12. The Chronicle of Buddha Sujāta
After Buddha Sumedha had attained Parinibbāna, the lifespan of human beings gradually decreased from 90,000 years to ten and then it again increased to immeasurables. When the lifespan reached 90,000 years on its next decrease, Bodhisatta Sujātā was reborn in Tusita on complete fulfilment of the perfections which was a practice common to all Bodhisattas. Having agreed to the entreaties of Devas and Brahmas to become a Buddha, he descended to the human world to be conceived in the womb of Queen Pabhavatī of King Uggata, in the city of Sumaṅgala. Ten months thereafter the Bodhisatta was born.
On his naming day, wise men who were to give him a name, named him Sujāta, on account of the fact that, at the time of his birth, all the people in Jambudīpa experienced both physical and mental happiness.
Early Life
When he came of age, he lived in three palaces: Sirī, Upasirī and Nanda, and entertained and was served by Princess Sirinandā and her 23,000 maids of honour for 9,000 years.
When the Bodhisatta had seen the four omens and when Princess Sirinandā had given birth to a son, named Upasena, he went forth in renunciation riding the state steed, named Haṁsavaha and became a recluse. 10 million men were inspired and became recluses themselves.
Awakening
Bodhisatta Sujātā practised the austerities with that 10 million of recluses for nine months. On the full-moon day of May (Vesākha), the day of his Awakening, he ate the milk rice offered by the daughter of the wealthy man Sirinandana of the city of Sirinandana and spent the daytime in the local Sāla grove. In the evening, he proceeded alone to the Mahā Bodhi tree. On the way, he accepted eight handfuls of grass offered by the naked ascetic Sunanda. As soon as he spread the grass at the foot of the Great Bamboo Bodhi tree, there appeared the unconquered seat, which measured 33 cubits, on which he sat cross-legged and mustered his energy at four levels and dispelled Māra and his army and attained omniscience, Perfectly Self-Awakened Buddhahood and the state of Lord of the Three Worlds.
Three Occasions of the Buddha’s Teaching
1. Having become a Buddha and stayed in the neighbourhood of the Mahā Bodhi tree for 49 days, the Buddha accepted a Brahma’s request for his teaching and he contemplated who he should teach first. He saw his younger half-brother, Prince Sudassana, and his Brahmin chaplain’s son, Sudeva the youth, who were endowed with the merits of their past deeds, which would lead to the paths, fruitions and Nibbāna. Resolving to teach them first, by his psychic power, he immediately appeared in Sumaṅgala Park, near Sumaṅgala city and then he sent the gardener for Prince Sudassana and Sudeva the youth. To the audience of Devas and humans, the Buddha taught the Dhamma Wheel (Dhamma-cakka) discourse, which was also taught by previous Buddhas. At that time, 800 million Devas and humans attained the paths and fruitions.
2. At another time, Buddha Sujāta defeated the heretics by displaying the twin miracle of water and fire, near the Sāla tree close to the gate of the Sudassana Royal Park. And while observing the Rains Retreat (Vassa) sitting on the emerald stone slab, which was placed at the foot of the Pāricchattaka tree in Sakka’s abode of Tāvatiṁsa, the Buddha taught the Abhidhamma. On that occasion of the Abhidhamma teaching, 3,700,000 Devas
3. Still at another time, Buddha Sujāta paid a visit to his father in the city of Sumaṅgala and taught him the Dhamma. By the end of his teaching, six million Devas and humans attained the paths and fruitions.
Three Occasions of The Disciple’s Meeting
1. There were three meetings of Buddha Sujāta’s disciples; the first was at Sudhamma, near Sudhammavatī city, where the Buddha taught people who visited him and admitted six million men into the Saṅgha by calling upon them: “Come, monastics,” and recited the Advisory Rules (Ovāda-Pātimokkha) to them.
2. At another time, when Buddha Sujāta descended from Tāvatiṁsa, a meeting of five million monks took place.
3. Still at another time, when the chief disciple, Ven. Sudassana, who sat on the right side of the Buddha, took 400,000 men to the Buddha. These men had decided among themselves to go forth on hearing that the Buddha’s younger brother, Prince Sudassana had become a monk in the presence of the Buddha and had become an Arahat, as they were inspired. The Buddha gave them instructions, made them summoned monastics and recited the Advisory Rules at the meeting with four features.
The Bodhisatta as a Universal Monarch
At that time our Bodhisatta was a Universal Monarch. Hearing that there had appeared a Buddha in the world, he approached the Buddha, listened to the Dhamma discourses, offered his kingship with his seven treasures to the Saṅgha with the Buddha as its head and then he became a monk. The inhabitants of Jambudīpa made themselves monastery attendants, collected taxes from his domain and constantly supplied the Buddha and his Saṅgha with the four requisites of robes, food, shelter and medicines. Then Buddha Sujāta made a prophecy: “He will indeed become a Buddha in future.” Having received the Buddha’s prophecy, the Bodhisatta rejoiced and was determined to fulfil the ten perfections even more energetically.
He joined the Saṅgha of Buddha Sujāta and became accomplished in the studies of the Buddha’s teachings which are of nine divisions together with the discourses and discipline (sutta-vinaya). Thus he contributed to the beauty of the Buddha’s Dispensation.
Having cultivated the practice of meditation on the divine abodes (Brahma-vihāra-bhāvanā), leading to rebirth in the Brahma abode, without absent-mindedness in the three postures of sitting, standing and walking, but not in the posture of lying down, he reached the apex, not only of the eight attainments but also of the five super knowledges. On his death, he was reborn in the world of the Brahmas.
Particulars of Buddha Sujāta
Buddha Sujāta’s birthplace was Sumaṅgala city.
His father was King Uggata and his mother was Queen Pabhāvatī.
He reigned for 9,000 years.
His three palaces were Sirī, Upasirī and Nanda.
His chief consort was Sirinandā, who had 23,000 maids of honour.
His son was Prince Upasena.
He renounced the world riding a horse, after seeing the four omens.
He practised the austerities for nine months.
His two male chief disciples were Ven. Sudassana and Ven. Sudeva.
His attendant was Ven. Nārada.
His two female chief disciples were Ven. Nāgā and Ven. Nāgasamālā.
His Bodhi tree was the Great Bamboo (Mahā-veḷu).
The bamboo plant had a massive trunk, its leaves were so luxuriant that there was no space to let the sunlight through. It was pleasant to look at, straight and big and thus attractive. It grew from one stem and from that one stem came out branches, which were very beautiful, like the feathers of a peacock’s tail being well tied together. The bamboo plant had absolutely no thorns. Its branches spread out in the four directions and were not so sparse, thus providing a delightful, cool and dense shade.
His noble male lay-attendants were the wealthy men, Sudatta and Citta.
His noble female lay attendants were Subhaddā and Padumā.
Buddha Sujāta’s height was 50 cubits. He was endowed with all the good physical qualities.
Buddha Sujāta’s physical radiance, resembling those of past incomparable Buddhas, emanated from various parts of his body towards all directions as much as he desired. They could not be likened to anything as they were beyond all comparisons.
The lifespan, during the time of Buddha Sujāta, was 90,000 years, and living for four-fifths of this lifespan, he saved beings, such as humans, Devas and Brahmas, from the currents of Saṁsāra and placed them on the shores of Nibbāna.
Just as the rising waves look wonderful in the ocean, like the stars and planets twinkling and shining look marvellous in the sky, even so Buddha Sujāta’s Dispensation shone forth with Arahats.
Buddha Sujāta, who was to be likened to the past peerless Buddhas, and his attributes, which were equal to those of the peerless Buddhas, have all vanished. Unsubstantial and futile indeed are all conditioned things!
In this way, Buddha Sujāta, conqueror of the five kinds of death (māra), attained Parinibbāna in Sīlārāma Park. In that very Park the shrine dedicated to him was three miles high.