21. The Past

Overall Teaching

The Buddha recounts a story of two householders' sons who entered the saṅgha, attained dhyānas and powers, and inspired a king to protect the Dharma. The king's evil younger brother and unvirtuous monks plotted to kill the two monks, but divine protectors intervened, leading to the downfall of the conspirators into Avīci hell.

Summary

• The Buddha continues relating accounts of the past when he explains that in this world, in the past, two householders' sons entered the saṅgha. Practising in the wilderness like rhinoceroses, they attained the dhyānas and powers, and gained knowledge of dharmas.

• They were speaking to one another in a forest grove. Hearing their voices, the king, who was out hunting, came to see them. He enjoyed listening to their discussion of the Dharma. They said to the king:

  • "We pray that the great king won't be negligent. Life is impermanent, and nothing can save you but your own practice. We pray that the great king will protect the Dharma and abide as a friend of the Dharma."

• The king and his retinue gave rise to bodhicitta, and with joy, he paid homage to the two monks.

• The king was frequently visited in his palace by monks who, he knew, did not uphold virtuous conduct and were attached to worldly views. As it was the Dharma-ending age, this was common. Those unvirtuous monks told the king:

  • "We should kill those two monks who taught the king emptiness and cessation, instead of true nirvāṇa."

• At that time, a divine protector-deva who watched over the king told him:

  • "The king should be careful not to give rise to the thoughts that these unvirtuous monks encourage. Remember that the monks in the forest encouraged the king to abide in accordance with the Dharma."

• The king had an evil younger brother who was taught by another evil monk. The evil monk told the king's brother:

  • "Advise the king to kill the two Dharma masters who encourage him to practise for buddhahood and not seek nirvāṇa. The foolish king does not want you to live at all."

Two other evil monks also told him:

• • "You should quickly kill the two Dharma masters, don't have regrets later."

• The king's younger brother then put on armour and went with his army to the two monks. But the nāgas and yakṣas in the forest rained down gravel and sand to terrify that army.

  • The younger brother gave rise to more anger towards the Dharma masters and as a result fell into Avīci hell for sixty lives. The evil monk who advised him also fell into the hells for many lives.

• The guardian devas of the king, who protected the Dharma masters, then saw buddhas in all directions and paid homage to them.

• Everyone in that king's retinue eventually attains buddhahood in different worlds.

• Everyone who cultivates this samādhi, having taught it to others, will themselves enter parinirvāṇa after staying away from unwholesome friends.

• The two Dharma masters were Dīpaṅkara and Śākyamuni in past lives. Maitreya was the king. Candraprabha was the king's guardian deva. Devadatta was the evil younger brother.

[Note that the Chinese and Tibetan versions have a few differences, this summary is somewhat of a synthesis.]

Commentary

Thrangu Rinpoche's commentary emphasises that training in samādhi requires avoiding negative behaviour and appreciating the Dharma. The point of the story of the king is that Dharma practice should nto be for pursuing honour and gain, but to act completely in accord with the Dharma.

Discussion

1. What are the challenges of giving rise to bodhicitta?

2. What forms can neglecting the Dharma and being under the influence of unwholesome friends take?