De 6 a 8 meses de edad:
C. El inicio es anterior a los 18 años
I [Luang Phor Sodh] did not make this up. It is based on evidence from when Lord Buddha was alive [Tipitaka: the Anguli- mala story]. During the Buddha’s life time King Pasendi-kosala had a Brahman advisor couple who had just given birth to a new baby. The night the baby was born, all weapons in the village glowed as though on fi re. The father, who was the king’s teacher, was very scared by this incident.
Checking the astrological charts, he learned that his son would become a fi erce bandit, killing many people. He said to King Pasendi-kosala: “Lord, my newborn baby will be a killer. He is going to kill a lot of people. Should I kill him or not? Lord, please decide this for me. I leave his life in your hands.”
King Pasendi-kosala considered that this was just a little baby. He had much respect for the Brahman and wanted to please him. He felt torn because the Brahman’s predictions had always proved correct. To make him happy, the king said, “We will keep an eye on him. He is just a little baby. If something changes, we can kill him any time. I rule the country. He cannot escape.” The Brahman accepted this. But, he thought, “My son will be a killer when he grows up. What can I do? So, he named the boy “Ahing- sakumara” or one who does no harm to anybody.” His son was a good boy. He was loved by his parents and the king. He was very smart. When he learned boxing and fi ghting with weapons he never lost to anybody.
Because his father was the king’s advisor he would also become an offi cial for the king after being educated. But fi rst, he had to receive higher education in political science. So, he was sent to study with a teacher named Disapamokkha, along with 500 other students.
1
C H A P T E R INTRODUCTION | 47His father, the Brahman Advisor, let the teacher take care of his son, Ahingsakumara. The teacher treated him well, like his son. Ahingsakumara was always clever, cool and perfect in body, speech and mind around his teacher. He was smart in every subject and physically handsome. He was second to none in his studies. The teacher was obsessed with him and loved him more than any other student. As a result, the other 499 students agreed that they must kill Ahingsakumara or be utterly defeated.
Some students threatened Ahingsakumara; others teased him. They told the teacher that he was a trouble-maker. As the teacher heard more and more such stories, he concluded that Ahingsakumara was only good when he was with him. Apparently, when the teacher was not around, he was threatening and taking advantage of the oth- ers. His fellow students reported that Ahingsakumara was a bad boy, and the teacher heard this more and more often.
Finally, the teacher thought that he could not keep this stu- dent any longer – he was a lot of trouble. The teacher concluded that if he did not want Ahingsakumara any longer, he must kill him. But, many of his students were kings. How could he kill his stu- dent without ruining his reputation? He must kill Ahingsakumara in some roundabout way. During class, one day, as they were starting a new subject, the teacher closed the book. Ahingsakumara asked, “Why did you close the book? I would like to study more.” The teacher said: “If you fi nish this subject you will become a world ruler. If you really want to study it, you must bring me 1,000 human fi ngers for me to teach you this subject.”
This was a trick to kill his student. The student had no choice but to quit school. The teacher thought: “If he wants to continue, he must kill people. It is impossible to kill 1,000 people, because one of them will kill him. They will not let him live, so he will eventually die.” This was how he planned to kill his own student. Ahingsaku- mara sat down with no hope. He thought: “I was born a Brahman and
1
C H A P T E R 48 | SAMATHAVIPASSANA MEDITATIONtaught people. I have never committed any sin. I have had pure virtue (sīla) since birth. Now that I come to study, I must kill people. If I do not, I will not graduate.” So, he said to the teacher, “OK, I will kill people to get 1,000 fi ngers in order to graduate.”
Ahingsakumara cried while saying this to his teacher. He did not want to be an evil villain, killing people. But, he thought, “If I do not bring the 1,000 human fi ngers, the teacher will not teach me and I will not graduate, so I will not become a high-class person and rule the world. I must graduate in order to rule the world.”
The student must learn how to use the subject. Otherwise it is a waste of time. Just like us studying today; we must study hard to know and use what we are learning and make it sacred, exactly like the teacher. This, Ahingsakumara thought, is becoming wise.
When Ahingsakumara resolved to collect 1,000 human fi n- gers in order to take the class, the teacher gave him a proper-sized sword, saying: “This is for you.” Ahingsakumara took it with re- spect. He also found a thong for stringing the fi ngers and took it with him. After he left the teacher, Ahingsakumara killed everyone he met. Sometimes he cut off their heads. Sometimes he cut off their hands; and sometimes he cut them in half. Then, Ahingsaku- mara took one fi nger from each of them. He killed whomever he met, whether they were high, middle or low class. All were killed. The word spread: “There is a killer in Savatthi named Angulimala.” Angulimala means “Finger Necklace.” Whenever he got a fi nger, he dried it and added it to his necklace. Eventually, he got 999 fi n- gers. When King Pasendi-kosala heard about him, he led his troops out to catch Angulimala. In the tradition of those times, two kings fought each other with swords. The loser was beheaded. They did not fi ght with their troop like today.
King Pasendi-kosala was discouraged. He thought: “I must fi ght Angulimala with swords. When he was born, all the weapons in his village glowed with fi re. I have had no miracle like that.
1
C H A P T E R INTRODUCTION | 49When I fi ght him, either my head or his head will be cut off. I do not know what to do. I am discouraged.” The next day, the king left with his troops. But, he did not go directly to battle. He and his troops rested near Jetawan Vihara in order to meet Lord Buddha.
Brahmani, the mother of Angulimala, heard King Pasendi- kosala leaving with his troops and left fi rst. She wanted to warn her son to fl ee or he would be killed by King Pasendi-kosala. Lord Buddha knew that, if Angulimala saw Brahmani, he would kill his own mother for another fi nger. He did not care even about father or mother. He just killed whoever was nearby for fi ngers. He thought only of his forthcoming studies – nothing else.
Lord Buddha knew that Angulimala was to become the last one − [the 80th] of His 80 Noble Disciples. If he killed his
mother he would become an unfortunate being – unable to attain the transcendent paths and fruits in this present lifetime. The 80 Noble Disciples would not be completed. Lord Buddha knew that He must get to Angulimala before anybody else. When Angulimala saw Lord Buddha coming, he saw his beautiful fi ngers and thought: “I am going to be the ruler of the world. All will be successful.”
Lord Buddha was so very faithful and venerable that he had a splendidly beautiful, radiant body. Nobody could stop look- ing at Lord Buddha. Angulimala thought: “He will be fi nished.” He immediately took his sword and charged. When he had almost reached Lord Buddha, all of a sudden, Lord Buddha appeared far away – about 40 - 60 meters off. Angulimala continued chasing Lord Buddha; getting close. But, whenever he almost reached Lord Buddha, Lord Buddha again suddenly appeared far away. No mat- ter how hard he tried, he could not charge up to Lord Buddha with his sword. Finally, he grew tired and thought, “He has become the world ruler over me. I am not destined to be the ruler of the world. That is for sure. My virtue cannot equal His.” As soon as Anguli- mala realized this in his heart, all delusion and false pride fell away. He surrendered and said, “Please stop, monk.”
1
C H A P T E R 50 | SAMATHAVIPASSANA MEDITATIONLord Buddha replied: “I have stopped, but you have not.” This demonstrates that the word, “Stop,” is the right path from the very beginning up to Arahant. Only the word, “Stop” is the right path for Buddhists or samaa from the begining up to Arahant. It is the real heart of Buddhism.
1.49 CONCLUSION
The word “stop,” here, is just one word, but it is the begin- ning of the real path to true religion for all seekers. Thus, you must bring your mind to stop perfectly still at the center of the Sphere which governs the Human Body. Stopping still is the target. If you don’t stop still you can’t practice. Even if you try for 40-50 years, or 100, or even 120-130 years. If the mind can’t stop still, you can never reach the core foundation of true religion. You must stop still at the center of the center of the Sphere that governs the Human Body. You must get to the gateway of religion to remember and continue on.