Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahatto Sammasambuddhassa
During the period from
the time of Buddha Gotama to the minimum life span, the Buddha's Dispensation (Buddha-sasana) will disappear. When the Buddha agreed to create
the Bhikkhuni Sangha, he told Ven. Ananda that the Sasana would last only half as long because of this. Instead of lasting
one thousand years, it would last five hundred years. The commentary on the
Abhidhamma text, Dhammasangani, says that when the First Buddhist Council
convened by Ven. Maha-Kassapa rehearsed the Pali Canon, this made it possible
for the Sasana to endure for five thousand years.[48]
The commentaries on the Vinaya Pitaka[49] and the Anguttara-nikaya[50] say that the eight important rules which
the Buddha gave to the Bhikkhuni Sangha will make his Teachings last for five
thousand years rather than five hundred. There will be one thousand years for
Arahats who attain analytical insight, one thousand years for Arahats without
those attainments, one thousand years for Non-returners, one thousand years for
Once-returners, and one thousand years for Stream-winners. After these five
thousand years of penetration of the true Doctrine (pativedha-sadhamma),[51]
the accomplishment in the texts (pariyatti-dhamma) will remain. After the
accomplishment in the texts disappears, the signs (linga) will continue for a
long time.
In the commentary to the Theragatha[52] the Sasana is said to consist of five periods: (1) the age
of deliverance (vimutti-yuga), (2) the age of concentration(samadhi-yuga), (3) the age of morality (sila-yuga), (4) the age of learning [the texts] (suta-yuga), and (5) the age of generosity (dana-yuga). Ven. Dhammapala says, conerning the
disappearance of learning, "In a region where there is no purity of
morality, accomplishment (in the texts) remains through taking up great
learning, through the desire to acquire, etc. But when accomplishment in the
summary [i.e., the Patimokkha] is completley ended, it disappears. From that
time on, only the mere sign (linga) remains. Then, having accumu- lated riches
in various ways, they give away gifts (dana); this, truly, is the last
right practice. Then, [the period starting] after the disappearance of learning
is the last time (pacchima-kala). Others say that it is from the time of the
disappearance of morality." According to the tradition in Burma, the Sasana will last five thousand years. The five periods will occur twice.
The first half of the Sasana has just passed, with each of the five periods
lasting five hundred years. We are now in the second half, when these periods
will be repeated, each lasting for another five hundred years.
In the Anagatavamsa
commentary, the Buddha is said to preface the account of the future Buddha Ariya
Metteyya by saying his own dispensation will disappear in five stages: (1) the
disappearance of analytical insight (patisambhida), (2) the disappearance of the Paths and Fruition States, (3) the
disappearance of the practice (patipatti), (4) the disappearance of
the texts (pariyatti), and (5) the disappearance of the Sangha.
Other commentaries also
speak in terms of five stages of disappearance(antaradhana) of the Sasana:[53] (1) First, there
will be the disappearance of attainment (adhigama), which would correspond
to the age of deliverance. (2) The second disappearance is of the practice (patipatti), which corresponds to the ages of concentration
and morality. (3) The disappearance of accomplishment in the texts (pariyatti) is third and corresponds to the age of learning.
(4) The fourth disappearance is of the signs (linga). During this period,
the only good action left is making gifts to those who wear a yellow strip of
cloth around their necks, so this would correspond to the age of generosity.
When this disappearance occurs, five thousand years will have passed.[54] After
this period there occurs (5) the disappearance of the relics (dhatu). When the relics no longer receive honour, they
will assemble at the seat where the Buddha attained Awakening under the Great
Bodhi tree. There, they will make an effigy of the Buddha and perform a marvel
similar to the Twin Marvel and will teach the Doctrine. No human being will be
present, only Devas from the ten thousand world systems will listen, and many
of them will attain release. After that, the relics will be burned up without
remainder.[55]
-ooOoo-
FOOTNOTES:
48.
As 27, see Expos. 35.
49.
Sp 1291.
50.
Mp IV 136f.
51.
Ven. Ledi Sayādaw (MB
169) calls these five thousand years the age ofAriyas (Noble Ones).
52.
Th-a III 89.
53.
] See the commentary on
A (Mp I 87), Moh 201-203, and the extract from the Anag commentary (JPTS, 1886, pp. 33-36; translated in BT 481-486).
54.
The number of years are
mentioned only in the Anag commentary.
55.
Some texts speak of
three disappearances. See CPD under antaradhana for references.
Published by the Sayagyi U Ba Khin Memorial Trust, IMC-UK, Splatts
House, Heddington, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 0PE, England,
Tel: +44 1380 850 238, Fax: +44 1380 850 833.
Registered Charity No 280134.
Tel: +44 1380 850 238, Fax: +44 1380 850 833.
Registered Charity No 280134.
This publication is one of several marking the tenth anniversary
of Mother Sayamagyi and Sayagyi U Chit Tin's
coming out of Burma to continue their work in the Tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
by teaching the Buddha-Dhama in the West.
coming out of Burma to continue their work in the Tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
by teaching the Buddha-Dhama in the West.
The gift of the Dhamma surpasses all other gifts.
Dedicated to our much revered teacher the late Sayagyi U Ba Khin (Thray Sitthu)
to mark the 89th anniversary of his birth in March 1899.
to mark the 89th anniversary of his birth in March 1899.
-ooOoo-
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