sent Moggallana and Sariputta to preach to them, and they
returned to the Order. Later Devadatta repented and was received into the
Order again.
32.4 Woman admitted to the Order
Although the Buddha said that women would understand his highest teaching, he
did not want to create an Order of Bhiksuni, because he knew it would materially
shorten the "dwelling" life of the Buddhist religion. But later on, he agreed
to admit the women to the Order. After King
Suddodana (Shakyamuni's father) died, Mahapajapati (Shakyamuni's step mother) cut
off her hair, and came to see Shakyamuni Buddha in the yellow robes of the
Order. Again, the Buddha refused. Through the insistence of Ananda, Mahaprajapati eventually gained
admission and became the first Bhiksuni in the Order. As the Buddha said, the
Order of Bhiksuni had not continued in the same way as the Sangha, thus it was
established under more strict rules.
The Buddha recovered from his illness. However he told Ananda that within
three months he would pass away.
Thereafter, the Buddha went to Pava Village in Mallas and stayed at the Mango
Grove of Cunda, who prepared a special meal for the Buddha.
It is sometimes said that the Buddha died because of the indigestion of
eating, Sukara-maddava (literally means pig's flesh). Having eaten the meal,
the Buddha urged Ananda to go to Sala Grove in a village called Kusinara. The Buddha lay down peacefully on
his right side with two legs one on the top of the other. The Buddha
comforted Ananda and said, Nothing in the world is permanent. Work out
your own salvation with diligence.
During the last moments of the Buddha's life, Subhadra, a Brahman of age 120, came and
requested the Buddha to break up his doubt. He was the last disciple to be
converted by the Buddha. That evening, the Buddha entered Nirvana.
The Buddha passed away at the age of eighty. There was to be no more birth or
death for him. The physical body of Shakyamuni Buddha was cremated with all
the pomp and ceremony due to royalty. His relics were divided, it was said,
into ten parts, and given to the places where the Buddha had lived and died.
Stupas were erected over them for people to
respect and worship.
Relics lead to pilgrimages in which people follow the footsteps of Shakyamuni
Buddha to liberate from sufferings and attain eternal happiness.
32.1 Another great Bodhimandala - Jetavanna
Grove
32.2 Peaceful and harmonized development of
Buddhism
32.3 The split of Sangha Order by Devadatta
32.4 Woman admitted to the Order
32.5 The death of Shakyamuni
32.6 The Cremation & Relics
When the Buddha returned to Rajagaha, a
wealthy merchant of Savatthi called Anathapindika came to see him. Being
converted, he bought the land from Prince Jeta with as much gold as would
cover the ground and built houses for the Buddha and his order. The place was
well-known to be Jetavanna Grove.
In our history nearly all the founders of most religions had been inevitably
suppressed by others especially the ruling power. Buddhism is perhaps the
only exception. Shakyamuni Buddha never came across the suppression in his
life. It was because the Indian people loved peace and the Buddha's teaching
was no extremes - the Middle Way. Apart
from the debate in doctrines, Buddhism had no bloody struggles and violent
disputes with other religions. Shakyamuni never looked down upon other
religions. He asked his disciples who used to be the worshippers of other
religions, to respect their original religions too. It has always been the
traditional spirit in Buddhism.
With the support of Ajatasattu, the son of King Bimblisara, Devadatta managed to cause
a split in the Sangha, and requested the Buddha to transfer the power to him.
The Buddha told him that the disciples followed his teaching, not followed his
own person. Having failed to acquire the power, Devadatta plotted to kill the
Buddha. He failed again.
In the last retreat, the Buddha was ill. Ananda was alarmed and expressed his
hope that the Buddha would not die until he had established the system of the
Order. However, the Buddha reiterated that one should take refuge to oneself,
not to any external one, and take refuge to the Dharma too.
