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Adyar Pamphlets

By Theosophical Publishing House

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Issue No.41 - The Smaller Buddhist Catechism

NAMO TASSA BHAGAVATO ARAHATO SAMMÃSAMBUDDHASSA

Praise be to the Lord, the Holy One, Perfect in Wisdom

PART 1

The Life of the Buddha

1. Q. What is your Religion?

A. Buddhism

2. Q. Who is a Buddhist?

A. A Buddhist is one who follows the Doctrine taught by the Lord Buddha.

3. Q. Who is the Lord Buddha?A. He is the Omniscient Lord who, seeking Nirvãna through many lives, attained to it in His last birth, by His exertions and by His wisdom.

4. Q. What was the name given to Him before He became the Buddha?

A. He was called the Bodhisattva.

5. Q. What books tell us that the Bodhisattva was born many times?

A. Such books as the Jãtaka, Buddhavamsa, and others.

6. Q. What was He in His last birth?

A. He was a noble prince.

7. Q. What was His name?

A. Siddhãrtha Gautama.

8. Q. Who was His father?

A. Çuddhodana, King of the Çãkyas.

9. Q. Who was His mother?

A. Queen Mãyã.

10. Q. Where was He born?

A. In the city of Kapilavastu.

11. Q. Where is Kapilavastu situated?

A. In Madhyadeça in India. [It was situated on the banks of the river Rohinî, about 130 miles due north of the city of Benares. Its geographical position was 27?37 deg, North latitude, and 83?11 deg., East longitude. Rhys Davids; Buddhism, p.25]

12. Q. On what day was He born?

A. He was born on the full-moon day in the month of Vaiçãkha (Wesak).

13. Q. When was He born?

A. About 2,500 years ago.

14. Q. In what kind of palaces did He live?

A. He lived in pleasant palaces surrounded by beautiful parks, where there were lakes and waterfalls, and peacocks dancing with outspread tails.

15. Q. Was He very rich?

A. He had everything He wanted — horses, elephants, beautiful garments and robes embroidered with gold.

16. Q. Did He marry anyone?

A. Yes, He married the beautiful Princess Yaçodharã, and they had a son named Prince Rãhula.

17. Q. Was He happy in all these surroundings?

A. No, He was often very sorrowful.

18. Q. Why was He sorrowful?

A. He was sorrowful because He felt pity for this world which was filled with miserable and evil men.

19. Q. What did He do because He felt pity for the world?

A. He went away to the forest, leaving behind his pleasant palaces, garments and riches.

20. Q. Why did He do this?

A. To find the origin of the cause of sorrow, by spending time in the search for it.

21. Q. Did He find it?

A. Yes, He found it after six years of difficulty and self-restraint.

22. Q. Where was He when He found it?

A. At the foot of a Bo-tree, in the place called Buddha Gaya at the present time.

23. Q. What did He become at this place?

A. He became the Buddha.

24. Q. What does the word Buddha mean?

A. It means “the Awakened,” that is “one who knows all things”.

25. Q. For how many years after He became Buddha did He preach His doctrine?

A. During forty-five years.

26. Q. Who were the disciples who first accepted His doctrine?

A. They were Kondañña, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahãnãma, Assaji.

27. Q. Where was He when He passed into Parinirvãna?

A. In the Sãla flower garden of Malla the prince, in the city of Kusinãrã.

28. Q. Ought we not to love Him, because He found out for us the cause of sorrow?

A. Yes, we ought to love and revere Him with all our hearts.

29. Q. How can we best show Him our love?

A. By following the doctrines which He taught.

The Doctrine

30. Q. What must we say first, before we repeat the formula of the Three Refuges, and that of the Five Precepts?

A. We say: “Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammãsambuddhassa.”

31 Q. What is its meaning?

A. “Praise be to the Lord, the Holy One, Perfect in Wisdom.”

32. Q. After this what does the monk say?

A. He repeats thrice the formula of the Three Refuges, and after him we repeat them three times.

33. Q. What is the first part of the formula of the Three Refuges?

A. “Buddham saranam gacchãmi.”

34. Q. What is its meaning?

A. “I go to the Buddha for refuge.”

35. Q. What is the second part?

A. “Dhammam saranam gacchãmi,.”

36. Q. What is its meaning?

A. “I go to the Truth for refuge.”

37. Q. What is the third part?

A. “Sangham saranam gacchãmi.”

38. Q. What is its meaning?

A. “I go to the Brotherhood of the Noble Ones for refuge.”

39. Q. What is the meaning of the words “dutiyam’ pi”?

A. “ For the second time.”

40. Q. What is the meaning of the words “tatiyam’ pi”?

A. “For the third time.”

41. Q. After repeating three times the formula of the Three Refuges, what is said next?

A. We repeat next the Five Precepts.

42. Q. How do you say the First Precept?

A. Pãnãtipãtã veramani sikkhãpadam samãdiyãmi.”

43. Q. From what do you promise to abstain by this Precept?

A. “I promise to abstain from taking the life of any living creature.”

44. Q. What is the Second Precept?

A. Adinnãdãnã veramani sikkhãpadam samãdiyãmi.”

45. Q. From what do you promise to abstain by this Precept?

A. “I promise to abstain from taking anything which belongs to another (with thievish intent).”

46. Q. What is the Third Precept?

A. “Kãmesu micchãcãrã veramani sikkhãpadam samãdiyãmi.”

47. Q. From what do you promise to abstain by this Precept?

A. “I promise to abstain from the evil indulgence of the bodily passions.”

48. Q. What is the Fourth Precept?

A. “Musãvãda veramani sikkhãpadam samãdiyãmi.”

49. Q. What do you promise not to do by this Precept?

A. “I promise not to say a falsehood (about even the smallest thing).”

50. Q. What is the Fifth precept?

A. “Surã-meraya-majja-pamãda-tthãnã veramani sikkhãpadam samãdiyãmi.”

51. Q. From what do you promise to abstain by this Precept?

A. “I promise not to take any intoxicating liquor or drug which produces drunkenness.”

52. Q. What are the Four Noble Truths?

A. The Four Noble Truths are these: 1. The existence of sorrow; 2. The cause of the origin of sorrow; 3. The destruction of sorrow; and 4. The way to destroy sorrow.

53. Q. Give examples of things that cause sorrow?

A. Birth, decay, death, separation from those we love, associating with objects which are unpleasant, the arising of desire for unattainable objects.

54. Q. How can we escape from these miseries?

A. It can be done by the destruction of the desires which arise from sensations, such as lust, and others.

55. Q. What will happen to you if you do not get rid of desire?

A. Birth over and over again.

56. Q. What will happen to you if you destroy sin?

A. The attainment of Nirvãna.

57. Q. What is Nirvãna?

A. A state of happiness full of peace, which we are unable to understand. [First we have clearly to realise that all existence is misery; then we can understand Nirvãna, for Nirvãna is the absence of misery; Nirvãna is obtained by the destruction of desire, which is the root of misery. (Note by M. Ñanissara.)]

58. Q. In what way by the destruction of desire can one attain Nirvãna?

A. Nirvãna can be attained by following the Noble Eightfold Path, that is, by observing the precepts of the Eightfold Path of the Noble Ones, which destroys sorrow. [ Nirvãna can be comprehended in three ways: by 1. Paccakkha siddi — by experiencing it in one of the four stages of the Path of Holiness.

2. Anumeyya siddhi — by reasoning and analysis. 3. Saddheyya siddhi — by faith in the statements of those who have experienced it. (Note by M. Ñãnissara.)]

59. Q. What is the first division of the Noble Eightfold Path?

A. Samyag Dristi.

60. Q. What does it mean?

A. Right Belief.

61. Q. What doctrine must we not forget, in order to possess Right Belief?

A. Belief in the result of action?

62. Q. What is belief in the result of action?

A. It is believing that a person obtains the result of an action, according to its nature, whether good or bad.

63. Q. Does it not often appear that some wicked persons obtain happiness, when good people obtain misery?

A. Yes, but in the future there will be justice done to both. [The happiness of the wicked person is not the result of his evil acts, but of good acts done in a former time; and similarly the misery of good people is due to former evil acts.]

64. Q. What is the second division of the Noble Path?

A. Samyak Kalpanã

65. Q. What is its meaning?

A. Right Thought.

66. Q. When does Right Thought arise?

A. It arises when a person thinks of getting rid of evil and of having pity on all beings.

67. Q. What is the third division?

A. Samyag Vacana.

68. Q. What is its meaning?

A. It means Right Speech, that is, speaking always the truth, refraining from slander,

speaking kindly and courteously to all, and not engaging in vain conversation.

69. Q. What is the fourth division?

A. Samyak Karmãnta.

70. Q. What is its meaning?

A. Right Action.

71. Q. How can we follow Right Action?

A. By refraining from sins of bodily action, such as destroying living things, and the

others.

72. Q. What is the fifth division?

A. Samyag Ãjiva.

73. Q. What is its meaning?

A. Right Means of Livelihood.

74. Q. What is meant by Right Means of Livelihood?

A. By this is meant living by wealth not obtained by means of actions which are sinful.

75. Q. What is the sixth division?

A. Samyag Virya.

76. Q. What is its meaning?

A. Right Endeavour.

77. Q. What is Right Endeavour?

A. Right Endeavour consists in devoting one’s energies to righteous objects, not thinking of evil things, and increasing good things.

78. Q. What is the seventh division?

A. Samyak Smriti.

79. Q. What is its meaning?

A. Right Remembrance.

80. Q. What is Right Remembrance?

A. Right Remembrance is to bring to mind such thoughts as these: “My body will perish,” “My body is full of corruption,” and others.

81. Q. What is the eighth division?

A. Samyak Samãdhi.

82. Q. What is its meaning?

A. Right Concentration of the Mind.

83. Q. What are the good objects to meditate upon?

A. It is good to meditate upon:

1) the impermanent nature of happiness and sorrow [and the states of meditation (Jhãna) which produce freedom from lust and such sins].

2) the good actions that we can do; and

3) how we can attain Nirvãna.

84. Q. What is the Pãli verse which sums up the whole teaching of the Lord Buddha?

A. Sabbapãpassa akaranam,

Kusalassa upasampadã,

Sacittapariyodapanam;

Etam Buddhãnasãsanam. [ Dhammapada, verse 183.]

85. Q. What does it mean?

A. “Not to do evil,

“To increase good,

“To purify the mind;

“This is the teaching of the Buddhas.”

_____________

Part II

“Not to Do Evil.”

1. Q. What are the sins that we must refrain from?

A. They are ten: three of the body, four of speech, and three of the mind.

2. Q. What are the sins of the body?

A. They are:

1) Taking the life of living creatures.

2) Theft.

3) Evil indulgence of the bodily passions.

3. Q. What are the sins of speech?

A. They are:

1) Saying what is not true.

2) Tale-bearing.

3) Swearing.

4) Profitless conversation.

4. Q. What are the sins of the mind?

A. They are:

1) Covetousness.

2) Malice.

3) Wrong Belief.

5. Q. Should we not include among these ten sins the use of intoxicants?

A. The use of intoxicants is included in the evil indulgence of the bodily passions, since intoxicants cause such evil indulgence.

6. Q. What are the Ten Fetters which bind us down to successive re-births, which we must cast off in order to attain Nirvãna?

A. They are as follows:

1) Sakkãyaditthi: the Delusion of Self.

2) Vicikicchã: Doubt.

3) Silabbata-parãmãsa: Believing that purification comes from the observance of vows and penances, which have been condemned by the Buddha.

4) Kãmarãga: Passions arising from the senses.

5) Vyãpãda (or Patigha): Anger.

6) Rûparãga: Desire for life in a world of form.

7) Arûparãga: Desire for life in a formless world.

8) Mãna : Pride.

9) Uddhacca : Inability to concentrate the mind.

10) Avijjã : Ignorance.

7. Q. What are the principal causes which help sin to arise?

A. They are three: greed, anger and ignorance.

8. Q. What must we do to escape from sin?

A. We must overcome and cut off the roots of greed, anger and ignorance, by following the Noble Eightfold Path.

“To Increase Good”

9. Q. What are the meritorious acts which we must perform?

A. They are ten:

1) Charity.

2) Observing the Precepts.

3) Meditation.

4) Giving an opportunity to others to partake in one’s own good actions.

5) Taking delight in the meritorious acts done by another.

6) Attending upon others.

7). Honouring those worthy of honour.

8) Explaining the Doctrine.

9) Listening to explanations of the Doctrine.

10) Going for refuge to the Three Treasures which are the Buddha, the Doctrine, and the Brotherhood of the Noble Ones. [In the Sinhalese Catechism these are not given in the right order, as here.]

10. Q. What are the duties to be performed by parents towards children?

A.1) To keep them back from sin.

2)To keep them in good conduct, like the observation of the Precepts, and such others.

3) To instruct them in the arts and sciences.

4) To provide them with suitable wives or husbands.

5) To give them sufficient wealth for their needs.

11. Q. What are the duties to be performed by children towards parents?

A. 1) To protect father and mother.

2) To perform the duties owing to them.

3) To uphold the honour of the family.

4) To perform the proper funeral-rites on their death.

12. Q. What are the duties to be performed by pupils towards teachers?

A. 1) To rise from the seat on seeing the teacher.

2)To attend upon him.

3)To obey him.

4)To supply his wants.

5)To learn with diligence.

13 Q. What are the duties to be performed by teachers towards pupils?

A. 1)To train them diligently.

2)To teach them well the sciences.

3) To instruct the pupils without distinction in the arts.

4) To praise their virtues to their friends and superiors.

5) To protect them.

14. Q. What are the duties to be performed by a man or woman towards friends and others?

A. 1) To give them presents

2) To speak kindly to them.

3) To do suitable acts for them.

4) Not to dispute with them.

15. Q. What are the duties of friends towards a man or woman who is their friend?

A. 1) To protect him or her when careless.

2) To guard his or her property under such circumstances.

3) To give a refuge in danger.

4) Not to desert him or her in misfortune.

5) To help the children and relations of such a person.

16. Q. What are the duties to be performed by us towards a Buddhist monk?

A. 1) To do things for him with affection.

2) To speak to him with affection.

3) To think of him with affection.

4) To be always ready to offer hospitality to him.

5) To give him the gifts of four kinds: robes, food, furniture and medicine.

17. Q. What are the duties of a monk towards a layman?

A. 1) To restrain him from sin

2) To establish him in charity and virtue.

3) To teach the Doctrine to him clearly.

4) To remove doubts about the Doctrine learnt by him.

5) To show him the right path to beatitude.

18. Q. What are the duties of a man towards his wife?

A. 1)To speak to her with respect.

2) Not to reproach her.

3) To be faithful to her.

4) To put his property at her command.

5) To give her ornaments and other things according to his power.

19. Q. What are the duties of a wife towards a husband?

A. 1) To do her household work diligently.

2) To be hospitable to his friends and relations.

3) To be faithful to him.

4) To protect his property.

5) To show skill in her duties.

19.a Q. What are the duties of masters towards their servants?

A. 1) To apportion work to them according to their strength.

2)To give them food and wages regularly.

3) To help them in sickness.

4) To share with them unusual delicacies.

5) To give them presents on suitable occasions.

19b Q. What are the duties of a servant towards his master?

A. 1). To rise before him in the morning.

2) To retire later to rest.

3) To take only what the master gives.

4) To work well.

5) To praise him as a good master. [ All the duties mentioned in these twelve questions (10—19b) were explained by the Buddha in His sermon named Sigãlovãda Sutta, of the Sutta Pitaka.

20. Q. In what good actions ought a good Buddhist to spend the days set apart for religion?

A. 1) In giving alms to the monks and beggars.

2) In observing the Precepts.

3) In meditation, and others.

21. Q. What is the form of taking the vows of the Eight Precepts?

A. We first ask a monk or novice, who has been previously informed, to repeat to us the Eight Precepts.

22. Q. How do you ask him?

A. We say to him in Pãli: Okãsa, karuññam katvã tisaranena saddhim atthãngasilam detha me, bhante. Aham, bhante, saranasilam yãcãmi, Dutiyam’pi . . . Tatiyam’pi . . .”

23. Q. What is the meaning of this?

A. The meaning is: “Sir, please give me the Eight Precepts with the Three Refuges. Sir, I ask for the Three Refuges and the Morality. A second time I ask . . .A third time I ask . . .”

24. Q. After that what does the monk say?

A. He says: “Evam vadehi.”

25. Q. Give its meaning.

A. “Repeat this”; and when the person has bowed down, the monk establishes him in the Refuges.

26. Q. After establishing him in the Three Refuges, does the monk say anything?

A. Yes, sometimes he says: “Saranãgamanam— That is entering into the Refuges.”

27. Q. What is the answer to this?

A. “Âtma, bhante—Yes, Sir.”

28. Q. What begins at the end of this?

A. Then begins the repeating of the Eight Precepts.

29. Q. What are they?

A. They are as follows:

1) Pãnãtipãnã veramani sikkhãpadam samãdiyãmi

2) Adinnãdãnã vermani sikkhãpadam samãdiyãmi.

3). Abrahmacariyã veramani sikkhãpadam samãdiyãmi.

4) Musãvãdã veramani sikkhãpadam samãdiyãmi.

5) S u r ã-meraya-majja-pamãda-tthãnã vermani sikkhãpadam samãdiyãmi.

6) Vikãlabhojanã veramani sikkhãpadam samãdiyãmi.

7)Nacca-gita-vãdita-visûkadassana-mãlã-gandha-vilepana-dhãrana-mandana-vibhûsana-tthãnã veramani sikkhã-padam samãdiyãmi.

8) Uccãsayana-mahãsayanã veramani sik-khãpadam samãdiyãmi. [The first five of these eight (excepting the third) are the same as the Five Precepts mentioned in Part 1 of the Catechism. The third Precept here is only a stricter form of the rule of the former third Precept. The meanings of the first, second, fourth and fifth Precepts are given in the answers to questions 43, 45, 49 and 51 of Part 1.]

30. Q. What do you understand by the Third Precept?

A. A person repeating it promises to refrain from all sexual intercourse.

31. Q. What do you understand by the Sixth Precept?

A. A person repeating it promises not to take food at unseasonable times, that is, after midday.

32. Q. What do you understand by the Seventh Precept?

A. By this Precept one promises to refrain from dancing, singing, beating drums, looking at improper shows, using flowers, scents and ointments, wearing ornaments and decorations.

33. Q. What do you understand by the Eighth Precept?

A. By this Precept one promises not to use high, large and luxurious seats and beds.

“To Purify the Mind”

34. Q. What is the advice given by our Lord Buddha to purify the mind?

A. He preached the Truth containing it to the Brotherhood (Sangha) gathered together in the Kûtãgãra Hall in the city of Vesãli.

35. Q. Of what did He there say that the Truth consisted?

A. He said that the Truth He proclaimed was about:

1) The Four Earnest Contemplations.

2) The Four Great Efforts.

3) The Four Requisites for obtaining transcendental powers.

4) The Five Mental Organs.

5) The Five Moral Powers.

6) The Seven kinds of Understanding leading to Divine Wisdom.

7). The Noble Eightfold Path.

36. Q. What are the Four Earnest Contemplations?

A. They are:

1) Kãyãnupassanã: contemplation on the impurities which form the body.

2) Vedanãnupassanã: contemplation on all sensations as sorrow.

3) Cittãnupassanã: contemplation on the mind, which is impermanent.

4) Dhammãnupassanã: contemplation on all existing things as non-substantial.

37. Q. What are the Four Great Efforts?

A. They are the four chief exertions.

38. Q. What are they?

A. They are the efforts:

1) To do no fresh evil.

2) To get rid of evil done.

3) To produce goodness not previously existing. 4) To increase goodness already existing.

39. Q. What are the Four Requisites for obtaining transcendental powers?

A. They are:

1) Chandiddhi-pãda: the will to acquire them.

2) Viriyiddhi-pãda: the energy to realise Nirvãna.

3) Cittiddhi-pãda: controlling the mind.

4) Vimamsiddhi-pãda: investigation.

40. Q. What are the mental Organs and the Moral Powers?

A. The Mental Organs are:

1) Saddhindriya: strong faith.

2) Viriyindriya: strong energy.

3) Satindriya: strong remembrance.

4) Samãdhindriya: earnest contemplation.

5) Paññindriya: great wisdom.

The Moral Powers are:

1) Saddhãbala: power of faith.

2) Viriyabala; power of energy.

3) Satibala: power of remembrance.

4) Samãdhibala: power of concentration.

5) Paññbala: power of wisdom.

41. Q. What are the seven Bojjhangas?

A. They are the seven aids to the obtainment of the knowledge belonging to the state of Arhat.

42. Q. What are they?

A. These are the aids which help a person to obtain the knowledge belonging to the state of Arhat:

1) Sati-sambojjhanga: purification of remembrance.

2) Viriya-sambhojjhanga: increasing energy.

3). Dhammavicaya-sambhojjhanga: discriminative knowledge.

4) Piti-sambhojjhanga: purification of joy.

5) Passaddhi-sambhojjhanga: tranquility of the body and mind, because the sins are destroyed.

6) Samãdhi-sambhojjhanga: concentration of the mind.

7) Upekkhã-sambhojjhanga: serenity [The next division, the Noble Eightfold Path has been explained in Part l.]

43. Q. What are the Four Paths?

A. They are: 1. Çrota-ãpatti, 2. Sakridãgãmi, 3. Anãgãmi, and 4. Arhat.

44. Q. What is Çrota-ãpatti?

A. It is the first stage of the Path entered upon a person attaining Nirvãna.

45. Q. What are the Fetters that have been cast off when a person attains to the fruition of this first stage of the Path?

A. They are Sakkãyaditthi, Vicikicchã, and Silabbata-parãmãsa. (See Q. 6 of Part II for meanings.)

46. Q. What is Sakridãgãmi?

A. It is the second stage of the Path on which a person enters who is on the road to Nirvãna.

47. Q. When a person has obtained the fruition of this stage, how many times will he be born again in this world?

A. He will be born only once more in this world. * [It should be noticed that no Fetters are cast off at this stage.]

48. Q. What is Anãgãmi?

A. It is the third stage of the Path to Nirvãna.

49. Q. What are the Fetters cast off at the Anãgãmi stage?

A. They are Kãmarãga and Patigha.

50. Q. Will a person who has obtained the fruition of the Anãgãmi stage be born again in this world?

A. No, he will never be born again in any Kãmaloka, that is, not in any world below the Rûpa and Arûpa Brahmalokas.

51. Q. What is the stage of Arhat?

A. It is the fourth stage of the Path to Nirvãna.

52. Q. From what Fetters is a person on the Arhat stage free, when he has obtained the fruition of that stage?

A. He is free from Rûparãga, Arûparãga, Mãna, Uddhacca, and Avijjã.

53. Q. What is the disposition of one who is an Arhat?

A. He is free from all sin, he fully understands the impermanency of all things; he has compassion equally on all, he desires to give the utmost happiness to all beings; and he is free from rebirth.

54. Q. Are these thirty-seven divisions of the Doctrine (see Q 35) mundane (Laukika) or transcendental (Lokuttara)?

A. The whole Doctrine, except Sankappa [Sankappa is the same as Right Thought of the Noble Eightfold Path (See Q 65, Part I).] (aspiration) and Piti (joy), is transcendental. Aspiration and Joy also, when accompanied by Purity of Wisdom, [Purity — visuddhi — is of seven kinds. They are the purities of 1. Sîla, conduct; 2. Citta, thought; 3. Ditthi, belief; 4. Kankhãvitarana, conviction; 5. Maggãmaggañãna, certainty about the existence of the Way; 6. Patipãdañãna, progress; 7. Jñana, the Wisdom belonging to the first stage of the Path. (Note by M. Ñãnissara.)] are transcendental; but when accompanied by the other six Purities are sometimes transcendental and sometimes mundane.

“This is the Teaching of the Buddhas”

55. Q. Mention the names of the twenty-eight Buddhas in order.

A. 1. Tanhankara, 2. Medhankara, 3. Saranankara, 4. Dipankara, 5 Kondñña, 6. Mangala, 7. Sumana, 8. Revata, 9. Sobhita, 10.Anomadassi, 11. Paduma, 12. Nãrada, 13. Padumuttara, 14. Sumedha, 15. Sujãta, 16. Piyadassi, 17. Attadassi, 18. Dhammadassi, 19. Siddhattha, 20. Tissa, 21. Phussa, 22. Vipassi, 23. Sikhi, 24. Vessabhû, 25. Kakusandha, 26. Konãgamana, 27. Kassapa, 28. Gotama.

56. Q. What is the name of the Buddha who will appear next?

A. His name is Maitreya (Pãli, Metteyya), “the Compassionate”.

57. Q. Did all the Buddhas proclaim the same Truth?

A. Yes, all the Buddhas proclaimed the same Truth. The qualities of all the Buddhas are the same.

58. Q. Repeat the Pãli words which declare the virtues of the Buddha.

A. “Iti ‘pi So Bhagavã Araham Sammãsam-buddho Vijjãcanasampanno, Sugato Lokavidû Anuttaro Purisadammasãrathi Satthã Devamanussãnam Buddho Bhagavã ‘ti.”

59. Q. Explain it.

A. “Iti ‘pi So Bhagavã,” He is the Lord, “Araham, the Saint, “Sammãsambuddho,” who is perfect in knowledge, ‘ Vijjãcaranasampanno,” Who possesses the knowledge [of the eight kinds and Who has accomplished the fifteen holy practices’], “Sugato,” Who has come [the good journey which led to the Buddhahood], “Lokavidû,” Who knows the three words, ‘Anuttaro,” the Unrivalled, “Purisadammasãrathi,” the Teacher of men to be subdued [by the Doctrine], “Satthã Devamanussãnam,” the Teacher of Gods and men, “Buddho Bhagavã” He is the Lord Buddha.

60. Q. Repeat in Pãli the praises of the Truth.

A. “Svãkkhãto Bhagavatã Dhammo sanditthiko akãliko ehipassiko opanayiko paccatam veditabbo viññûhi ‘ti’ .”

61. Q. Explain it.

A. “Svãkkhãto Bhagavatã Dhammo,’ it is the Truth which was fully explained by the Buddha, “sanditthiko,” producing immediate effects, “akãliko,” which produces results without delay, “ehipassiko,” inviting all comers, “opanayiko,” which leads to [Nirvãna], “paccattam veditabbo viññûhi,” to be understood by the wise for themselves.

62. Q. Repeat in Pãli the praises of the Brotherhood of the Noble Ones.

A. “Supatipanno Bhagavato Sãvakasangho, ujupatipanno Bhagavato Sãvakasangho, ñãyapatipanno Bhagavato Sãvakasangho, sãmicipatipanno Bhagavato Sãvakasangho, yadidam cattãri purisayugãni atthapurisapuggalà esa Bhagavato Sãvakasangho, ãhuneyyo pãhuneyyo dakkhineyyo añjalikaraniyo anuttaram puññakkhettam lokassã ‘ti.”

63. Q. Explain it.

A. “Esa Bhagavato Sãvakasangho,” it is the Order of the disciples of the Buddha, ‘ supatipanno,” who live a holy life, “ujupatipanno,” who live an upright life, “ñãyapatipanno,” who live in the way of wisdom, “sãmicipatipanno,” who live a life fulfilling their duties, “yadidam cattãripurisayugãni atthapurisapuggalã,” the four pairs of persons who form the eight kinds of the Noble Ones, “ãhuneyyo,” worthy of offerings, “pãhuneyyo,” worthy of hospitality, “dakkineyyo,” worthy of gifts, “añjalikaraniyo,” worthy of respectful salutation, “anuttaram puññakkettam lokassa,” who are the best sowing ground for meritorious deeds [by the people].

64. Q. What must we do to revere the Three Treasures?

A. We must keep the Three Treasures — the Buddha, the Truth and the Brotherhood of the Noble Ones — in our minds always, and venerate and revere them with all our hearts.

THE END

Three Gãthãs Taught by the Lord Buddha to the Boy Chatta Mãnavaka

from Chattamãnavaka Vimãna of Vimãna

Vatthu of the Sutta Pitaka

1. Yo vadatam pavaro manujesu,

Sãkyamuni Bhagavã katakicco,

Pãragato balaviriyasamangi,

Tam Sugatam saranattam upemi.

2. Rãgavirãgam anejam asokam,

Dhammam asankhatam appatikûlam,

Madhuram imam pagunam suvibhattam,

Dhammam imam saranattam upemi.

3. Yattha ca dinnam mahapphalam ãhu,

Catusu sucisu purisayugesu,

Attha ca puggala dhammadasã te,

Sangham imam saranattam upemi.

Transalation

1. The Lord Buddha, the Sage of the Çãkyas, is among mankind the best of teachers. He has done that which was to be done, and has crossed [to the other shore, Nirvãna]. He is full of strength and energy. To him, the Blessed One, I go for refuge.2. The Truth is Unconditioned, brings freedom from passion, desire and sorrow; it is free from all stain, and is sweet, plain and logical.

To this Truth I go for refuge.3. Whatever is given to the eight kinds of the Noble Ones, who in pairs form the Four Grades who know the Truth, verily brings great reward. To this Brotherhood of the Noble Ones I go for refuge.