2018

DHAMMA
FOUNDATION
COURSE
Lecture 3:
Who was the Buddha? (II)
Abigail Tan
17/03/18

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

BUT…BUDDHA’S ENLIGHTENMENT WAS
JUST THE BEGINNING!

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 OVERVIEW
• Why Buddha was initially hesitant to teach,
and why he eventually chose to teach?
• Getting to know the Buddha, Dhamma and
Sangha through his efforts in propagating
the Dhamma
• Appreciating the Triple Gems with Buddha
as the start point

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 RELUCTANCE TO TEACH

BEFORE ALL THAT…

IT ALMOST DIDN’T HAPPEN!
• Was initially not optimisitic that others could
understand the practice and realize Nibbana
• He hence felt it would be a “wearying and
troublesome” endeavor without being to help
anyone

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 RELUCTANCE TO TEACH

The Dhamma is subtle and profound…

“I considered: ‘This Dhamma that I have attained is profound, hard to see and
hard to understand, peaceful and sublime, unattainable by mere reasoning, subtle
to be experienced by the wise…”

MN 26 Ariyapariyesana Sutta

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 RELUCTANCE TO TEACH

Yet people delight in coarse attachments…

“…But this generation delights in attachment, takes delight in attachment, rejoices in

attachment. It is hard for such a generation to see this truth, namely specific
conditionality, dependent origination. And it is hard to see this truth, namely, the stilling
of all formations, the relinquishing of all acquisitions, the destruction of craving,
dispassion, cessation, Nibbana…”

MN 26 Ariyapariyesana Sutta

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

RELUCTANCE TO TEACH

Hence reluctant to teach the Dhamma…

“…If I were to teach Dhamma, others would not understand me, and that
would be wearying and troublesome for me.”
Considering thus, my mind inclined to inaction rather than to teaching
Dhamma”

MN 26 Ariyapariyesana Sutta

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

WHY DID HE DECIDE TO TEACH?

TEACH OUT OF COMPASSION FOR OTHERS

Instincts were to turn away from this mundane world, but chose the
difficult path to assist others

“Out of compassion for beings, I surveyed the world with the eye of a Buddha.
Surveying the world with the eye of a Buddha, I saw beings with little dust in
their eyes and with much dust in their eyes, with keen faculties and with dull
faculties, with good qualities and with bad qualities, easy to teach and hard to
teach, and some who dwelt seeing fear and blame in the other world.”

MN 26 Ariyapariyesana Sutta
WHY DID HE DECIDE TO TEACH?

TEACH OUT OF COMPASSION FOR OTHERS,

AND NOT FOR SHEER NUMBERS
"In the same way, the Tathagata isn't concerned with whether all the cosmos
or half of it or a third of it will be led to release by means of that [Dhamma].

But he does know this: 'All those who have been led, are being led, or will be
led [to release] from the cosmos have done so, are doing so, or will do so after
having abandoned the five hindrances — those defilements of awareness that
weaken discernment — having well-established their minds in the four frames
of reference, and having developed, as they have come to be, the seven
factors for Awakening.”

AN 10.95 Uttiya sutta: To Uttiya

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

CRITERIA ON WHO TO TEACH

“YES, I WILL TEACH!”

KEY CRITERIA FOR TEACHING
- Buddha’s key criterion in deciding who to teach was that the person must
have the capacity to understand Dhamma.

- What did this mean?

o Must be skilled meditators
o Already spiritually inclined (as opposed to being caught up in material
pursuits)
o Wise
o Relatively open-minded. At the very minimum, they must be
prepared to hear him out, and not be put off by his youth.

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

FIRST SHARING OF THE DHAMMA

SHARING THE DHAMMA WITH

THE FIRST SCEPTIC, UDAKA
• Upaka was struck by Buddha’s physical appearance and stopped to have a
conversation with him (who his teacher was, and what doctrine did the
teacher preach)
• Unimpressed and sceptical when he heard that the Buddha was self-
realised and had no teacher, and was going to teach the Dhamma to the
world
• Buddha did not attempt to explain the Dhamma further, continued his
journey to Isipatana

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

FIRST SHARING OF THE DHAMMA

SHARING THE DHAMMA WITH UDAKA

TAKEAWAYS…
• Provides first glimpse of Buddha as a teacher
• Dhamma is for people who want it. If they are not interested, then one
should let it be and move on.
• Life too is short, one has to be selective so as not to waste invaluable time
and energy on the uninterested or the foolish
• Age ≠ Wisdom
• if we let perceptions and judgements get in the way of listening to
the Dhamma, we won’t ever taste it.

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

GETTING TO KNOW THE BUDDHA : THROUGH DHAMMA PROPAGATION

GETTING TO KNOW THE BUDDHA:

THROUGH HIS APPROACH & INTERACTION

1. Compassionate
2. Practical
3. Targeted/ Focused
4. Sensitive to audience’s needs
5. Skilled teacher/ trainer
6. Objective in sharing and listening
!

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 GETTING TO KNOW THE BUDDHA : THROUGH DHAMMA PROPAGATION

COMPASSIONATE
• The Buddha decided to teach out of compassion of beings in the world.
- If an individual was ready, Buddha would go to him regardless of
age, gender, or social status
- Will go all out to teach/ reach out to the individual whose mind
was ready if he could not go to him for whatever reason
• He also emphasised that compassion is one of the 6 qualities of a
spiritual teacher. (DN 31)

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

GETTING TO KNOW THE BUDDHA : THROUGH DHAMMA PROPAGATION

PRACTICAL
• Emphasized that Dhamma was for easing suffering,
of the mind, not philosophical pursuit

• Taught to avoid interesting but irrelevant questions

that are of no value in ending dukkha.

• Simile of one struck by a poison arrow, yet prefers

asking questions over receiving treatment (MN 63)

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

GETTING TO KNOW THE BUDDHA : THROUGH DHAMMA PROPAGATION

TIMELY REMINDER OF THE ESSENCE OF DHAMMA –

DUKKHA AND CESSATION OF DUKKHA
“And what have I declared? ‘This is suffering’—I have declared. ‘This is the
origin of suffering’—I have declared. ‘This is the cessation of suffering’—I
have declared. ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering’—I have
declared.

Why have I declared that? Because it is beneficial, it belongs to the

fundamentals of the holy life, it leads to disenchantment, to dispassion, to
cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbāna.
Therefore, Mālunkyāputta, remember what I have left undeclared as
undeclared, and remember what I have declared as declared”

(MN 63 Cūḷamālunkya Sutta: The Shorter Discourse to Mālunkyāputta )

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

GETTING TO KNOW THE BUDDHA : THROUGH DHAMMA PROPAGATION

TARGETED AND FOCUSED

• The Buddha knew that not all were ready to be serious
practitioners
• Hence would start with something easy to understand
and delight in, before escalating to deeper Dhamma.
• Usual flow is:
o Merits of generosity (dana)
o Importance of morality (sila)
o Reborn in heavenly realms
o Dangers of overindulgence
o Importance of moderation

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 GETTING TO KNOW THE BUDDHA : THROUGH DHAMMA PROPAGATION

SENSITIVE TO AUDIENCE’S NEEDS

• Alert to the emotions and reactions of his
listeners
• Carefully gauge reactions to his words and make
appropriate adjustments to suit the mood and
occasion
o To those in emotional distress, calm them
down with well-placed words, or to expend
their energy first (eg. Kisa Gotami and
mustard seed)
o To those in non-optimal physical condition,
feed and comfort them before teaching
(Hungry farmer in Dhammapada 203)
o Being in his presence

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 GETTING TO KNOW THE BUDDHA : THROUGH DHAMMA PROPAGATION

EXTREMELY SKILLED TEACHER-

CUM- TRAINER
Knew the minds of individuals and what would take each of
them to realise the Dhamma

Chose teaching methods suited to audience’s personality/

background.
• Suggestion of meditation object
• Choice of Dhamma topic to expound on
• Used everyday examples and analogies audience can
relate to
• Etc.

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

GETTING TO KNOW THE BUDDHA : THROUGH DHAMMA PROPAGATION

OBJECTIVE IN SHARING AND

LISTENING
• In DN 1 Brahmajala Sutta, taught objectivity in sharing the Dhamma
and listening to others’ view/faiths.
o How to criticise flawed practices
o Not get upset when others criticised
o To clarify any misunderstanding in the critics’ arguments factually
o To be equanimous about praise and blame about Buddha

• Allows one to rejoice with another when Dhamma is shared, and also
about sharing that joy you experience in the Dhamma with another

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH?

What was his first

discourse all about?
SN 56.11 Dhammacakkapavatthana Sutta
• Core tenets of the Dhamma, namely, the Four Noble
Truths and the Noble Eight-fold Path
• Had discovered a ‘middle path’ that would lead to
knowledge, peace, enlightenment and Nibbana.
• This middle path was the Noble Eight-fold Path, i.e., right
understanding, right thought, right speech, right action,
right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right
concentration.

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH?

THE FIRST DISCOURSE

DHAMMACAKKAPAVATTHANA SUTTA
‘This is suffering’;
‘This is the origin of suffering’;
‘This is the cessation of suffering’
‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering’

• Nature of dukkha had to be fully understood, craving had to

be abandoned, cessation had to be realised and the path
had to be practised.

• Buddha said that when he fully and completely mastered

the above four truths, “knowledge and vision arose in him”
and he knew that “this was his last birth” and that “there
would be no more renewal of being”.

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH?

What was his second

discourse all about?
SN 22.59 Anattalakkhana Sutta:
The Discourse on the Not Self Characteristic
"And is it fitting to regard what is inconstant, stressful,
subject to change as: 'This is mine. This is my self. This
is what I am'?” … "No, lord.”

- Once all the five ascetics had attained Sotāpanna,

Buddha delivered the Anattalakkhana Sutta
- Following this sermon, all the five monks finally
realised enlightenment

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 WHO DID THE BUDDHA TEACH?

• Went from 5 ascetics to thousands in short time as many lay people ordained
(Yassa, Kassapa brothers etc.)
• People from all walks of life without discrimination of age, gender, caste,
economic status or intelligence
• Only criterion were spiritual maturity and readiness for Dhamma

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 INTERESTING DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA

ANGULIMALA
• Serial killer who tried killing Buddha
• Chased after Buddha but couldn’t catch
up
• Demanded Buddha to “stop walking”,
to which Buddha replied he had – but
Angulimala hadn’t.
• Questioned the meaning behind the
Buddha’s statement
• Taught the Dhamma, and Angulimala
ultimately attained Nibbana after
painful struggle

( MN 86 Angulimala Sutta)

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 INTERESTING DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA

COUPLE ON
WEDDING NIGHT
• Buddha and 80 disciples invited to wedding
of couple for offering of alms-food

• He reminded them to be beware of

passion, anger and hatred, and to note the
burden of the aggregates (form, feelings,
mental formations, perception,
consciousness) , and the bliss of nibbana.

• Both attained sotapatti fruition at the end

of it.
(Dhammapada 202)

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 INTERESTING DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA

MANY OTHERS!
• Uggasena: Acrobat in the midst of a
circus act (Dhp 348)
• Khemaka: Womaniser-philanderer
(Dhp 309, 310)
• Kuttamitta and her family: An entire
family of hunters (Dhp 124)
• A thief
• Ostracised leper
• etc.

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

ROLE OF THE SANGHA

EARLY SANGHA IN
DHAMMA PROPAGATION
• Many of the early ariya monks were from rich families and probably had
the best education of the day to prepare them to manage their family’s
wealth

• Some of these monks were very effective and competent Dhamma

speakers e.g. Sariputta

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

ROLE OF THE SANGHA

SETTING UP OF THE
BHIKKHUNI ORDER

• Saw both genders as spiritual equals, hence set up nun order

• Contrary to prevailing views of other religions who saw women to be
inferior
• First bhikkhuni ordained was Buddha’s foster-mother, Mahapajapati
Gotami (AN 8.51)
• Many other distinguished female disciples followed
• Many were praised by the Buddha for their wisdom, energy for practice,
etc.

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

REFLECTIONS

REFLECTIONS FROM
SUCCESS OF ARIYA SANGHA
• A major turning point in Dhamma propagation
• Dhamma is so difficult to see let alone teach and yet
Buddha was able to guide his disciples successfully to
realise it.
• Sangha are living testimony that Dhamma actually
works, and that it is possible to realise the end of
dukkha.
• Had it not been for them, it may not be possible to
preserve a 2500-year-old knowledge that is so sublime
that only one who has seen and realised would be able
to teach it properly.

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

ROYAL AND LAY PATRONAGE

ATTRACTING
ROYAL AND LAY PATRONAGE
• Won over economic, political and religious elites within few months
of enlightenment
• These included kings, ministers, generals, millionaire traders to
prominent teachers of both brahmanic and non-brahmanic traditions
• Critical in spreading and consolidation of Dhamma

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

MONASTIC SETTLEMENTS BY PATRONS

MONASTERIES BY
ROYAL AND LAY PATRONS
Monastic Location Patron
Settlement

Veluvana Rajagaha, Magadha Kingdom King Bibimsara

(Bamboo Grove)

Jetavana Savatthi, Kosala Kingdom Anathapindika

(Jeta’s Grove)
Pubbagamarama Savatthi, in the Palace of Visakha
(Eastern Monastery) Migara’s Mother

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

DHAMMA AND VINAYA AS GUIDE

BUDDHA’S PARINIBBANA
DHAMMA & VINAYA AS GUIDE
• Did not appoint a successor for the Sangha
• Probably as a reminder that their core mission was to free themselves
from dukkha, and to that ends, the Dhamma and Vinaya were all that
they needed
• But there was a real and practical problem as there was no single
source where all his teaching could be found.
• 1st Buddhist Council: Started their effort to preserve the Buddha’s
spiritual and doctrinal legacy.

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

WHAT DID THE BUDDHA TEACH?

THE ESSENCE OF
WHAT THE BUDDHA TAUGHT
- Core component of Dhamma is ‘dukkha and the cessation of dukkha’ – what
is it, why does it arise, how will it cease.

- Methods to tame mind (for ceasing of dukkha) – on meditation, on

mindfulness practice, on eradicating akusala and cultivating kusalas, on
neutralising habits and taints – what must be done, how to do and why
(next 2 lectures)

- Taught the mind and its true nature so that we are more inclined to do
necessary to eradicate craving habits.

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

• One should come to appreciate the Triple Gems and

understand what they represent

- Buddha – our teacher who realized unconditioned

happiness for himself, and was skilful in guiding
many to nibbana, inspiration for mankind

- Dhamma – He left behind a DIY method for us to

achieve nibbana, teachings are still relevant

- Sangha - Living testimony that Dhamma works,

the ones who have linked Buddha from 2500 years
ago to present day, a growing community build
upon the teacher and his teachings

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

• Buddhism is not about believing in something

external, but to believe in yourself.

• As a disciple of the Buddha, we should seek to

realize the timeless teachings for ourselves.

• That would be the greatest way to repay gratitude

to the Triple Gems, and to help in spreading the
Dhamma.

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 RECOMMENDED READINGS

• MN 26 Ariyapariyesana Sutta
• DN 16 Mahaparinibbana Sutta
• AN 10.95 Uttiya sutta: To Uttiya
• Between The Lines: An Analytical
Appreciation of the Buddha’s Life,
The Combined Book Edition (Sylvia
Bay)

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018

 NEXT LESSON
Lesson 4:
Morality (Sīla)- Akusala
24/03/18 , 7.30pm- 9.30pm

JETAVANA DHAMMA INSTITUTE | 2018