Bv 20The History of the Buddha Phussa

– BUDDHA CHRONICLE

20. The History of the Buddha Phussa:

Inda-bh 1Also in that very Maṇḍa aeon, there was the Teacher Phussa, the Supreme One, without equal, without peer, the foremost Leader of the world.

Inda-bh 2Having destroyed all darkness and disentangled the vast net, while gladdening the world together with the devas, he also poured down a shower of the waters of the Deathless.

Inda-bh 3While the (Buddha) Phussa was turning the wheel of the True Dhamma at the festival of the stars, there was a first penetration by one hundred thousand koṭis of beings.

Inda-bh 4There was a second penetration by ninety hundred thousand koṭis (nine million) of beings. There was a third penetration by eighty hundred thousand (eight million) of beings.

Inda-bh 5And the Great Sage Phussa also had three assemblies of taint-free Arahants with minds thus purified.

Inda-bh 6There was a first assembly of sixty hundred thousand (six million). There was a second assembly of fifty hundred thousand (five million).

Inda-bh 7There was a third assembly of forty hundred thousand (four million) of liberated ones, without clinging, with rebirth utterly cut off.

Inda-bh 8At that time, I was a Khattiyan named Vijitāvi. Having relinquished a vast kingdom, I went forth under his witness.

Inda-bh 9That Phussa, foremost Leader of the world, also made this aspiration for me: "In ninety-two aeons reckoned from this moment, this one will become a Buddha.

Inda-bh 10Having departed from the beautiful city named Kapila, the Tathāgata will strive with energy and perform the deed that is hard to perform (the austerities).

Inda-bh 11Having sat down at the foot of the tree of the goatherds, the Tathāgata will receive the milk-rice there and will proceed to the Nerañjarā.

Inda-bh 12On the bank of the Nerañjarā river, that Victor will consume the milk-rice and will proceed to the Bodhi tree by the noble path that has been prepared.

Inda-bh 13Then, having circumambulated the precinct of the Bodhi tree, the Supreme One, the one of great renown, will be enlightened at the foot of the Assattha tree.

Inda-bh 14The mother who gives birth to this one will be named Māyā. The father will be named Suddhodana. This one will be Gotama.

Inda-bh 15Kolita and Upatissa will be the foremost pair of disciples. The attendant named Ānanda will serve that Victor.

Inda-bh 16Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā will be the foremost pair of female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is called 'Assattha.'

Inda-bh 17Citta and Haṭṭhāḷavaka will be the foremost male lay supporters. Uttarā and Nandamātā will be the foremost female lay supporters. The lifespan (in the age) of that renowned Gotama will be one hundred years."

Inda-bh 18Having heard this utterance of the incomparable Great Sage, devas and humans rejoiced, (thinking): "This one is the seed and sprout of the Buddhas."

Inda-bh 19They raised shouts of joy, clapped their hands, and broke into smiles. The ten-thousand worlds together with the devas joined their palms and bowed down, saying:

Inda-bh 20"If we should fail under the dispensation of this Leader of the World, then we shall come face to face with that one in the distant future.

Inda-bh 21Just as people crossing a river who do not reach the far bank will cross the great river after reaching the bank downstream,

Inda-bh 22In exactly the same way, if all of us should miss the opportunity with this Victor, we shall come face to face with that one in the distant future."

Inda-bh 23Having heard those words of his, I increased my faith. I resolved upon the supreme practice in order to fulfil the perfection of the ten qualities.

Inda-bh 24Having studied all the Suttas and also the Vinaya — the ninefold Teaching of the Teacher — I illuminated the Teaching of the Victor.

Inda-bh 25Living heedlessly in that Teaching — having cultivated the Brahmā meditation and perfected the higher knowledges — I went to the world of Brahmā.

Inda-bh 26The city was named Kāsika, the Khattiyan king was named Jayasena, and the mother of the Great Sage Phussa was named Sirimā.

Inda-bh 27He lived amid his household for nine thousand years. There were three magnificent palaces: Garuḷapakkha, Haṁsa, and Suvaṇṇabhārā.

Inda-bh 28There were thirty thousand adorned women. That woman (his wife) was named Kisāgotamī. His son was named Anupama.

Inda-bh 29Having beheld the four signs, the Supreme Person set forth by means of an elephant and practised the striving of effort for six months.

Inda-bh 30Requested by the Brahmā, Phussa, the foremost Leader of the world, the Great Hero, the Supreme Person, set the wheel (of the Dhamma) in motion at Migadāya (the Deer Park).

Inda-bh 31Surakkhita and Dhammasena were the foremost pair of disciples. The attendant of the Great Sage Phussa was named Sabhiya.

Inda-bh 32Cālā and Upacālā were the foremost pair of female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is called "Āmaṇḍa."

Inda-bh 33Dhanañcaya and Visākha were the foremost pair of male lay supporters. Padumā and Nāgā were the foremost pair of female lay supporters.

Inda-bh 34Reaching a height of fifty-eight ratanas (14.5 m), perfect as the moon (the lord of the stars), that Sage also shone like the sun.

Inda-bh 35The lifespan is known to have extended to ninety thousand years. While enduring for that long, he helped many beings to cross over.

Inda-bh 36Having instructed many beings and having helped many to cross over, that Teacher of incomparable renown, together with his disciples, passed into Nirvana.

Inda-bh 37The noble Victor, the Teacher Phussa, passed into Nirvana at the Sena monastery. There was a dispersal of relics from that place to all other regions.

The history of the Buddha Phussa is the eighteenth section.