Bv 26The History of the Buddha Kassapa

– BUDDHA CHRONICLE

26. The History of the Buddha Kassapa:

Inda-bh 1After (the Buddha) Koṇāgamana, there was the Perfectly Enlightened One, the Supremely Noble One named Kassapa, the Dhamma-King radiating brilliant splendor.

Inda-bh 2Having offered as a gift the wealth of the household that had been relinquished, along with abundant food and drink to those who begged, and having fulfilled the aspiration of his heart, he attained the supreme fruit of Perfect Enlightenment, like a bull that has (been set free after) breaking through its enclosure.

Inda-bh 3While the World-Leader Kassapa was setting the Wheel of the True Dhamma in motion, the first penetrative realization occurred for twenty thousand koṭi (two hundred billion) beings.

Inda-bh 4At the time the Buddha journeyed through the world for four months, the second penetrative realization occurred for ten thousand koṭi (one hundred billion) beings.

Inda-bh 5Having displayed the twin miracle of psychic power, he expounded upon the nature of wisdom; the third penetrative realization occurred for five thousand koṭi (fifty billion) beings.

Inda-bh 6In the beautiful divine city of Sudhammā, the Victorious One expounded the Dhamma there, and three thousand koṭi (thirty billion) devas attained enlightenment.

Inda-bh 7In another occasion of teaching the Dhamma to the yaksha Naradeva, the penetrative realization of those beings was beyond reckoning by any method of calculation.

Inda-bh 8That Deva of devas had only one assembly of the Canker-Free, those without defilements, whose minds were thus utterly pure.

Inda-bh 9At that time, there was an assembly of twenty thousand bhikkhus who were those that had crossed over craving by means of moral shame and virtuous conduct such as that.

Inda-bh 10At that time, I was a young Brahmin well known by the name Jotipāla — a reciter, master of chants, accomplished in the three Vedas.

Inda-bh 11I had attained perfection in physiognomy, in traditional lore, and in the principal duties; I was one conversant with heaven and earth, my wisdom having been brought to completion and thoroughly matured.

Inda-bh 12The patron of the Blessed One Kassapa was named Ghaṭikāra the potter — one possessing reverence and obedience, who had attained Nibbāna through the third fruit (Non-returning).

Inda-bh 13Ghaṭikāra led me to meet the Victorious One Kassapa. Having heard the Dhamma from him, I went forth under his witness.

Inda-bh 14Having taken up diligent effort and being proficient in both great and minor duties, I omitted nothing and fulfilled completely the Dhamma of the Victorious One.

Inda-bh 15Whatever had been proclaimed by the Buddha — that is, the Dhamma of the Victorious One in its nine categories — having studied it all, I caused the Dhamma of the Victorious One to shine with splendor.

Inda-bh 16Having seen the wonderful qualities in me, that Buddha also uttered this aspiration: "In this Bhadda aeon, this one will become a Buddha.

Inda-bh 17Having departed from the beautiful city named Kapila, the Tathāgata strove with great effort and undertook the practice difficult to perform (austerities).

Inda-bh 18Having sat down at the root of the goatherds' tree, the Tathāgata received the milk-rice there and then went to the Nerañjarā (river).

Inda-bh 19On the bank of the Nerañjarā river, having partaken of the milk-rice, he proceeded to the Bodhi tree by the noble road that had been prepared.

Inda-bh 20Then, having circumambulated the precinct of the Bodhi tree, the Supremely Noble One, he of great renown, would sit down in the cross-legged posture and would be enlightened at the supreme seat of enlightenment in an undefeated state.

Inda-bh 21The mother who gives birth to this one will be named Māyā. The father will be named Suddhodana. This one will be Gotama.

Inda-bh 22Kolita and Upatissa — canker-free, craving abandoned, their minds calm and composed — will be the foremost (pair of) disciples. The attendant named Ānanda will serve this Victorious One.

Inda-bh 23Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā — canker-free, craving abandoned, their minds calm and composed — will be the foremost (pair of) female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is called 'Assattha.'

Inda-bh 24Citta and Haṭṭhāḷavaka will be the foremost (pair of) male lay patrons. Uttarā and Nandamātā will be the foremost (pair of) female lay patrons. The lifespan (in the age) of that renowned Gotama is one hundred years."

Inda-bh 25Having 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 26They broke out in cheers, clapping, and smiles. The ten-thousand-fold world together with the devas raised their joined palms in reverential salutation, saying:

Inda-bh 27"If we fail to encounter the teaching of this World-Leader, we shall come face to face with that one in the distant future.

Inda-bh 28Just as people crossing a river who do not reach the far shore — they cross the great river after reaching the bank further downstream.

Inda-bh 29In just the same way, if all of us miss the opportunity with this Victorious One, we shall come face to face with that one in the distant future."

Inda-bh 30Having heard those words, I increased my faith all the more. I resolved upon the supreme practice in order to fulfill the perfection of the ten qualities.

Inda-bh 31Thus, having wandered on (in saṃsāra) and while keeping far from what is wrong, I had the difficult to perform duly performed, and the chief cause of it all was the Enlightenment I sought.

Inda-bh 32The city named Bārāṇasī, the Khattiya king named Kikī — there the great clan of the Perfectly Enlightened One dwelt within that city.

Inda-bh 33And that Brahmin Brahmadatta was the father of the Buddha. The mother of the Great Sage Kassapa was named Dhanavatī.

Inda-bh 34He lived among his household for two thousand years. There were three magnificent palaces: Haṁsa, Yasa, and Sirinanda.

Inda-bh 35There were three times sixteen thousand (forty-eight thousand) adorned women. The (principal) woman, his consort, was named Sunandā. His son was named Vijitasena.

Inda-bh 36Having beheld the four signs, the Supremely Noble One departed by way of the palace and practiced the exertion of striving for seven days.

Inda-bh 37Implored by Brahmā, the World-Leader, the Great Hero, the Supremely Noble One Kassapa set the Wheel (of the Dhamma) in motion at Migadāya (the Deer Park).

Inda-bh 38Tissa and Bhāradvāja were the foremost (pair of) disciples. The attendant of the Great Sage Kassapa was named Sabbamitta.

Inda-bh 39Anulā and Uruvelā were the foremost (pair of) female disciples. The Bodhi tree of that Blessed One is called "Nigrodha."

Inda-bh 40Sumaṅgala and Ghaṭīkāra were the foremost (pair of) male lay patrons. Vijitasenā and Bhaddā were the foremost (pair of) female lay patrons.

Inda-bh 41Reaching a height of twenty ratanas (five meters), that Buddha was like a flash of lightning in the sky, like the moon made full by its halo of light.

Inda-bh 42The lifespan of that Great Sage was twenty thousand years. Abiding for that long, he enabled countless beings to cross over.

Inda-bh 43Having created the lake of the Dhamma, having distributed the fragrant oil of virtue, having clothed himself in the cloth of the Dhamma, having distributed the garland of the Dhamma,

Inda-bh 44having established for the great assembly the spotless mirror of the Teaching, he declared: "Those who aspire to Nibbāna, look upon my adornment."

Inda-bh 45Having bestowed the armor of Virtue with the shield of Meditation draped over it, having draped on the hide of the Dhamma (which is Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension), having bestowed the supreme battle-garment (which is the Four Right Strivings),

Inda-bh 46having bestowed the shield of Mindfulness and the sharp spear of Wisdom, having bestowed the noble sword of the Dhamma and of Virtue for the purpose of severing attachment (to the defilements).

Inda-bh 47Having bestowed the ornament of the Three True Knowledges, the garland of the Four Fruits, having bestowed the adornment of the Six Higher Knowledges and the floral wreath of the Teaching (which is the nine Supramundane Dhammas).

Inda-bh 48Having bestowed the white canopy of the Sublime Dhamma that wards off wrongdoing, having caused the flower of Fearlessness to bloom, he attained Nibbāna together with his disciples.

Inda-bh 49This very one is the Perfectly Enlightened One, immeasurable and difficult to attain. This is the Jewel of the Dhamma, well proclaimed — come and see.

Inda-bh 50This is the Jewel of the Sangha, which has practiced rightly and is supreme; all have utterly vanished — are not all conditioned phenomena empty?

Inda-bh 51The Teacher, the noble Conqueror Mahākassapa, attained Nibbāna at the monastery of Setavyā. The jeweled stupa of the Conqueror, built in his honor, was erected there, one league in height, at that very place.

The history of the Buddha Kassapa is the twenty-fourth.