1. The Story of Dhamma Listeners

    Comment November 9, 2018

    Painting depicting monks (listening to Buddha)

    Verse 85: Few among men reach the other shore (Nibbana); all the others only run up and down on this shore.

    Verse 86: But those who practise according to the well-expounded Dhamma will reach the other shore (Nibbana), having passed the realm of Death (i.e., samsara), very difficult as it is to cross.

    1. tiramevanudhavati: tiram + eva + anudhavati: shore + only this + run up and down: according to the Commentary ‘only this shore’ in this context means sakkayaditthi (ego belief).

    2. paramessanti: param + essanti: the other shore + will reach. The other or opposite shore is metaphorically used for Nibbana.

    3. maccudheyyam: the realm of Death (or samsara, round of rebirths).

    The Story of Dhamma Listeners

    While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (85) and (86) of this book, with reference to a congregation of people who had come to listen to a religious discourse in Savatthi.

    On one occasion, a group of people from Savatthi made special offerings to the bhikkhus collectively and they arranged for some bhikkhus to deliver discourses throughout the night, in their locality. Many in the audience could not sit up the whole night and they returned to their homes early; some sat through the night, but most of the time they were drowsy and half-asleep. There were only a few who listened attentively to the discourses.

    At dawn, when the bhikkhus told the Buddha about what happened the previous night, he replied, “Most people are attached to this world; only a very few reach the other shore (Nibbana).”

    Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

    Verse 85: Few among men reach the other shore (Nibbana); all the others only run up and down on this shore.

    Verse 86: But those who practise according to the well-expounded Dhamma will reach the other shore (Nibbana), having passed the realm of Death (i.e., samsara), very difficult as it is to cross.

    Dhammapada Verses 85 and 86
    Dhammassavana Vatthu

    Appaka te manussesu
    ye jana paragamino
    athayam itara paja
    tiramevanudhavati1

    Ye ca kho sammadakkhate
    dhamme dhammanuvattino
    te jana paramessanti2
    maccudheyyam3 suduttaram.

    Source: Tipitaka

Live & Die for Buddhism

candle

Me & Grandma

My Reflection

This site is a tribute to Buddhism. Buddhism has given me a tremendous inspiration to be who and where I am today. Although I came to America at a very young age, however, I never once forget who I am and where I came from. One thing I know for sure is I was born as a Buddhist, live as a Buddhist and will leave this earth as a Buddhist. I do not believe in superstition. I only believe in karma.

A Handful of Leaves

A Handful of Leaves

Tipitaka: The pali canon (Readings in Theravada Buddhism). A vast body of literature in English translation the texts add up to several thousand printed pages. Most -- but not all -- of the Canon has already been published in English over the years. Although only a small fraction of these texts are available here at Access to Insight, this collection can nonetheless be a very good place to start.

Major Differences

Major Differences in Buddhism

Major Differences in Buddhism: There is no almighty God in Buddhism. There is no one to hand out rewards or punishments on a supposedly Judgement Day ...read more

Problems we face today

jendhamuni pink scarfnature

Of the many problems we face today, some are natural calamities and must be accepted and faced with equanimity. Others, however, are of our own making, created by misunderstanding, and can be corrected...

Popular Posts