Appendix A:
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahatto Sammasambuddhassa
Sariputta of great
wisdom, the leader Upatissa, the firm general of the Doctrine, approached the
leader of the world and asked the Conqueror about his own doubts with reference
to the future Buddha: "What will the wise Buddha immediately after you be
like? I wish to hear this in detail. Please tell me, o Seeing One."
Hearing the Thera's words, the Blessed One said this:
It is not possible for
anyone to describe at length Ajita's great accumulated merit which is not
small, which is of great fame. I will tell (you about) it in part. Listen, o
Sariputta. In this auspicious world cycle, in the future, in a crore of years,
there will be an Awakened One named Metteyya, best of men, of great merit,
great wisdom, great knowledge, great fame, great power, great steadfastness; he
will be born, one who sees.
Having great rebirth,
(great) mindfulness, full of wisdom, of great learning, he will be a preacher,
a knower, one who sees well, who touches and plunges into the highest goal. He
will be born, that Conqueror.
At that time, there will
be a royal city named Ketumati, twelve leagues long and seven leagues
wide, full of men and women, adorned with palaces, frequented by men and
women, incomparable, rightly protected.
There will be a king
named Sankha, of limitless strength and vehicles, possessing the seven jewels,
a Wheel-turning Monarch of great power, having psychic powers, fame, enjoying
all sensual pleasures; and he will preach the doctrine of quiescence that
destroys all its opponents. A well-made palace there, like a divine
palace, will arise through his merit. (It will be) resplendant with many
jewels, surrounded by balustrades, well designed, delightful, resplendant, very
tall, the best, hard to look at, harming the eyes. The jewel palace that came
into existence for King Maha-Panadassa will rise up for him and King Sankha
will live in it.
And then, in that city,
there will be various streets here and there, delightful lotus ponds, well
built, with beautiful banks, 16 full to the brim of fragrant, clear, clean,
cool, sweet water, (with banks) strewn with sand, (ponds) covered with red and
blue lotuses, accessible to all people at all times. There will be seven rows
of palm trees and walls of seven colours made of jewels encircling all the
city. The royal city of Kusavati at that time will be Ketumati. In squares at
the gate(s) of the city there will be shining wishing trees, (one) blue, (one)
yellow, (one) red, and (one) white. There will have come into being divine
clothes and divine ornaments hanging there, all sorts of wealth and
possessions.
At that time, in the
middle of the city, there will be four halls, facing the four directions, and
there will be (another) wishing tree produced by his merit. Hanging from those
wishing trees there will be cotton cloth, sheaths, flaxen cloth of Kodum
produced by his merit. Hanging from those wishing trees there will be
tambourines, tambours, and small drums produced by his merit. Hanging from
those wishing trees there will be encircling bracelets and necklaces made of
jewels produced by his merit. Hanging from those wishing trees there will be
"high" oranments, "blooming-face" ornaments, bracelets and
girdles produced by his merit. And hanging from those wishing trees there will
be many other ornaments and decorations of different sorts.
Through the action of
beings' merits, men will enjoy self-generated rice that has no
"dust," no chaff, that is pure, sweet- smelling, with grains ready
husked, ripened without cultivation. A sixteenth of (today's) ambana (measure)
will be 2,270 cartloads. And at that time one grain will produce two tumbas -
they are called rice grains - produced by the action of beings' merits. The men
who live in Ketumati in the kingdom of Sankha will wear armour and braclets.
Whatever they want will be fulfilled. They will have happy faces. They will wear
large earrings. Their bodies will be covered with yellow sandalwood paste. They
will wear garments from Kasi. They will be of great wealth, rich; they will be
waked by drums and lutes. They will constantly be exceedingly happy in body and
mind.
Jambudipa will be ten
thousand leagues, without thorns, clear, with green grass. There will be three
diseases: desire, hunger, and old age. The women will marry at the age of five
hundred. They will always be in unity, congenial, without disputes. The vines,
trees, and bushes will be equipped with fruit and flowers. There will be a
grass four-inches high that will be as soft as cotton. There will be even rains
and gentle winds, neither too hot nor too cold. There will always be a
beautiful climate. The rivers and ponds will not lack (in water). Here and
there in the districts, the pure sand will not be rough. It will be scattered
around like pearls the size of peas and beans. It will be delightful like an
adorned garden.
Here and there, there
will be villages and towns very close together and full of people. (The
villages and towns) will be like a great forest of reeds and bamboo, full of
people, I think, at a cockflight's (distance), without interval. Trading cities
will be filled with men and women who will be prosperous, rich and tranquil,
free from danger and in good health. They will wander about festivals, always
joyful, always playing, extremely happy. They will rejoice, happy and pleased.
There will be much food and water, much to eat, much meat, drink, and water.
Jambudipa will be delightful, like the Alakamanda of the Devas or the broad
capital of the Kurus.
One named Ajita (will be
born), Metteyya, the best of two-footed beings, with the thirty-two excellent
marks and the minor characteristics, of golden complexion, without stain, very
splendid, resplendent, of the highest fame, glorious, of perfect form, of good
sight, of great power, incomparable. He will be born in a Brahman family, with
great wealth and possessions, and of excellent family. There will be no dispute
concerning his birth. (Four) palaces made of jewels will have come into being
for Ajita: Sirivaddha, Vaddhamana, Siddhattha, and Candaka. Ajita's female
attendants will be women perfect in all their limbs, adorned with (all kinds
of) ornaments, small, medium, and large. There will be a complete (retinue of)
one hundred thousand women fully adorned. Candamukhi will be his wife.
Brahmavaddhana will be his son. He will delight in great happiness, be joyful,
and endowed with pleasure. He will enjoy all fame like Nandana and
Vasava. He will live in a household for eight thousand years.
At some time, he will go
to a park for pleasure to amuse himself. Seeing the danger in sensual pleasures
and being wise in accordance with the nature of Bodhisattas, he will see the
four signs which destroy sensual pleasures: an old man, a sick man, a dead man,
and a happy wanderer. He will go forth. Having sympathy for all beings, he will
become averse to sensual pleasures. Not looking for the unsurpassed, great
happiness and bliss in seeking honour, he will go forth. He will undertake the
practice of exertion for seven days. That Conqueror will go forth, leaping up
(into the air) with his palace. Ajita will go forth, honoured by a great group
of people, friends and companions, blood relatives, a fourfold army, an
assembly of the four castes, and 84,000 princesses.
When Metteyya has gone
forth, at that time, 84,000 Brahmans who are skilled in the Vedas will go
forth. At that time, both of the brothers, Isidatta and Purana will go forth
(with) 84,000 (other people). The twins, Jatimitta and Vijaya, of unlimited
wisdom, will approach that Perfect Buddha from the 84,000. The householder
named Suddhika and the lay woman Sudhana will approach the perfect Buddha from
that 84,000. The lay disciple named Sangha and the lay woman named Sangha will
approach that perfect Buddha from the 84,000. The householder named Saddhara
and the renowned Sudatta will approach that perfect Buddha out of the 84,000.
The woman named Yasavati and the renowned Visakha will be honoured by men and
women. They will go forth in renunciation on the admonition of Metteyya. Other
citizens and many people from the country, and no few nobles, Brahmans,
merchants, and workers, inclined to renunciation, a great crowd of all sorts of
birth, will then go forth, following the going forth of Metteyya.
On the day that Wise One
goes forth in renunciation, on that very day of renouncing, he will approach
the dais of the tree of awakening. In the place of the unconquered Bulls Among
Men, on that supreme seat of awakening, seated in a cross-legged position, the
One of Great Fame will be awakenend. The Conqueror will go to the excellent
garden Nagavana in full flower, and there he will set in motion the
incomparable Wheel of the Doctrine: misery, the arising of misery, the
overcoming of misery, and the Noble Eightfold Path leading to the cessation of
misery. Then, there will be a gathering of men all around for one hundred
leagues when that protector of the world sets in motion the Wheel of the
Doctrine. Then, very many Devas will approach the Conqueror there, and he will
free 100,000 crores from their bondage. Then, that king Sankha, having given
his jewel palace to the Sangha with the Conqueror at its head, having given another
great gift to the poor, the needy, and to beggars, hurrying along with this
queen, he will approach the Perfect Buddha. Through the power of the great king
and his limitless force of charriots, he will approach the Conqueror
accompanied by 90,000 crores (of people). Then the Perfect Buddha will beat the
drum of the Doctrine, the excellent and highest sound of the kettle drum of the
undying, making known the Four Truths. The company of people accompanying the
king, all 90,000 crores without exception, will become "Come Bhikkhu"
monks.
Then Devas and men will
approach the Leader of the World and ask the Conqueror a question concerning
Arahatship. That Conqueror will answer them and 80,000 crores will attain
Arahatship. That will be the third penetration. The first assembly will be of
100,000 crores of those whose taints are destroyed, who are spotless, of
peaceful minds, venerable ones. When the Blessed One proclaims the Invitation
(to declare purity) at the end of the rainy season, that Conqueror will be surrounded
by 90,000 crores. And when the Sage has gone in seclusion to the golden and
silver Gandhamadana slope of the Himavanta mountain range, he will enjoy the
sport of meditation (accompanied by) 80,000 crores of those whose taints are
destroyed, who are spotless, of peaceful minds, venerable ones. 100,000 crores
of those who possess the six higher knowledges, who possess great psychic
power, will constantly surround that Protector of the World, Metteyya.
Skilled in
discriminating knowledge, knowing the words and the explanation (of the
Doctrine), very learned, expert in the Doctrine, knowledgeable, adorning the
Sangha, well tamed, gentle, firm, they will surround that Conqueror. That Naga
(the Buddha) will be honoured by those monks who will be Nagas like him. He who
will have crossed over, together with those who have crossed over, who are at
peace, who assemble in peace. Together with an order of disciples surrounding
that Great Sage, the Compassionate One, the Sympathetic One, Metteyya, greatest
of two-footed beings, raising up many individuals and Devas, will bring
them to Nibbana. That Conqueror will wander around the towns and villages and
capitals. He will beat the drum of the Doctrine. He will sound the conch shell
of the Doctrine. He will proclaim the spiritual sacrifice. He will raise the
banner of the Doctrine. He will roar the lion's roar, set in motion the
excellent wheel (of the Doctrine), and cause men and women to drink the drink
of truth with its excellent taste. That Conqueror will wander for the sake of
all beings, both rich and poor, causing many people who are capable of being
awakened to be awakened.
The Seeing One will
cause some to take refuge (in the Triple Gem), some to take the five moral
precepts, and some to undertake the ten skilful (actions). He will give some
the state of being a novice and the four excellent Fruition States. He will
give some discriminating knowledge into the incomparable Doctrine. The Seeing
One will give some the eight excellent attainments. He will give some the three
knowledges and the six higher knowledges. That Conqueror will admonish (a
large) group of people (to undertake) that practice. Then the Teaching of the
Conqueror Metteyya will be wide spread.
Seeing people capable of
being awakened, that Sage will go 100,000 leagues in a moment and will cause
them to be awakened. At that time, Metteyya's mother will be named Brahmavati,
his father will be named Subrahma and will be the priest of King Sankha. His
foremost lay disciples will be Asoka and Brahmadeva. The (lay) attendant Siha
will attend on that Conqueror. Paduma and Sumana will be his foremost female
disciples. Sumana and Sangha will be his foremost personal attendants. Yasavati
and Sangha will be his foremost female attendants. The Naga tree will be the
awakening (place) for that Blessed One. Its trunk will be two thousand cubits.
It will have 20,000 branches with curved tips (always) moving. It will shine
like the outspread tail of a peacock. The tips (of the branches) will be
continually in flower and fragrant with a heavenly smell. The blossoms will be
the size of wheels, with enough pollen to fill a nali measure. (The tree) will
send its perfume in all directions for ten leagues, both with and against the
wind. It will scatter its flowers all around the throne of awakening. People
from the country, coming together there, will smell the excellent odour and
pour forth words (of admiration), rejoicing in its odour. There will be a happy
fruition of meritorious deeds for that venerable one, the Best of Buddhas,
whose unimaginable radiance will spread out (like the smell of) the flowers.
That Conqueror will be
eighty-eight cubits tall. That Teacher's chest will be twenty- five cubits in
diameter. The Seer will have broad eyes with thick eyelashes. His eyes will be
pure, not blinking day or night. His physical eye will see small or large
things in all directions for ten leagues without obstruction. His radiance will
stream forth as far as twenty-five leagues. That Conqueror will shine like a
streak of lightening or a candlestick. He will shine like the sun, resembling a
garland of jewels. His (thirty-two major) marks and (eighty) secondary
marks will at all times be seen as rays. Many hundreds of thousands of
different sorts of rays will fall down. At every footstep (he takes) a
beautiful flowering lotus will grow. (The lotuses will be) thirty cubits
(across) with even petals and twenty-five minor petals. The stamens will be
twenty cubits long and the pericaps will be sixteen cubits long. Inside the red
lotuses (the flowers) will be filled with very red pollen. The Kamavacarika
Devas will make columns of honour and Naga kings and Supanna (Devas) will
decorate them. There will be eight columns of gold, eight of silver,
eight of jewels, and eight made of coral. There will be many hundreds of flags
hanging there disporting themselves adorned garlands of flags ornamented with
many precious things. There will be awnings adorned with jewels and resembling
the moon. There will be many jewelled head ornaments with nets of small bells
surrounding them. They will scatter fragrant, sweet-smelling, perfumed
flowers, and different sorts of powder, both human and divine, and a variety of
cloths of diverse colours, beautiful, of the five colours. They will all sport
around, having faith in the Buddha. There will be gateways there with strings
of jewels, a thousand (cubits) high, delightful, beautiful, unobstructed and
well-formed. They will be seen to be shining, with their radiance widespread
all around.
The Buddha, at the head
of the Order of Monks, will go in their midst, like Brahma in his assembly or
lnda in his palace. When the Buddha goes (anywhere), they will go; when he
stays (in a place), they will stay; when the Teacher sits or lies down together
with his assembly, they will always practise the (same) four postures. There
will be these honours as well as others, both human and divine. There will
constantly be many sorts of marvels to honour Metteyya through the power of his
endless merit.
Having seen that marvel,
many people of various births, (many) men with their families, will only
abandon the Teacher as their refuge at the cost of their lives. Whoever
practices the holy life after hearing the word of the Sage, that person will go
beyond journeying-on, which is subject to death and difficult to escape from.
Many householders will purify the eye of the Doctrine by means of the ten
meritorious acts and the three types of right action. Many will be destined for
heaven through being accomplished in the traditional learning and texts, having
purified (themselves) through respect for him, and through following the true
Doctrine. It would not be possible to describe in every detail their fame which
will be so great. They will be continually very happy. When they reach the end
of their time (in that life), those men will have great fame as well as
happiness. Life, beauty, and strength, and heavenly bliss (in a heavenly world)
will be theirs. They will experience the happiness of sensual pleasures for as
long as they wish. Then afterwards, at the end of their lives, they will enter
into (true) happiness.
(The Buddha's) lifetime
there will be 80,000 years. Remaining there that long, he will bring many
people to the other shore. He will cause beings whose minds are ripe to be
completely awakened and he will instruct others who have not perceived the
(four) truths concerning which is the right path and which is the wrong path.
He will carefully establish the torch of the Doctrine, the boat of the
Doctrine, the mirror of the Doctrine, the medicine (of the Doctrine) for beings
(at that time and) in the future. Then, in the midst of the venerable order of
lay disciples who will have done what should be done, that Conqueror will blaze
out like a mass of fire, and he will be extinguished. When the Perfect Buddha
has been completely extinguished, his Teaching will remain for 180,000 years.
After that, there will be a terrible disappearance in the world.
Thus, the constituent
elements are impermanent, not firm, temporary, transitory, liable to
destruction and old age, and empty. The constituent elements are like an empty
fist, they are empty, they are the talk of fools. There is no power for anyone
there, not even for one who has the psychic powers. Thus, knowing this as
it really is, one should be disillusioned with all compounded things. A
Thoroughbred Among Men is hard to find. He is not born everywhere. Wherever
that Hero is born, that happy family prospers. Therefore, in order to see Buddha
Metteyya here, act rightly, firmly, energetically, with agitated mind. Whoever
does good things here and dwells vigilent, whether a monk, nun, lay disciple,
or laywoman disciple, whoever esteems the great Buddha, pays great honour to
the Great One, that person together with the Devas will see the auspicious
assembly at that time. Practise the holy life. Give suitable gifts. Keep the
observance days. Practise loving kindness carefully. Be one who delights in
being vigilent, always performing meritorious actions. Having acted skilfully
here, you will make an end of misery.
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-
