Bv 19The History of the Buddha Tissa

– BUDDHA CHRONICLE

19. The History of the Buddha Tissa:

Inda-bh 1After (the Buddha) Siddhattha, Tissa, the foremost Leader of the world, was matchless, without rival, of boundless majesty, of immeasurable renown.

Inda-bh 2Having dispelled the darkness and illumined the world together with the celestial realms, the compassionate one, the Great Hero, the One Possessed of Vision, arose in the world.

Inda-bh 3Also possessed of incomparable supernormal power, of incomparable virtue and concentration, having attained perfection in every respect, he set in motion the Wheel of the True Dhamma.

Inda-bh 4That Buddha proclaimed a pure discourse throughout ten thousand worlds. Hundreds of koṭis attained comprehension at the first teaching of the Dhamma.

Inda-bh 5The second was for ninety thousand koṭis. The third was for sixty thousand koṭis. At that time, he brought liberation from the bonds to the assembled humans and devas.

Inda-bh 6Tissa, the foremost Leader of the world, likewise had three assemblies of the Canker-free, unstained, with minds thus purified.

Inda-bh 7There was a first assembly of one hundred thousand Canker-free ones. There was a second assembly of nine hundred thousand (nine million).

Inda-bh 8There was a third assembly of eight hundred thousand (eight million) Canker-free ones, unstained, who had blossomed in liberation.

Inda-bh 9At that time, I was a Kṣatriya named Sujāta. Having relinquished great wealth, I went forth as an ascetic.

Inda-bh 10When I had gone forth, the Leader of the World appeared. Having heard the utterance "The Buddha!" rapture arose in me at that moment.

Inda-bh 11Taking with both hands heavenly mandāra flowers, lotus flowers, and coral flowers, I went forth in haste.

Inda-bh 12I took those flowers and placed them upon the crown of the Conqueror, Tissa, the foremost Leader of the world, who was surrounded by the fourfold assembly.

Inda-bh 13Then, seated amidst the assembly, that Buddha also uttered this aspiration for me: "Within ninety-two aeons from this moment, this one will become a Buddha.

Inda-bh 14Having departed from the beautiful city named Kapila, the Tathāgata will strive with effort and perform the deed difficult to perform (the austerities).

Inda-bh 15Having sat down at the foot of the tree of the goatherds, the Tathāgata will receive the milk-rice there and proceed to the Nerañjarā (Nairañjanā).

Inda-bh 16On the bank of the river Nerañjarā, that Conqueror will partake of the milk-rice and then proceed to the Bodhi tree by the noble path that has been prepared.

Inda-bh 17Then, having circumambulated the precinct of the Bodhi tree, the Supreme One, he of great fame, will be enlightened at the foot of the Assattha tree.

Inda-bh 18The mother who gives birth to him will be named Māyā. The father will be named Suddhodana. He will be Gotama.

Inda-bh 19Kolita and Upatissa will be the chief disciples. The attendant named Ānanda will serve that Conqueror.

Inda-bh 20Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā will be the chief female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is called 'Assattha.'

Inda-bh 21Citta and Haṭṭhāḷavaka will be the chief male lay supporters. Uttarā and Nandamātā will be the chief female lay supporters. The lifespan (in the age) of that renowned Gotama will be one hundred years."

Inda-bh 22Having heard these words of the incomparable Great Sage, devas and humans rejoiced, thinking: "This one is the seed and germ of the Buddhas."

Inda-bh 23They broke forth into shouts of joy, clapping of hands, and smiles. The ten thousand worlds together with the devas joined their palms in reverence, saying:

Inda-bh 24"If we fail to attain the teaching of this Leader of the World, we will encounter that other one in the distant future.

Inda-bh 25Just as those who are crossing a river and do not reach the far bank cross the great river after reaching a lower bank,

Inda-bh 26in exactly the same way, if all of us miss the opportunity with this Conqueror, we will encounter that other one in the distant future."

Inda-bh 27Hearing those words, my faith grew all the more. I resolved upon the supreme practice so as to fulfil the perfections of the ten qualities.

Inda-bh 28The city was named Khemaka; the Kṣatriya king was named Janasandha; the mother of the Great Sage Tissa was named Padumā.

Inda-bh 29He lived in the midst of his household for seven thousand years. There were three magnificent palaces: Guhā, Selanāri, and Nisabhā.

Inda-bh 30There were fully thirty thousand adorned women in attendance. That woman (his wife) was named Subhaddā. His son was named Ānanda.

Inda-bh 31Having beheld the four signs, the Conqueror set forth by means of a horse and strove with effort for eight months without interruption.

Inda-bh 32Requested by the Brahmā, Tissa, the foremost Leader of the world, the Great Hero, set in motion the Wheel (of the Dhamma) in the splendid forest of Yasavatī.

Inda-bh 33Brahmadeva and Udaya were the chief disciples. The attendant of the Great Sage Tissa was named Samaṅga.

Inda-bh 34Phussā and likewise Sudattā were the chief female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is called "Asana."

Inda-bh 35Sambala and likewise Sirī will be the chief male lay supporters. Kīsāgotamī and Upasenā will be the chief female lay supporters.

Inda-bh 36Standing sixty ratanas (fifteen meters) tall, that Buddha, that Conqueror, without equal, without peer, was beheld like the Himalayan mountain.

Inda-bh 37The lifespan of that one of incomparable majesty was supreme. The One Possessed of Vision dwelt in the world for one hundred thousand years.

Inda-bh 38Having enjoyed great, supreme, noble, and foremost renown, he blazed like a mass of fire and then passed into nirvana together with his disciples.

Inda-bh 39Like a cloud (dispersed) by the wind, like dew (dispersed) by the sun, like darkness (dispersed) by a lamp, he together with his disciples passed into nirvana.

Inda-bh 40The noble Buddha, the Conqueror Tissa, passed into nirvana at the Nanda monastery. The reliquary stupa of the Conqueror for him was erected, three yojanas in height, at that very place.

The history of the Buddha Tissa is the seventeenth part.