Day 3 - 11/11/2012 Sunday cloudy – Sravasti

Wake up call was at 5:30am but I woke up at 4am. Breakfast was at 6am and we left the hotel at 7am for the long drive to Sravasti. On the way to Sravasti, there were a couple of toilet runs. There was one toilet run that drove Co Xuyen crazy. It was chaotic when she smelled someone had stepped on cow dung. She had to check everyone’s shoes and discovered that Tam Chanh was the guilty one. Why was it such a big deal? I didn’t understand. It stirred up the whole bus. I was a bit worried for Co Tu Minh as she had fell on the way of her toilet run, but luckily it was not her. This is the best example of the poem on Thay TH’s monk bag.

佛心

Buddha mind

前念不生即心

Preceding thoughts are not form, it is mind

从念不灭即佛

Subsequence thoughts are not extinguished, it is Buddha

成一切相即心

All forms is mind

离一切相即佛

Away from all the forms is Buddha

There were two great supporters at Buddha’s time: Anathapindika (male) and Visakha (female)

• Anathapindika had great faith on Buddha. He and Prince Jeta offered the Jetavana Vihara Grove to Buddha.
• Visakha played an important role in Buddhism. She contributed some temple rules of discipline for the nuns. She offered 8 boons to the Sangha: that as long as she lived she might be allowed to give robes to the members of the Order for the rainy season; food for monks and nuns coming into the town of Savatthi; food for those leaving it; food for the sick; food for those that help the sick; medicines for the sick; a constant supply of rice-porridge for any needing it; and bathing robes for the nuns.

Jetavana was the place where the Buddha gave the majority of his teachings and discourses, having passed at Jetavana 24 (out of 45) rainy seasons.

We first went to Buddha’s airport where he went to the Tushita heaven. There were two reasons why Buddha went to Tushita heaven:

1.       The dispute among the Sangha

2.       Buddha wanted to repay his mother’s kindness.

Buddha’s airport

We then entered Jetavana Vihara Grove and walked passed the Ananda Bodhi tree. It was packed with people under Ananda Bodhi Tree. We went to the back of Gandhakuti (Buddh’a dwelling in Jetavana) at Jetavana Vihara Grove and chanted. When we finished chanting, we walked to Ananda Bodhi tree. We circled the tree 3 times and stopped at an old well at Jetavana Vihara Grove. At Buddha’s time, people see Bodhi tree as they see Buddha.

Note from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_Tree : Buddhist recounts that while the Buddha was yet alive, in order that people might make their offerings in the name of the Buddha when he was away on pilgrimage, he sanctioned the planting of a seed from the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya in front of the gateway of Jetavana Monastery near Sravasti. For this purpose Moggallana took a fruit from the tree as it dropped from its stalk, before it reached the ground. It was planted in a golden jar by Anathapindika with great pomp and ceremony. A sapling immediately sprouted forth, fifty cubits high, and in order to consecrate it the Buddha spent one night under it, rapt in meditation. This tree, because it was planted under the direction of Ananda, came to be known as the Ananda Bodhi.

At the well, we sat in a circle. Thay TC gave a talk on as a Buddhist, we should have wisdom, not praying to any statue on the road, in front of the hotel, etc. Buddha said we should not attach to a statue. He was scared people would become superstitious. Thay TC commented how King Tran Nhan Tong had abandoned and was against any superstition. 

Jetavana Vihara Grove where Buddha preached

After Thay’s Talk, we continued our journey to Anathabindika’s stupa. Thay TC commented Anathabindika was not enlightened because of his ego. That was why Thay suggested paying gratitude to Anathabindika only because he was a great supporter during Buddha’s time and that there was no need for chanting or prostration. We also went to Angulimala – Pakki Kuti. Thay TC talked about Angulimala’s great compassion on a pregnant woman.

Angulimala Paritta: (http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/story/angulimala.html)

Sister, since the day I became an arahat
I have not consciously destroyed
The life of any living beings.
By this truth, may you be well
And may your unborn child be well.

Angulimala Paritta

Anathabindika’s stupa

We went to the Thai Temple for a short meditation inside the main shrine. This temple is very big and clean. We had to wash our feet before entering. A nun directed us to the main shrine but Thay TC insisted to walk in a different direction where it was prohibited, so a member required to guide us in. The next destination was Korean Temple. Fong and I went to invite the Abbot out. I was glad to see Master Dae In again. Master Dae In led us through a short meditation. Thay TC chanted and Master Dae In gave a very short talk which I could only catch something like: “We are a Buddhist family at the same home. We are very close.” Thay TH asked for some kimchi on Thay TC’s behalf. Master Dae In sent the kimchi to our hotel for us to use in our dinner.

We had lunch and dinner at the Lotus Nikko Hotel.