16. The Past

Overall Teaching

The Buddha relates a story from his past lives where he overcame illness as a result of practising this Samādhi. He also explains how this Samādhi allows one to bear slander and admonishes Candraprabha not to follow teachers who are conceited or who slander the Samādhi.

Summary

• Teaching on the Past as Mati

  • The Buddha relates to Candraprabha how in a distant past life the Buddha was a prince called Mati. He was severely sick. However, he had a Dharma teacher called Brahmadatta, who was a disciple of the past Buddha Siṃhadhvaja.

    • Although five hundred physicians could not cure him, Brahmadatta taught this Samādhi to him.

    • After hearing this Samādhi, Mati abandoned desire for worldly riches and comprehended the nature of phenomena. As a result, his suffering was cured.

  • That Dharma teacher, Brahmadatta, in the future came to become the Buddha Dīpaṅkara, and Śākyamuni Buddha was Prince Mati.

• The Benefits of this Samādhi in the case of Slander and an Admonition not to Follow Conceited Practitioners

  • The Buddha adds that this Samādhi can also help one to endure receiving insults and slander.

    • In the future, some monks may slander this Samādhi: they will also indulge in the household life and make money, focus on the opposite sex, crave for food, and entertainment, etc. As a result, they accumulate unwholesome karma and fall into unwholesome realms.

    • Moreover, those who ordain but cannot uphold the precepts and return to household life, may have been thos who slandered this Samādhi in a previous life.

    • The Buddha relates how he diligently practiced this samādhi, including in the wilderness, for many kalpas, but this practice was ridiculed by conceited practitioners. As a result, they endure unwholesome karmic results.

      • In this way, it is difficult to find someone who can uphold patience out of a hundred thousand people.

    • Some practitioners practice to argue and elevate themselves, defeating others in debate. They also deceive people who are well-intentioned and practice sincerely. 

    • Therefore, have pure faith in the Buddha's Dharma, and do not associate with those who are conceited, arrogant, and without conscience.

      • One cannot attain awakening by just speaking, one must also practice firmly.

Commentary

Thrangu Rinpoche focuses on how Mati overcame illness by practising the Samādhi. He writes:

In the practice of Mahāmudra we can also find an instruction on how to utilise disease as the path. When faced with a painful illness, simply rest in the essence within the painful sensation, in the evenness of the state of Mahāmudra. Through this the sickness can be cured. This story supports that instruction.

Discussion

1. How do you interpret the Samādhi as overcoming illness? Literally or figuratively? What other ways can we practice to overcome the suffering of illness or pain?

2. In what way does this Samādhi help us to withstand slander? What are some other strategies for this?