18. The Chronicle of Buddha Phussa

After Buddha Tissa’s Parinibbāna in that aeon of two Buddhas (maṇḍa-kappa), the human lifespan decreased from 100,000 years to ten years and then increased to immeasurables. When it reached 90,000 years on its next decline, Bodhisatta Phussa, on completion of his perfections, was reborn in Tusita which was a practice common to all Bodhisattas. Having accepted the request made by Devas and Brahmas to become a Buddha, he descended to the human world to be conceived in the womb of Queen Sirimā, consort of King Jayasena, in the city of Kāsika. When ten months had elapsed, the Bodhisatta was born in Sirimā Park.

Early Life

When Prince Tissa came of age, he lived in three palaces, Garuḷapakkha, Haṁsa and Suvaṇṇabhārā. Being entertained and served by 30,000 female attendants headed by Princess Kisā Gotamī, he thus enjoyed a divine-like royal household life for 9,000 years.

When the Bodhisatta, Prince Phussa, had seen the four omens while thus enjoying life, and when Princess Kisā Gotamī had given birth to a son, named Anupama, he renounced the world, riding an elephant. Ten million men joined him and also became recluses themselves.

Awakening

With these ten million recluses, the Bodhisatta Phussa practised the austerities for six months. Thereafter, leaving his followers, he cultivated the practice of living a solitary life for seven days. On the full-moon day of May (Vesākha), the day of his Awakening, he partook of the milk rice offered by Sirivaḍḍhā, daughter of a certain wealthy man of a certain town, and spent the daytime in the local Indian Rosewood (Siṁsapā) grove. In the evening, he went alone to the Emblic Myrobalan (Āmalaka) Mahā Bodhi tree. On the way, he accepted eight handfuls of grass offered by an ascetic, Sirivaḍḍha by name. As soon as he spread the grass at the foot of the Mahā Bodhi tree, there appeared the unconquered seat, measuring 38 cubits. Sitting cross-legged on the seat, he became a Buddha in the same manner as previous Buddhas.

Three Occasions of the Buddha’s Teaching

1. After becoming a Buddha, Buddha Phussa stayed in the neighbourhood of the Mahā Bodhi tree for 49 days. Having agreed to the request made by a Brahma for his teaching, he contemplated who he should teach first and he saw the 10 million monks, who were his companions in renunciation and who were endowed with past meritorious deeds which could lead to the paths and fruitions. By his psychic power, he immediately appeared at the Deer Park, called Isipatana, near the city of Saṅkassa. In the midst of these recluses, the Buddha taught the Dhamma Wheel (Dhamma-cakka) discourse to all the listeners, as had been done by former Buddhas. Then 1,000 billion Devas and humans attained the paths and fruitions. [177]

2. At another time, King Sirivaḍḍha of Bārāṇasī, having abandoned his great wealth, became an ascetic. Nine million people did the same as the king. Buddha Phussa went to the place of these ascetics and taught them the Dhamma. Then nine million beings attained the paths and fruitions.

3. Still at another time, Buddha Phussa taught to his son, Prince Anupama. Then eight million Devas and humans attained the paths and fruitions.

Three Occasions of the Disciples’ Meeting

1. There were three meetings of Buddha Phussa’s disciples. The first took place at Kaṇṇakujja. There, Prince Surakkhita and the Brahmin chaplain’s son, Dhammasena, both his future chief disciples and residents of the city, with six million men welcomed the Buddha who was on a visit to the city. They also respectfully invited him and performed a great alms giving ceremony for seven days. After listening to the Buddha’s discourse, they developed faith in him and became monks together with their six million companions and together they became Arahats. In the midst of these Arahats, the Buddha recited the Advisory Rules (Ovāda-Pātimokkha).

2. At another time, at the assembly of his relatives headed by his father, King Jayasena of the city of Kāsi, the Buddha narrated the Chronicles of the Buddhas (Buddha-vaṁsa). Having listened to the chronicle five million people became summoned monastics and became Arahats. At the meeting of these five million Arahats, Buddha Phussa recited the Advisory Rules.

3. Still at another time, when Devas and humans discussed what constituted the blessings (maṅgala) leading to prosperity in the world, but could not agree on an answer acceptable to all, and when they put the same question to Buddha, he taught the Discourse on the Blessings (Maṅgala-sutta, Snp 2.4). After listening to this discourse, four million people became monastics and became Arahats. In the midst of these Arahats, the Buddha recited the Advisory Rules.

The Bodhisatta as King Vijitāvī

At the time of Buddha Phussa our Bodhisatta was King Vijitāvī, in the city of Arindama. Having listened to the Buddha’s discourse, he developed faith in him, and performed a great alms giving by giving his city, and he became a monastic and learned the Three Baskets. Being well-versed in the Collections, he disseminated the Dhamma to all people, and also fulfilled the perfection of morality.

Then Buddha Phussa, a noble leader of the three worlds, made a prophecy concerning the Bodhisatta monastic Vijitāvī: “In 92 aeons from the present one, this monastic Vijitāvī will become a Buddha, Gotama by name.” Having listened to Buddha Phussa’s prophecy, the Bodhisatta Vijitāvī was filled with devotional faith and was determined to fulfil the ten perfections even more energetically.

Having become a monastic and a servant in the Dispensation of Buddha Phussa, and becoming accomplished in the studies of the Buddha’s teachings which are of nine divisions together with the discourses and discipline (sutta-vinaya), the noble Bodhisatta contributed to the glory of the Buddha’s Dispensation.

Without lying down at all, meditating only in the three postures of sitting, standing and walking, the Bodhisatta developed the sublime modes of living (Brahma-vihāra) without [178] negligence, and attained not only the eight attainments but also the apex of the five super knowledges, and was reborn in the Brahma world.

Particulars of Buddha Phussa

Buddha Phussa’s birthplace was Kāsi city.

His father was King Jayasena and his mother was Queen Sirimā.

He reigned for 9,000 years.

His three palaces were Garuḷapakkha, Haṁsa and Suvaṇṇabhārā.

His chief consort was Kisā Gotamī, who had 30,000 maids of honour.

His son was Prince Anupama.

The vehicle he used in his renunciation, after seeing the four omens, was an elephant.

He practised the austerities for six months.

His two male chief disciples were Ven. Surakkhita and Ven. Dhammasena.

His attendant was Ven. Sabhiya.

His two female chief disciples were Ven. Cālā and Ven. Upacālā.

His Bodhi tree was an Emblic Myrobalan (Āmalaka).

His noble male lay supporters were the wealthy men Dhanañjaya and Visākha.

His noble female supporters were Padumā and Nāgā.

Buddha Phussa was 58 cubits tall.

He shone forth like the sun and was endowed with the pleasing qualities of the moon.

The lifespan in the aeon in which he appeared was 90,000 years. He lived for four-fifths of the lifespan. He rescued beings, such as humans, Devas and Brahmas, from the flood waters of Saṁsāra and placed them on the shore of Nibbāna.

Endowed with unparalleled retinue and fame, Buddha Phussa, together with his Arahat disciples, attained Parinibbāna and came to the end of their final existence.

In this way, Buddha Phussa, conqueror of the five kinds of deaths (māra), attained Parinibbāna in a park named Sena, near the city of Kusinārā. In accordance with his resolve, his relics dispersed all over Jambudīpa and were honoured by humans, Devas and Brahmas.

[For more about this Buddha see the story forming the basis on the Beyond the Walls discourse in chapter 15.]