Ten Bodhisattas

Last updated

Ten Bodhisattas refer to ten future Buddhas during their lives as bodhisattvas. They have also been referred to as successors of Gautama Buddha.

Contents

In Dasabodhisattuppattikathā

Dasabodhisattuppattikathā ("Ten Bodhisattva Birth Stories" or "Lives of the Ten Bodhisattvas") is a Pali Buddhist text that deals with ten future Buddhas during their lives as bodhisattvas. It is a "strange small work of late Pali literature" and "the only example of a book devoted entirely to extolling the Bodhisattas who will be Buddhas in future ages." [1]

There are several recensions to the text, all of which were consulted in the publishing of Saddhātissa's book. Despite frequent differences in vocabulary, they agree in the arrangement and content of the stories. Each story is about a virtuous person near the end of his or her cycle of rebirths. Each character has lived a meritorious life and dies through some self-inflicted act, often gruesome, which serves as an offering to the universal Buddha. Each will be reborn one final time and attain full Buddhahood.

In Sotattakī

In the Sotattakī Scripture, one of the exclusive texts to the Pali Canon, Ānanda asked Gautama Buddha about the people who were practising to achieve the Buddhahood. Gautama Buddha answered that there will be 10 future Buddhas. The Bhodhisattas are introduced as:

"Metteyyo Uttamo Rāmo, Paseno Kosalobibū, Dīghasoṇīca Caṅkīca, Subo, Todeyya Brahmano. Nāḷāgirī Pālileyyo, Bodhisatthā imedasa anukkamena sabhodiṁ, pāpuṇissanti nāgate". [2]

which can be translated as:

"The 10 people who will gain enlightenment in the future are: The noble Maitreya Buddha, King Uttararama, King Pasenadi Kosala, Abhibhū, Dīghasoṇī, Caṅkī (Candanī), Subha, a Brahmin named Todeyya, an elephant named Nāḷāgirī and the king of elephants Pālileyya. They will become the Future Buddhas in such order"

The 10 Bodhisattas

Maitreya

According to the Anāgatavamsa, Maitreya buddha was a monk disciple named Ajita. One day, Gotamī offered a golden robe to Gautama and his disciples. As no disciple accepted it, Ajita accepted the offering. The monk crowd were not satisfied as they felt that the robe was dedicated to the Buddha. In order to prove that Ajita is his successor, Gautama Buddha hid his emerald alms bowl and told his disciples to help retrieve it. Only Ajita was able to retrieve his bowl. After getting his alms bowl back, Gautama Buddha explained to his disciples that Ajita would become the next future Buddha. He also had told the future biography of Maitreya as Sāriputta requested for it. After getting the omen, Ajita donated Gotami's robe as the ceiling of the monastery. [3] Maitreya is currently residing at the Tushita realm.

Uttararama

In the time of the Kassapa Buddha, King Uttarāma was a young man named Nārada. When he saw the Buddha, he thought it worthwhile to give his life for the Buddha. And he burnt himself, like a torch. Then the Buddha Kassapa foretold that Nārada would be the future buddha. [4]

After Maitreya Buddha died, there will be 100,000 Sunya-Kalpas. After the 100,000 Sunya-Kalpas, there will be a Maṇḍa-Kalpa. In the Maṇḍa-Kalpa, he will become Rāma Buddha (Rāmasambuddha Buddha).

Pasenadi

King Pasenadi of Kosala was an Upāsaka of Gautama Buddha. He usually invited him and his disciples to his palace for meals and also went to Buddha's Place to listen to his Dhamma. [5]

In the time of Koṇāgamana Buddha, he was a young man named Suddha. He guarded lotuses in a lake. He sold two flowers every day. Having appreciated his work, he foretold him that he would be the future Buddha. He also had protected him against the heat of the sun with two pieces of cloth. After his death he was reborn in one of the desire realm. [6]

In the future, he will become a Buddha named Dhammarājā Buddha in the same kalpa as Rāmasambuddha Buddha.

Abhibhū

Abhibhū Buddha will be born in the next Sārā-kalpa, which will be formed a few Sunya-Kalpas later. After Abhibhū Buddha dies, there will be another 100,000 Sunya-Kalpas.

Dīghasoni

In the newly formed Kalpa, Dīghasoni asurin (Rahu Asurin), a deva, will become a Buddha first.

Caṅkī

Caṅkī (Candanī), a Brahmin, will become a successor of Dīgboi. [7]

Subha

According to the Majjhima Nikāya of the Pali Canon, Subha was the son of Aoi Todo. [8]

When Gautama Buddha visited Subha's house, his pet dog barked continuously. As soon as he revealed the past of the dog, it ran away in fear. When Subha knew about the matter, he went to the Buddha to disprove his statements. However, he only told him to ask his pet about the possessions he buried in the past life. As they could find the hidden possessions, Subha began to respect him and to do donations for his father.

Another time, Subha asked the Buddha seven questions about the difference between humans. Having got satisfactory answers, he decided to become a devoted Buddhist and to practise Pāramitā. The Buddha did not see an omen, so their practice to gain enlightenment was not complete. [9]

Todeyya

Todeyya was a rich Brahmin during the time of Gautama Buddha. Despite the wealth, he did not manage to donate his possessions and hid them instead. Because of his obsession, he became a pet dog of Subha in the afterlife. [8]

Nāḷāgiri

Nāḷāgiri was the elephant that was used by Devadatta to murder Gautama Buddha. It was fed sixteen pots of alcohol and ordered to fight the Buddha. [10] When it was rushing towards him, he gently soothed the drunk elephant. He then began to preach some Dharma.

After preaching, the elephant was tamed and paid respect to Buddha, then gradually walked away. Gautama Buddha did not give him the omen but had told him to follow the Five precepts. It also had got another name, "Danapāla". [11]

Palileyya

Gautama Buddha once left alone to the Palileyaka village due to the conflict between his disciples. The villagers built a monastery for him at the Rakkhita forest which was near their village.

Meanwhile, an elephant named Palileya (Burmese: ပလလဲ) left his family because he felt cramped. He thought that living alone would be a solution. Then, he met the Buddha at his monastery. The Buddha told him about the benefits of solitude. [12]

In the Jinatthapakāsanī (The explicit life of Buddha) written by Kyee Thel Lay Htet Sayadaw, Palileya looked after the Buddha. He usually guarded while he was sleeping. He gave a lot of fresh fruits to him and followed him to the village during alms. He had taken care of him for the Vassa(three months). After three months, Gautama Buddha had to leave him. He told him that he was not ready to practise for enlightenment. Palileyya died of grief. In the afterlife he became a Deva named Palileyya in the Tāvatiṃsa realm. [13]

According to the Hmannan Yazawin of Myanmar, it is believed that the Bagan Kings, Thamoddarit, Anawrahta and Kyaswa are the future lives of Palileyya. [14] King Myet-Hna Shay of Prome was also believed to be another afterlife as he spent most of his time mediating at a pagoda. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodhisattva</span> Any person who is on the path towards Buddhahood but has not yet attained it

In Buddhism, a bodhisattva or bodhisatva is a person who is on the path towards bodhi ('awakening') or Buddhahood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddhahood</span> Condition of being fully spiritually awakened in Buddhism

In Buddhism, Buddha is a title for those who are spiritually awake or enlightened, and have thus attained the supreme goal of Buddhism, variously described as pristine awareness, nirvana, awakening, enlightenment, and liberation or vimutti. A Buddha is also someone who has fully understood the Dharma, the true nature of things or the universal law of phenomena. Buddhahood is the condition and state of a buddha. This highest spiritual state of being is also termed sammā-sambodhi and is interpreted in many different ways across schools of Buddhism.

<i>Jataka</i> tales Collection of traditional narratives of the previous lives of Buddha

The Jātaka are a voluminous body of literature native to the Indian subcontinent which mainly concern the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. Jataka stories were depicted on the railings and torans of the stupas. According to Peter Skilling, this genre is "one of the oldest classes of Buddhist literature." Some of these texts are also considered great works of literature in their own right.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maitreya</span> Future Buddha in Buddhist eschatology

Maitreya (Sanskrit) or Metteyya (Pali), is a bodhisattva who is regarded as the future Buddha of this world in all schools of Buddhism, prophesied to become Maitreya Buddha or Metteyya Buddha. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he is also referred to as Ajitā. In Tibetan Buddhism he is known as the "Lord of Love" or the "Noble Loving One". The root of his name is the Sanskrit word maitrī. The name Maitreya is also related to the Indo-Iranian name Mitra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dipankara</span> Figure of Buddhist mythology

Dipankara or Dipankara Buddha is one of the Buddhas of the past. He is said to have lived on Earth four asankheyyas and one hundred thousand kappas ago. According to some Buddhist or folk traditions, Dipankara was a previous Buddha who attained Enlightenment eons prior to Gautama Buddha, the historical Buddha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kakusandha</span> One of the 28 ancient Buddhas

Kakusandha (Pāli), or Krakucchaṃda in Sanskrit, is one of the ancient Buddhas whose biography is chronicled in chapter 22 of the Buddhavaṃsa, one of the books of the Pali Canon.

Khema was a Buddhist bhikkhuni, or nun, who was one of the top female disciples of the Buddha. She is considered the first of the Buddha's two chief female disciples, along with Uppalavanna. Khema was born into the royal family of the ancient Kingdom of Madra, and was the wife of King Bimbisara of the ancient Indian kingdom of Magadha. Khema was convinced to visit the Buddha by her husband, who hired poets to sing about the beauty of the monastery he was staying at to her. She attained enlightenment as a laywoman while listening to one of the Buddha's sermons, considered a rare feat in Buddhist texts. Following her attainment, Khema entered the monastic life under the Buddha as a bhikkhuni. According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha declared her his female disciple foremost in wisdom. Her male counterpart was Sariputta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kassapa Buddha</span> Ancient Buddha

Kassapa Buddha (Pāli), is one of the ancient Buddhas whose biography is chronicled in chapter 24 of the Buddhavaṃsa, one of the books of the Pali Canon. He was the last Buddha before the historical Gautama Buddha, though living long before him.

According to the Buddhavaṃsa of the Pali Canon, Padumuttara or Padumuttara Buddha is the thirteenth of the twenty-nine buddhas who preceded the historical Gautama Buddha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddhavaṃsa</span>

The Buddhavaṃsa is a hagiographical Buddhist text which describes the life of Gautama Buddha and of the twenty-four Buddhas who preceded him and prophesied his attainment of Buddhahood. It is the fourteenth book of the Khuddaka Nikāya, which in turn is the fifth and last division of the Sutta Piṭaka. The Sutta Piṭaka is one of three piṭakas which together constitute the Tipiṭaka, or Pāli Canon of Theravāda Buddhism.

Sariputra, one of the two chief disciples of Gautama Buddha is frequently described in the Jataka, a collection of Buddhist texts which describe the previous reincarnations of the Buddha and his closest disciples. Pali texts mention Sariputra in 150 Jatakas, the second most of any disciple of the Buddha, second only to Ananda. The Jatakas depict a multitude of previous lives in which Sariputra interacted with previous reincarnations of the Buddha and Mahamoggallana, the other of the two chief disciples. Such frequent relations in the past are consistent with the Buddhist theory of karma, with the consequences of the present being intricately linked to causes and actions committed in the past. Sariputra also interacts with the reincarnations of Ananda, the chief attendant of the Buddha, and Devadatta, a cousin and arch-rival of the Buddha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shin Upagutta</span> Buddhist arahant

Shin Upagutta is an arahant commonly venerated by Buddhists in Myanmar. He is believed to protect worshipers from danger, including floods and storms. He is also venerated in Cambodia, Northern Thailand and Laos, where he is known as Upakhut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Relics associated with Buddha</span>

According to the Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta, after attaining parinirvana, the body of Buddha was cremated and the ashes divided among his lay followers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumedha</span> A mythological figure, regarded as a previous life of the Buddha

In Buddhist texts, Sumedha is a previous life of Gotama Buddha in which he declares his intention to become a Buddha. Buddhist texts describe that this takes place when Gotama Buddha is still a Buddha-to-be. Traditions regard Sumedha's life as the beginning of the spiritual journey leading up to the attainment of Buddhahood by Gotama in his last life, a journey which takes place through many lifetimes. Born in a brahmin family, Sumedha begins to live as an ascetic in the mountains. One day he meets Dīpankara Buddha and offers his own body for him to walk over. During this sacrifice, he makes a vow that he also will be a Buddha in a future lifetime, which is confirmed by Dīpankara through a prophecy.

According to Theravada Buddhism's Pali canon's Buddhavamsa and its commentary, Anomadassi is the tenth of twenty-seven Buddhas who preceded the historical Gotama Buddha. He was also the first Buddha of the Vara kalpa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyaikhtisaung Pagoda</span> Notable Buddhist Pagoda in Mon, Myanmar

Kyai Khti Saung Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda in Bilin, Mon State, Myanmar.

According to the Buddhavamsa of the Pali Canon and to its commentary, Tissa Buddha is the twentieth of the twenty-seven buddhas that preceded the historical Gotama Buddha. He was also the first buddha of the Maṇḍa kalpa which was formed 92 aeons ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dasaratha Jataka</span> Buddhist epic tale

Dasaratha Jataka is a Jataka tale found in Buddhist literature about a previous life of the Gautama Buddha. It is found as 461th Jataka story in Khuddaka Nikaya of Sutta Pitaka in the Pali Canon.

References

  1. ↑ The Birth-Stories of the Ten Bodhisattas and the Dasabodhisattuppattikathā, translated and edited by H. Saddhātissa, Pali Text Society, London and Boston: 1975.
  2. ↑ Sotattakī Scripture, paragraph 87
  3. ↑ De Pell Yinn Sayadaw, pp. 4–5
  4. ↑ "Buddha, Rāma". The Concepts of Bodhisattas.
  5. ↑ "Pasenadi". Pali Kanon.
  6. ↑ "The Buddha Dhammarājā". The Concepts of Bodhisattas.
  7. ↑ De Pell Yinn Sayadaw, pp. 26–27
  8. 1 2 Tigyaing Titaw Sayadaw, Questions about Buddhism Volume 3, pp. 119-121
  9. ↑ Majjhima Nikāya, Uparipaṇṇāsa, Cūḷakammavibhaṅga Sutta
  10. ↑ Sayadaw, Vicittasārābhivamsa, Chapter 36 pp. 630–631
  11. ↑ Shin Māyavābhivaṁsa, "A Travel Diary to Bodh Gaya", p. 202
  12. ↑ Sayadaw, Vicittasārābhivamsa, Chapter 28, pp. 16–18
  13. ↑ Kyee Thel Lay Htet Sayadaw, Part 7, pp. 500–505
  14. ↑ Hmannan Yazawin Volume 5
  15. ↑ San Tun(Mandalay University), King Myet-Hna Shay (1987)

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.