15. The Chronicle of Buddha Dhammadassī
After Buddha Atthadassī had attained Parinibbāna in that aeon Which was a Vara-kappa as it was a period in which three Buddhas appeared but which should be called Maṇḍa-kappa because it was full of pleasing, spotless, special attributes. the lifespan of human beings decreased gradually from 100,000 years to ten years and then it again increased to immeasurables. When the lifespan reached 100,000 years on its next decrease, Bodhisatta Dhammadassī was reborn in Tusita on complete fulfilment of the perfections which was a practice common to all Bodhisattas. Having accepted the requests made by Devas and Brahmas to become a Buddha, he descended to the human world to be conceived in the womb of Queen Sunandā, consort of King Saraṇa, in the city of Saraṇa. Ten months thereafter the Bodhisatta was born in Saraṇa Royal Park.
Since his birth, unrighteous rules and codes applied in lawsuits had all automatically disappeared from the law books, while righteous ones had remained. Therefore, when the prince was to be named, he was given the name of Dhammadassī by learned omen-reading men, and his relatives.
Early Life
When Bodhisatta Dhammadassī came of age, he lived in three palaces: Araja, Viraja and Sudassana. Being entertained and served by 43,000 female attendants headed by Princess Vicikoḷī, he thus enjoyed a divine-like royal household life for 8,000 years.
After he had seen the four omens and after his Princess Vicikoḷī had given birth to a son, named Puññavaḍḍhana, Bodhisatta Dhammadassī, gentle like a celestial being and experiencing a divine life, woke up at midnight. Sitting on his bed, he saw the various loathsome conditions of the female attendants who were asleep. With his mind greatly disturbed, he decided to renounce the world. No sooner had he decided than Sudassana Palace, which was occupied by him and his fourfold army, rose to the sky and travelled like a second sun, as if a flying celestial mansion, and descended near the Bimbijāla Mahā Bodhi tree.
The Bodhisatta then put on the lotus-robes offered by a Brahma and getting off the palace, he stood not far from it. The palace then travelled through the sky again and landed on the ground encompassing the Bodhi tree. Female courtiers and their followers got down from the palace and stayed at a distance of half a mile. From among these people the male folk donned the yellow robes joining the Bodhisatta in renunciation. Those who did so numbered about 1,000 billion.
Awakening
After practising the austerities for seven days, Bodhisatta Dhammadassī ate the milk rice offered by Princess Vicikoḷī on the full moon day of May (Vesākha), the day of his Awakening, and spent the daytime in the local plum grove. In the evening, he went alone to the Mahā Bodhi tree. On the way, he accepted eight handfuls of grass from Sirivaḍḍha, the watchman of the barley-field. As soon as he spread the grass at the foot of the Bimbijāla Bodhi tree, there appeared the unconquered seat, measuring 53 cubits. Sitting cross-legged on that seat, he become a Buddha, in the same manner as previous Buddhas.
Three Occasions of the Buddha’s Teaching
1. After becoming a Buddha, the Buddha stayed in the neighbourhood of the Mahā Bodhi tree for 49 days. Having accepted a Brahma’s request for his teaching, he contemplated who he should teach first. He saw the 1,000 billion monks, who had renounced the world along with him, who had done meritorious deeds in the past that would lead to the paths and fruitions. By his psychic power, he immediately appeared at the Deer Park called Isipatana, which was a place where flying ascetics, masters of mundane absorptions, normally alighted, and which was eighteen leagues from the Mahā Bodhi tree.
On seeing the Buddha from a distance, the 1,000 billion recluses welcomed him by performing various duties faithfully and finally taking their seats around him. Then the Buddha taught the Dhamma Wheel (Dhamma-cakka) discourse, which was also taught by previous Buddhas, to these recluses and all the Devas and humans who had come to listen to him. By the end of the discourse, 1,000 billion beings attained the paths and fruitions.
2. Once, thereafter, in the town of Tagara, King Sañjaya, having seen the disadvantages of sensual pleasures and the advantages of renunciation, became an ascetic. Following his example, 900 million men also became ascetics. All of them achieved the five super knowledges and the eight attainments. Seeing them endowed with meritorious deeds leading to the paths and fruitions, the Buddha appeared at Anaya’s hermitage. He stood in the sky and taught a discourse that suited their inclinations and dispositions. Thus, the Buddha helped them attain the knowledge of the path known as the vision of the Dhamma (Dhamma-cakkhu).
3. At still another time, the Lord of the Devas, wishing to listen to a discourse, approached the Buddha with his retinue. When the Buddha taught them a discourse, 800 million them attained the paths and fruitions.
Three Occasions of the Disciples’ Meeting
1. There are three meetings (sannipāta) of Buddha Dhammadassī’s disciples. The first meeting took place at Saraṇa city, where Buddha Dhammadassī caused his half-brothers, Prince Paduma and Prince Phussa, and their retinues to become monks and observe the Rains Retreat (Vassa) in that city. During the Rains Retreat and in the midst of one billion monks who had become Arahats, the Buddha performed the Invitation of the Pure (Visuddhi-pavāraṇā).
2. At another time, Buddha Dhammadassī taught Abhidhamma in Tāvatiṁsa and descended back to the human world. Then one billion monks assembled.
3. Still at another time, Buddha Dhammadassī explained the advantages of the thirteen ascetic practices (dhutaṅgas) and proclaimed Hārita, a great disciple and Arahat, to be the foremost among those who engaged in the ascetic practices. Then, at the meeting of 800 million monks, he recited the Advisory Rules (Ovāda-Pātimokkha).
The Bodhisatta as Sakka
At that time, our Bodhisatta was Sakka, the Lord of the Devas. Being accompanied by Devas of two divine abodes, the Cātumahārājika and the Tāvatiṁsa, he visited the Buddha and honoured
Having heard Buddha Dhammadassī’s prophecy, Sakka the Bodhisatta, became extremely pleased and resolved to fulfil the perfections even more energetically.
Particulars of Buddha Dhammadassī
Buddha Dhammadassī’s birthplace was Saraṇa city.
His father was King Saraṇa and his mother was Queen Sunandā.
He reigned for 8,000 years.
His three palaces were Araja, Viraja and Sudassana.
His chief consort was Vicikoḷī, who had 43,000 maids of honour.
His son was Puññavaḍḍhana.
The vehicle he used in renunciation, after seeing the four omens, was a palace.
He practised the austerities for seven days.
His two male chief disciples were Ven. Paduma and Ven. Phussa.
His attendant was Ven. Sunetta.
His two female chief disciples were Ven. Khemā and Ven. Sabbanāmā.
His Bodhi tree was a Bimbijāla.
His noble male lay supporters were the wealthy persons Subhadda and Kaṭissaha.
His noble female lay supporters were Sāḷiyā and Kāḷiyā.
Buddha Dhammadassī, who had as his equals only peerless Buddhas, was 80 cubits tall.
He was glorious with power in the 10,000 world-element. Buddha Dhammadassī was majestic like the Sāla tree in full bloom or like the lightning or the sun at midday that brightens the sky.
Buddha Dhammadassī, who was endowed with unparallel might and the five eyes, lived the whole lifespan of his time which was 100,000 years.
Having displayed his power and knowledge and purified his teaching so that it had no stain, the Buddha attained Parinibbāna with his Arahat disciples and disappeared like the moon that vanishes after shining in the sky.
In this way, the greatly energetic Buddha Dhammadassī attained Parinibbāna in the Sāla Park, in the city of Sālavatī. A three-leagues high shrine was erected in the Park and dedicated to him.