SUTTANTA INTRODUCTION – 02

SUTTANTA :  INTRODUCTION – 02

I. Four kinds of Kappas (world-cycles of Aeons) - SM 198, BA 193, MA – I . 236

1.      Ayu-kappa                        : the life-span or age-limit of human beings

2.      Antā-kappa                       : the interim one, that is, a couple of rise and fall of the life-span between ten years and the maximum of many thousands of years

3.      Asaṅkhyeyya-kappa         : an incalculable one, that is, a period of 64 Antara-kappas.

4.      Mahā-kappa                      : a great aeon, that is, a period of four Asaṅkhyeyya-kappas

I I. Four kinds of Asaṅkhyeyya-kappas :

1.      Saṃvaṭṭā-kappa                : the world-cycle in the process of destruction by fire, water and wind (56 + 8 + 1)

2.      Saṃvaṭṭā-ṭṭhāyī-kappa     : the world-cycle existing in a state of void and chaos after the destruction.

3.      Vivaṭṭa-kappa                   : the world-cycle in the process of renovation.

4.      Vivaṭṭa-ṭṭhaāyī-kappa       : the world-cycle existing in a state of developing after the renovation.

The length of a great aeon is said by the Buddha-to-be longer than the time it would take for a man to wear away a mountain of solid granite one yojana (about 7 miles) high and wide by  stroking it once every hundred years with a silk cloth. (CM 198)

This exceeds the time required to exhaust an area, a yojana in length, breadth, and height, filled with mustard seeds, by throwing away a seed once in every hundred years. (BA 193) (MA I, 236)

Asaṅkhyeyya is equal to 10.000.000 or 1 followed by 140 ciphers. (PL 59)

I I I. Three of Buddhas (Cariya – A 320, UD 23)

1.      Vīriyā-dhika          : One who specializes to strong energy for the enlightenment has to fulfill the ten Perfections for 16 aeons and one lakh worlds.

2.      Saddhā-dhika        : One who specializes in firm confidence for the enlightenment has to fulfill the ten Perfections for 8 aeons and one lakh worlds

3.      Paññā-dhika          : One who specializes in wisdom has to fulfill the ten Perfections for 4 aeons and one lakh worlds.

I V. Five kinds of Enlightenment (Bodhi)

1.      Sammā-sambodhi         : Buddhahood, to fulfill Perfections for 4/8/16 aeons and one lakh worlds.

2.      Pacceka-bhodhi             : Silent / Solitary Buddhahood, to fulfill Perfections for two aeons and one lakh worlds

3.      Agga-sāvaka-bhodhi     : Chief-discipleship, to fulfill Perfections for one aeon and one lakh worlds

4.      Mahā-sāvaka-bhodhi     : Great-discipleship, to fulfill Perfections for one lakh worlds.

5.      Pakati-sāvaka –bhodhi : Common/ Ordinary-discipleship, to fulfill Perfections for one lakh worlds.

V. Four conditions for the attainment of Buddhahood (Buddha-bhūmi) –UD 29

1.    Ussāha                           : Exceptional energy.

2.    Ummaṅga                      : Great wisdom and comprehension; keen intellect.

3.    Avatthāna                      : Strong resolution; Steadfastness of purpose.

4.    Hitācariya                      : Strong compassion and loving-kindness for others

PL  = A dictionary of the Pāḷi Language by Robert Caesar Childers (1974)

CM = A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

BA = The Essence of Buddha Abhidhamma by Dr. Mehm Tin Mon

MA –I, II = A Manual of Abhidhamma by Nārada Thera

RF + A Dictionary of Researched Facts by Ven. Ashin Obhāsābhivaṃsa

SUTTANTA :  INTRODUCTION - 03

1/ Four kinds of Kappas (wold-cycles of Aeons) - SM 198, BA 193, MA 1236

Ayu-kappa: the life-span or age-life of human beings

1.      Antā-kappa                = the interim one, that is, a couple of rise and fall of the life=span between ten years and the maximum of many thousands of years.

2.      Asaṅkhyeyya-kappa = an incalculable one, that is, a period of 64 Antara-kappas.

3.      Mahā-kappa :             = a great aeon, that is, a period of four Asaṅkhyeyya-kappas

2/ Four kinds of Asaṅkhyeyya-kappas:

1.      Saṃvaṭṭā-kappa           = the world-cycle in the process of destruction by fire, water and wind (56 + 8 + 1)

2.      Saṃvaṭṭāṭṭhāyī-kappa = the world-cycle existing in a state of void and chaos after the destruction.

3.      Vivaṭṭa-kappa              = the world-cycle in the process of renovation.

4.      Vivaṭṭa-ṭṭhaāyī-kappa = the world-cycle existing in a state of developing after the renovation.

            The length of a great aeon is said by the Buddha-to-be longer than the time it would take for a man to wear away a mountain of solid granite one yojana (about 7 miles) high and wide by  stroking it once every hundred years with a silk cloth.

            This exceeds the time required to exhaust an area, a yojana in length, breadth, and height, filled with mustard seeds, by throwing away a seed once in every hundred years.

            Asaṅkhyeyya is equal to 10.000.000 or 1 followed by 140 ciphers.

3/ Three of Buddhas (Cariya – A 320, UD 23)

1.      Vīriyā-dhika      = One who specializes a strong energy for the enlightenment has to fulfill the ten Perfections for 16 aeons and one lakh worlds.

2.      Saddhā-dhika     = One who specializes in firm confidence for the enlightenment has to fulfil the ten Perfections for 8 aeons and one lakh worlds

3.      Pañña=dhika      = One who specializes in wisdom has to fulfill the ten Perfections for 4 aeons and one lakh worlds.

4/ Five kinds of Enlightenment (Bodhi)

1.      Sammā-sambodhi        = Buddhahood, to fulfill Perfections for 4/8/16 aeons and one lakh worlds.

2.      Pacceka-bhodhi           = Silent/ Solitary Buddhahood, to fulfill Perfections for two aeons and one lakh worlds

3.      Agga-sāvaka-bhodhi   = Chief-discipleship, to fulfill Perfections for one aeon and one lakh worlds

4.      Mahā-sāvaka-bhodhi   = Great-discipleship, to fulfill Perfections for one lakh worlds.

5.      Pakati-sāvaka-bhodhi = Common/ Ordinary-discipleship, to fulfill Perfections for one lakh worlds.

5/ Four conditions for the attainment of Buddhahood (Buddha-bhūmi) –UD 29

1.    Ussāha              = Exceptional energy.

2.    Ummaṅga        = Great wisdom and comprehension; keen intellect.

3.    Avatthāna         = Strong resolution; Steadfastness of purpose.

4.    Hitācariya        = Strong compassion and loving-kindness for others

PL  = A dictionary of the Pāḷi Language by Robert Caesar Childers (1974)

CM = A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

BA = The Essence of Buddha Abhidhamma by Dr. Mehm Tin Mon

MA –I, Ī = A Manual of Abhidhamma by Nārada Thera

RF + A Dictionary of Researched Facts by Ven. Ashin Obhāsābhivaṃsa

6/ Six kings of Worlds               RF 122, BuA 227

1.     Sāra-kappa            = The world wherein only one Buddha appears

2.     Maṇḍa-kappa        = The world wherein only two Buddhas appear.

3.     Vara-kappa           = The world wherein only three Buddhas appear

4.     Sāramaṇḍa-kappa  = The world wherein only four Buddhas appear

5.     Bhadda-kappa       = The world wherein only five Buddhas appear

6.     Suñña-kappa         = The world wherein only six Buddhas appear

            Note: The last one can be called ‘the void world’ because there are no Buddhas appear in it.

7/ The 28 Buddhas in the past (with respective age-limits)  RF  335

Sāramaṇḍa-kappa (Four Buddhas)

1.     Taṇhankara-Buddha   (1 lakh years)

2.     Medhankare-Buddha (90,000 years)

3.     Saranaṅkara-Buddha (80,000 years)

4.     Dīpaṅkara-Buddha      (1 lakh years)

The Bodhisatta received the first assurance of becoming a Buddha, that is, an Enlightened One from this Buddha.

            Then the first ASAṄKHAYYA-KAPPA called SELA-A. Intervened.

Sāra-kappa  (One Buddha)

5. Koṇḍañña                    (1 lakh years)

Sāramanda-kappa (Four Buddhas)

6.      Maṅgala-Buddha        (90,000 years)

7.      Sumana-Buddha         (90,000 years)

8.      Revata-Buddha           (60,000 years)

9.      Sobhita-Buddha          (90,000 years)

Then the third ASAṄKHAYYA-KAPPA called JAYA-A. intervened.

Vara-kappa   (Three Buddhas)

10. Anomadassī-Buddha  (1 lakh years)
11. Paduma-Buddha         (1 lakh years)
12. Nārada-Buddha           (90,000 years)

            Then the fourth ASAṄKHAYYA-KAPPA called RUCIRA-A. intervened. These are the Buddhas who appeared in the past four Asaṅkhyeyya-kappas

Sāra-kappa  (One Buddha) 1 lakh worlds before now

13. Padumuttara-Buddha              (1 lakh years)

Then about 70,000 worlds were void (of Buddhas)

Maṇḍa-kappa (Two Buddhas) 30,000 worlds before now

14. Sumedha-Buddha       (90,000 years)
15. Sujāta-Buddha            (90,000 years)

Then about 28,200 worlds void (of Buddha)

Vara-kappa (Three Buddhas) 1800 worlds before now

16. Piyadassī-Buddha       (90,000 years)
17. Atthadassī-Buddha     (1 lakh years)
18. Dhammadassī-Buddha (1 lakh years)

Then 1705 worlds were void (of Buddhas)

Sāra-kappa (Two Buddhas) 94 worlds before now

19. Siddhattha-Buddha     (1 lakh years)

Then one world was void (of Buddhas)

Maṇḍa-kappa (Two Buddhas) 92 worlds before now

20. Tissa-Buddha              (90,000 years)
21. Phussa-Buddha           (90,000 years)

Sāra-kappa (One Buddhas) 91worlds before now

22. Vipassī-Buddha          (90,000 years)

Then 59 worlds were void (of Buddhas)

Maṇḍa-kappa (Two Buddhas) 31 worlds before now

23. Sikhī-Buddha              (70,000 years)
24. Vessabhū-Buddha       (60,000 years)

Then 29 worlds were void (of Buddhas)

Bhadda-kappa (Five Buddhas) The present  world

25. Kakusandha-Buddha  (40,000 years)
26. Koṇāgamana-Buddha (30,000 years)
27. Kassapa-Buddha         (20,000 years)
28. Gotama-Buddha          (100 years)    -The present Buddha
29. Ariya-metteyya-Buddha  (90,000 years)  born in  a Brahmin family -  PP. *II 660-662  < 8000 years spent in household fife

Note: The Buddhas never appeared, when the life-span is either below ten years or over one lakh years in the human world, during which beings could not realize the three characteristics of the phenomena, that is.

·          Anicca  = Impermanence

·          Dukkha = Suffering, and

·          Anatta = Non-self.

The Buddha never lives up to the end of his life span, but four-fifth or 80% of its. For example, when the life-span is 1 lakh years, the Buddha will live only up to 80,000 years. And when the life-span is 100 years, the Buddha will live only up to 80 years.

            An aspirant (Bodhisatta) never becomes a Buddha unless he has fulfilled / accomplished Te Perfections at least 4 Asaṅkhyeyyas and 1 lakh worlds in accordance with their specialization.

8/ Eight factors for the Noblest Aspiration  (D 26 ,  MA-86)

1.       Manussa-jāti         = being a human

2.       Liṅga-sampatti      = being a male

3.       Hetu                      = having the capacity to realize Nibbāna

4.       Satthāra-dasana     = meeting with the living Buddha

5.       Pabbajja                = being a recluse or an ascetic

6.       Suṇa-sampatti       = having attained Jhānas or Abhiññās

7.       Adhikā                  = aspiration for Buddhahood even at the cost of one’s life

8.       Chandatā               = strong desire for Buddhahood

Note ; If these eight factors are present in a aspirant, he might receive from a Buddha the assurance or prophecy that he would become a Buddha in future.

9/ Ten kinds of Perfections for Enlightenment (RF 365, UD 13)

1.        DĀNA                 = offering

2.        SĪLA                     = morality

3.        NEKKHAMMA   = renunciation

4.        PAÑÑĀ                = wisdom

5.        VĪRIYA                = Diligence

6.        KHANTĪ              = Patience

7.        SACCA                = Truthfulness

8.        ADHIṬṬHĀNA   = Resolve

9.        METTA                = Loving-kindness

10.    UPEKKHĀ          = Equanimity

            Each Perfection can be subdivided in three again. For example, in the first Perfection, there are three as follows:

·          DĀNA-PĀRAMĪ = the ordinary offering, that is, of material things

·          DĀNA-UPA-PĀRAMĪ = the offering of the limbs of one’s body, and

·          DĀNA-PARAMATTHA-PĀRAMĪ = the offering of the one’s life

As for the other Perfections,

·          The first is the ordinary accomplishment,

·          The second is to be accomplished at the cost of the limbs of one’s body, and

·          The third is even at the cost of one’s own life