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B0102051007sakacintaniyavaggo (good thought chapter)

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English

Chapter on Sakacintaniya 1. The Apadāna of Sakacintaniya Thera 1. Seeing a forest grove, silent and undisturbed, as if frequented by sages, a recipient of offerings. 2. Having made a mound of sand, I scattered various flowers; as if before the Fully Awakened One, I paid homage to the created image. 3. Endowed with seven jewels, a king, lord of the land; I was delighted by my own deed, this is the fruit of that flower offering. 4. Ninety-one aeons ago, when I offered flowers; I know no suffering, this is the fruit of that flower offering. 5. Eighty aeons ago, with endless fame, I was a Wheel-turning Monarch; endowed with seven jewels, lord of the four continents. 6. The four analytical knowledges, and the eight liberations; the six supernormal powers realized, the Buddha's teaching has been done. 2. The Apadāna of Avopupphiya Thera 7. Having come out of the monastery, he stood up on the walking path; proclaiming the Four Noble Truths, he taught the deathless state. 8. Understanding the words of Sikhi, the steadfast, supreme Buddha; having taken various flowers, I scattered them in the sky. 9. By that deed, O Lord of bipeds, O foremost in the world, O bull among men; I have attained the unmoving state, having abandoned victory and defeat. 10. Thirty-one aeons ago from now, when I offered flowers; I know no suffering, this is the fruit of that flower offering. 11. Twenty aeons ago from now, there was a khattiya named Sumedha; endowed with seven jewels, a Wheel-turning Monarch of great power. 12. The four analytical knowledges, and the eight liberations; the six supernormal powers realized, the Buddha's teaching has been done. 3. The Apadāna of Paccāgamaniya Thera 13. On the bank of the Sindhu River, I was a ruddy goose then; I fed on pure moss, And was well-restrained in evil deeds. 14. I saw the dustless Buddha, Going through the sky; Holding a branch with my beak, I offered it to Vipassī. 15. Whoever has faith in the Tathāgata, Unshaken and well-established; With that serene mind, He does not go to a bad destination. 16. Welcome indeed it was for me, In the presence of the best of Buddhas; By a gentle bird, A good seed was sown by me. 17. Ninety-one aeons ago, When I offered that flower; I do not know a bad destination, This is the fruit of the Buddha-worship. 18. Named Sucārudassanā, There were eight of them with that name; In the seventeenth aeon, They were powerful Wheel-turning monarchs. 19. The four analytical knowledges… …The Buddha’s teaching has been done. Thus indeed, the Elder Paccāgamaniya spoke these verses. The third Apadāna of the Elder Paccāgamaniya. 4. The Apadāna of the Elder Parappasādaka 20. The bull, the excellent, the hero, The great sage, the conqueror; The golden-hued Fully Awakened One, Who seeing him would not be pleased? 21. Like the Himalayas, immeasurable, Like the ocean, hard to cross; So too is the Buddha’s jhāna, Who seeing it would not be pleased? 22. As the earth is immeasurable, Adorned with diverse forests; So too is the Buddha’s virtue, Who seeing it would not be pleased? 23. Like the sky, unshaken and boundless, As space is immeasurable; So too is the Buddha’s knowledge, Who seeing it would not be pleased? 24. With these four verses, The brahmin named Sena; Having praised the best of Buddhas, Siddhattha, the unconquered. 25. For ninety-four aeons, He did not fall into a bad destination; He experienced much happiness and prosperity In good destinations. 26. Ninety-four aeons ago, Having praised the leader of the world; I do not know a bad destination, This is the fruit of that praise. 27. In the fourteenth aeon In an aeon, four arose; Endowed with seven treasures, mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. "The four analytical knowledges... (etc.)... the Buddha's teaching has been done." Thus indeed, the venerable thera Parappasādaka spoke these verses. The Apadāna of Thera Parappasādaka, the Fourth. 5. The Apadāna of Thera Bhisadāyaka Vessabhū by name, was the third of the sages; Entering a forest grove, the supreme man dwelled. Taking a lotus root, I went to the Buddha's presence; And I gave it to the Buddha, delighted with my own hands. And touched by the hand, of the supreme Buddha Vessabhū; I know no happiness, equal to or greater than that. This is my last existence, all rebirths are uprooted; Like a calm elephant, I have planted wholesome roots. Thirty-one aeons ago, the deed I did then; I know no suffering, this is the fruit of giving the lotus root. And kings united, sixteen human lords; In the fourteenth aeon, were mighty Wheel-turning monarchs. "The four analytical knowledges... (etc.)... the Buddha's teaching has been done." Thus indeed, the venerable thera Bhisadāyaka spoke these verses. The Apadāna of Thera Bhisadāyaka, the Fifth. 6. The Apadāna of Thera Sucintita I was a mountain-dweller, a born lion; Having killed herds of deer, I lived in the mountain's interior. But the Blessed One Atthadassī, the Omniscient, the best of speakers; Desiring to uplift me, came to that supreme mountain. Having killed a spotted deer, I came to eat it; The Blessed One at that time, came seeking alms. Taking the choicest meat, I gave it to that Teacher; The Great Hero approved, calming me then. With that mental clarity, I entered the mountain cave; Having generated joy, ... there I died. 41. “By that gift of meat, and by the aspirations of my mind; For fifteen hundred eons, I rejoiced in the deva world. 42. “In the remaining eons, good deeds were thought by me; By that same gift of meat, and by the recollection of the Buddhas. 43. “In the thirty-eighth eon, there were eight named Dīghāyu; In the sixty hundred eons, there were two named Varuṇa. 44. “The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha’s teaching was done.” Thus indeed, the Elder Sucintita spoke these verses. The Sucintita Thera’s Apadāna, the sixth. 7. The Vatthadāyaka Thera’s Apadāna 45. “I was born as a bird then, a Supaṇṇa, lord of Garuḷas; I saw the stainless Buddha, going to Gandhamādana. 46. “Abandoning my Garuḷa form, I assumed the form of a young man; One cloth was given by me, to the Tādī, lord of bipeds. 47. “And that cloth, having received it, the Buddha, leader of the world; The Teacher, standing in the sky, spoke these verses. 48. “‘By this gift of cloth, and by the aspirations of his mind; Abandoning the Garuḷa birth, he will rejoice in the deva world.’ 49. “But the Blessed One, Atthadassī, foremost in the world, bull among men; Having praised the gift of cloth, departed facing north. 50. “When born in existence, I have abundance of clothes; There is a covering in the sky, this is the fruit of the gift of cloth. 51. “Seven people named Aruṇavā, mighty wheel-turning monarchs; Were human lords in the thirty-sixth eon. 52. “The four analytical knowledges… …the Buddha’s teaching was done.” Thus indeed, the Elder Vatthadāyaka spoke these verses. The Vatthadāyaka Thera’s Apadāna, the seventh. 8. The Ambadāyaka Thera’s Apadāna 53. “The Blessed One, Anomadassī, was seated in a mountain cave; He pervaded the world with immeasurable, unconditioned loving-kindness. 54. “I was a monkey then, in the Himavā In the foremost city; Seeing that Anomadassī, I gladdened my mind in the Buddha. Not far from the Himalayas, Mango trees were bearing fruit then; Taking ripe fruit from there, I gave a mango with honey. That the Buddha, Anomadassī, the Great Sage, Declared to me; By this gift of honey, And by the gift of mango, both. For fifty-seven aeons, He will delight in the deva world; In the remaining aeons, He will wander in mixed existences. Having exhausted evil kamma, With fully ripened wisdom; Without going to a state of woe, He will burn up the defilements. By the supreme taming, I have been tamed by the Great Seer; I have attained the unshakeable state, Having abandoned victory and defeat. In seven hundred and seventy aeons, Named Ambaṭṭhajasa; There were fourteen kings, Wheel-turners of great power. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. Named Sumana, I was a garland-maker then; I saw the dustless Buddha, The recipient of offerings from the world. Taking with both hands, The excellent sumana flower; I offered it to the Buddha, Sikhī, the kinsman of the world. By this flower offering, And by the aspirations of my intention; I know no suffering, This is the fruit of worshipping the Buddha. Thirty-one aeons ago from this, When I offered the flower; I know no suffering, This is the fruit of worshipping the Buddha. In the twenty-sixth aeon, There were four greatly renowned ones; Endowed with the seven jewels, Wheel-turning kings. The four analytical knowledges... ...the Buddha's teaching has been done. Fearless like a lion, Venerable... like a bird caught in a snare; like a supreme tiger-bull, like a noble lion. 69. “The peacock, refuge of the three worlds, unwavering, unconquered; The foremost of ascetics, seated, surrounded by the community of monks. 70. “Having placed the excellent, peerless flowers in a basket; Together with the basket, I showered the best of Buddhas. 71. “By that clarity of mind, O lord of bipeds, bull among men; I have attained the unmoving state, having abandoned victory and defeat. 72. “Thirty-one aeons ago from here, the kamma I did then; I do not know a bad destination, this is the fruit of worshipping the Buddha. 73. “In thirty complete aeons, named ‘Devabhūti’; Endowed with seven jewels, there were five Wheel-turning monarchs. 74. “The four analytical knowledges…etc… The Buddha’s teaching has been done.” Thus indeed, the Elder Pupphacaṅkoṭiya spoke these verses. The tenth Apadāna of the Elder Pupphacaṅkoṭiya. The seventh chapter, Sakacintaniya. Its summary – Sakacintī, Avopupphī, and Sapaccāgamana; Parappasādī, Bhisado, Sucinti, Vatthadāyako. Ambadāyī and Sumano, and Pupphacaṅkoṭakī; Seventy-one verses are spoken, counted by those who see the meaning.

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