Notes on the life of Shakyamuni Buddha
written by Vova, a layman and yogi.
-10-
With his new hard earned wisdom, the Buddha went to find his former fellow-seekers, the ascetics. With grievance and vexation they recalled their "fallen friend" who once used to set the example for their community; which now consisted only of five members. At first their eyes met the Awakened One with distrust, but suddenly a sweet thrill overtook their bodies and their heightened perception registered a glow coming from the face of their victorious friend. They were the first to behold the perfected being after he discovered the sacred Middle Way.
"Friends! The extremes of attraction and repulsion to sense pleasures are harmful. They lead to delusion. The path to salvation surpasses extremes - it rests in Truth. What is this perfect Truth that may lead to the abode of permanence?" [19]
"The following is the Truth on suffering: unfavorable change, dissolution, and death are suffering. Attraction, repulsion, indifference, and fear are suffering. Ignorance is suffering."
"The following is the Truth on the source of suffering: three desires are its source: an insatiable desire for sense-experience akin to the thirst of a man drinking salty water; a desire for existence that sucks-dry mental and emotional strength, stupefies and binds with avarice and self-conceit; a desire for non-existence that distorts the obvious and natural and leads to mental delusion.”
"And here is the truth on the end of suffering - the untainted, incomparable Nirvana - the extinguishment of thirst and the extinction of dependence on ignorance. By attaining Nirvana, the Buddha testifies that this world with Gods and humans, titans and animals, hungry ghosts and hell-dwellers is but a dew drop, a dream, an intoxication engendered by the interplay of various physical elements."
"And here is the truth on the path to salvation. It is a noble middle path that avoids extremes. The Middle Way does not follow hatred, repulsion or indifference which are dangerous feelings that lead to delusion. This path was discovered through mature thinking and noble striving. It is free of extremist and fanatical views. The Middle Way is constant. It relies on purity of consciousness, equanimity of speech, goodwill and compassion to all sentient beings. Following its own course, the Way frees the mind from ignorance as a rope is released from the entanglement of its knots."
As they were listening to the explanations of the Victorious One, the ascetics beheld a clear vision of Truth and their convictions deepened. Their minds, prepared by prolonged periods of purification, cast off delusion as easily as well-roasted nuts cast off their shells.
"I am going to the Shakyas," declared the Awakened One finishing his instruction.
"Lord, allow us to follow you," asked his students. "Let it be so," agreed the Buddha. In their company he returned to the Shakyas.
Delight filled the hearts of the Buddha's father, wife, aunt, brother, and son when they saw his Brahma-like face. Their trust and faith in him infused his consciousness with blessed peace. He felt that his noble wish for his family's spiritual welfare had finally come true.
"These worthy people, ripe for receiving the teachings, have welcomed me as their lord. I will not be seduced by the pride that attempts to overtake me. Indeed, it is for their salvation that this arhat, a ford-maker, and teacher of humans and gods has come into this world. "
“Throughout many past lives I have labored for the sake of finding a path of salvation from the suffering of samskara. I will now carry out my intention without hesitation. The evil spirits will not confuse me with indecisiveness, doubt, or indifference. "
Addressing his family, Buddha Shakyamuni [20] told them about the three rules of the Noble Path:
do not harm living being
purify your mind
perform good action [21]
The simple truths filled the hearts of the listeners with confidence and spiritual zeal. Many of the Shakyas were immediately freed from the roughest level of thirst typical for entrapped beings not sophisticated in the path of virtue.
[19] Nirvana is pure permanent awareness. Nirvana can be said to be a result of the path, and Buddha-nature or Bodhichita is the fuel to follow that path. One well known Buddhist saying says that all sentient beings are at heart Buddhas, those that realize this truth are entering nirvana, and those that do not remain trapped in samsara.
[20] a wise man from the clan of Shakyas.
[21] It is said that any addition to these rules will lead to fanaticism and any attempt to remove one of these rules will lead to nihilism.