6. The Chronicle of Buddha Sobhita
After Buddha Revata’s Parinibbāna, the lifespan of human beings decreased gradually from 60,000 years to ten years and then from ten years it increased to immeasurables. When the lifespan became 90,000 years on its second decline, Bodhisatta Sobhita, after complete fulfilment of the perfections for four immeasurable periods and 100,000 aeons, was reborn in Tusita, a practice common to all Bodhisattas. While living there, he accepted the request made by Devas, and then descended from his celestial abode to the human world and took conception in the womb of Sudhammā, Chief Queen of King Sudhamma, in the city of the same name. Ten months thereafter, the Bodhisatta left his mother’s womb in Sudhamma Park, similarly to how the big full moon comes out from behind the clouds.
Early Life
When the Bodhisatta Prince Sobhita came of age, he lived in three golden palaces: Kumuda, Nāḷina and Paduma, and enjoyed a heavenly-like royal household life with his chief consort Manilā, and being entertained and waited upon by 70,000 [Corrected according to BvA.]
While he was enjoying thus, a son, named Sīha, was born by the princess. Seeing the four omens, Bodhisatta Sobhita was stirred by a strong spiritual urgency (saṁvega). Even while in the palace, he lived the life of a recluse and practised breathing meditation (ānāpāna-bhāvanā) till he attained the fourth absorption. Still again in the very palace, he practised the austerities (dukkara-cariyā) for seven days.
Then on the full moon of May (Vesākha), the day he would attain Awakening, he took the milk rice offered by the chief consort Manilā herself. Determined on renunciation, he resolved: “Let this very palace of mine, with its usual decorations, go through the air while the populace is watching and descend onto the earth, making the Mahā Bodhi tree stand in the centre. When I take residence near the Bodhi tree, may all female courtiers here leave the palace on their own accord without my asking.”
As soon as he had thus resolved, the Bodhisatta’s palace rose from the courtyard of his father, King Sudhamma, into the sky of the dark blue-green colour of collyrium. The palace adorned with scented festoons shone very brightly as though it beautified the whole sky like the sun with its splendid colour of liquid gold showers, and also like the bright moon of the month of November (Kattikā) in autumn. The flying palace travelled all over the vault of heaven and attracted the people’s eyes, as would the brilliant colour of tree branches and various gems.
It had a net of various exquisite little bells hanging downwards. Touched by the breeze, the net made a sweet tinkling sound that was like the sound of five musical instruments played by highly skilled musicians. The sweet tinkling sound, from a distance, attracted the people as if enticing them from its aerial travel, neither too low nor too high, whether they were staying in the houses or standing on cross-roads, they praised and marvelled at the sound. The sound seems to be proclaiming the qualities of the deeds of merit done by the Bodhisatta.
The female dancers, who were in the flying palace, sang with delightful voices resembling the sound of five musical instruments. They also spoke sweetly in praise of the Bodhisatta among themselves. The Bodhisatta’s fourfold army surrounded the palace in the sky, just as it did on the ground. They were like Devas, brilliant with their shining equipment and physical radiance and in their raiment of fragrant blossoms.
Having taken its flight, the palace descended onto the earth making the Ironwood (Nāga) Bodhi tree lie in the centre. This tree was 88 cubits tall, its trunk straight, broad, round, and beautiful with flowers, leaves, sprouts and buds. Then the female dancers went out of the palace and departed of their own accord.
Awakening
Glorious with numerous qualities and surrounded by hosts of people, Buddha Sobhita acquired the three-fold knowledge during the three watches of the night. Māra’s forces were defeated. The palace, however, remained where it was.
Three Occasions of the Buddha’s Teaching
1. After his attainment of Awakening, Buddha Sobhita spent 49 days near the Bodhi tree. Having agreed to a Brahma’s entreaty, he thought as to whom he should teach first and he saw, with his mind’s eye, his younger half brothers, princes Asama and Sunetta. Knowing that they were endowed with the supporting merits (upanissaya) and were able to grasp the profound and subtle Dhamma, he decided to teach them. Accordingly, by his psychic power, he immediately appeared at Sudhamma Park. Through the gardener, the Buddha summoned the princes. Being surrounded by the princes and their retinues, in the midst of the audience of countless humans, Devas and Brahmas from all over the regions, ranging from the highest Bhavagga abode down to the lowest Avīci hell, the
2. On another occasion, having displayed the twin miracle of water and fire near an exquisite Cittapāṭalī tree, in the neighbourhood of the city-gate of Sudassana, sitting on the emerald stone slab of Paṇḍukambala under the coral tree, the Buddha taught Abhidhamma. At the conclusion, 900 billion Devas and Brahmas realized the truths and were liberated.
3. Still on another occasion, Prince Jayasena had a monastery built in the compound of a garden in Sudassana where he had such excellent trees as Asoka, Assakaṇṇa, etc., planted, one close to another. He dedicated the monastery, together with the garden, to the Saṅgha with the Buddha at its head. At the great ceremony of dedication, the Buddha Sobhita gave a discourse in appreciation of the dedication, lauding the prince’s great generosity (mahā-dāna). At the conclusion of the discourse, 1,000 billion beings, such as humans, Devas and Brahmas, attained realization of the truths and liberation.
Three Occasions of the Disciples’ Meeting
1. Another offering of a monastery, Sunandārāma, at the city of Sunanda, was given by King Uggata to the Saṅgha headed by the Buddha. On this occasion, one billion summoned monastic Arahats assembled. To them, the Buddha recited the Monastic Rules (Pātimokkha).
2. Again, a group of virtuous people built a monastery named Gaṇārāma in the city of Mekhala and offered it to the Saṅgha headed by the Buddha. They also performed alms givings (dāna) of various requisites. On this occasion, 900 million summoned monastics Arahats assembled. At this meeting, the Buddha uttered the Monastic Rules (Pātimokkha).
3. After teaching Abhidhamma in Tāvatiṁsa and staying there for the whole period of the Rains Retreat (Vassa), being accompanied by Devas and Brahmas, Buddha Sobhita returned to the human world to perform the Invitation (Pavāraṇā) ceremony and did so at the meeting of four features attended by 800 million Arahats.
Bodhisatta Sujāta
At that time, our Bodhisatta was born a Brahmin, Sujāta by name, whose parents were of Brahmin caste, in Rammavatī city. Having listened to the Dhamma, he was established in the three refuges. He gave alms on a grand scale to the Buddha and his Saṅgha for the three months of the Rains Retreat (Vassa). Then the Buddha made a prophetic declaration concerning Sujātā the Brahmin: “This man will become a Buddha, Gotama by name, in the future.”
Particulars of Buddha Sobhita
Buddha Sobhita’s birthplace was Sudhamma city.
His father was King Sudhamma and his mother was Sudhammā.
He reigned for 9,000 years.
His three palaces were Kamuda, Nāḷina and Paduma.
His chief consort was Manilā, and she had 70,000 maids of honour.
His son was Sīha.
His conveyance on his renunciation, after seeing the four omens, was a palace.
He
His two male chief disciples were Ven. Asama and Ven. Sunetta.
His attendant was Ven. Anoma.
His two female chief disciples were Ven. Nakulā and Ven. Sujātā.
His Bodhi tree was an Ironwood (Nāga) tree.
His noble male lay supporters were the wealthy Ramma and Sudatta.
His noble female supporters were Nakulā and Mittā.
Buddha Sobhita’s height was 58 cubits.
Like the rising sun, he possessed body lustre which could shine and spread all over the directions as much as he wished.
Like a great grove full of trees in full bloom and fragrant with various scents, the Buddha Sobhita’s grove of instructive words was fragrant with the scents of morality. Another simile: As one is not satiated looking at the moving and rising waves of the ocean, so beings, such as humans, Devas and Brahmas, were not satiated listening to the words of Buddha Sobhita.
The lifespan during Buddha Sobhita’s time was 90,000 years and living four-fifths of this lifespan, he saved humans, Devas and Brahmas from the flood-waters of Saṁsāra and placed them on the shore of Nibbāna.
After bequeathing his diverse teaching, long and short, to future beings who had not attained liberation in his presence, Buddha Sobhita, together with his Arahat disciples, came to the cessation of his existence and attained Parinibbāna just as a great flame becomes extinguished.
That Buddha Sobhita, equal only to the peerless Buddhas, and his Arahat disciples who had acquired the super knowledges and other powers, have all vanished. Unsubstantial and futile indeed are all conditioned things!
Before his Parinibbāna, Buddha Sobhita resolved: “When I am gone, let the relics of my body not remain in a mass but split into pieces and reach various places,” and his Parinibbāna took place in Sīha Park. Accordingly his relics did not remain in a mass but dispersed all over Jambudīpa and were worshipped by beings, such as humans, Devas and Brahmas.