No 877 of Living Life Series 1
Yet another Wesak related article
Let us know what The Buddha said on the future Buddha - on none other than on the day of his accent. You can consider that as the event that gave rise to Wesak.
Let us know what The Buddha said on the future Buddha - on none other than on the day of his accent. You can consider that as the event that gave rise to Wesak.
'I am not the first Buddha to come upon this earth; nor shall I be the last. Previously, there were many Buddhas who appeared in this world. In due time, another Buddha will arise in this world, within this world cycle.'
The Buddha continued:' Why should I preserve this body when the body of the excellent law will endure? I am resolved. I have accomplished my purpose and have attended to the work set upon me. Ananda, for a long time you have been very near to me in thoughts, words and acts of much love beyond all measure. You have done well, Ananda. Be earnest in effort and you too will soon be free from bondages! You will be free from sensuality, from delusion, and from ignorance.'
Suppressing his tears, Ananda said to the Buddha, 'Who shall teach us when You are gone?' And the Buddha advised him to regard His Teaching as the Master.
The Buddha continued again:' I am not the first Buddha to come upon earth; nor shall I be the last. In due time, another Buddha will arise in this world, a Holy One, a Supremely Enlightened One, endowed with wisdom, in conduct auspicious, knowing the universe, an incomparable leader of men, a master of devas and men. He will reveal to you the same Eternal Truths which I have taught you. He will proclaim a religious life, wholly perfect and pure; such as I now proclaim.'
'How shall we know him?' asked Ananda. The Buddha replied, 'He will be known as Maitreya which means kindness or friendliness.'
Buddhists believe that those people who at present are doing meritorious deeds by leading a religious life will have a chance to be reborn as human beings in the time of Maitreya Buddha and will obtain Nirvana identical with that of Gautama Buddha. In this way they will find salvation through the guidance of His Teaching. His Teaching will become a hope of the remote future for everybody.
However, according to the Buddha, devout religious people can gain this Nirvanic bliss at any time if they really work for it irrespective of whether a Buddha appears or not.
'As long as my disciples lead a pure religious life, so long the world will never become empty of (saints) Arahantas.' - (Maha Parinibbana Sutta)
Discussion
There is great delivery and clarity by the late Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhamananda. In fact, it is a reality that anyone can be enlightened and even be saints or Buddhas to help others to salvation.
To be enlightened, they need not be Buddhists or to belong to any culture, religion or sect.
Sages of the various different religious cultures too may well be on the same path but at different levels of cultivation. People will want to see them as different.
It is as the late Venerable said a question if people really work for it - Nirvana. They don't even need to depend on a Buddha or to do so only when a Buddha appears.
So why wait for a Buddha to do so? But do be graceful, to feel blessed by what The Buddha has put in place for us. But you do not necessarily need to idolize him or any sage but go for The Word for the Word is the Buddha and well, the Buddha is the Word.
He has given us the legacy - the Word (doctrine); so will many other saviors in their respective ways big and small. The blessings of the aura of all Buddhas and saints will fly with us in life.
Put the Word into life - liven up the Word and be on the way. Buddha will be so pleased with you even if you don't know him. Otherwise why did the Buddha summed up the Doctrine or Word as this stanza below?
Avoid evil
Do good
Purify the mind.
This is the teachings of the Buddhas
and indeed all saints
The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 echoes the same sentiments when he said that he is the Word and the Word is him. There is doctrine in the image and the image is the doctrine - telling us on the need to moderate and balance life - denial and indulgence as depicted by feet on two extremes or elements.
The future Buddha too can perhaps be in any culture. One cannot know for sure. The culture the historical Gautama Buddha got himself inserted into may well not be the same though similar in some ways as for the future Buddha as in the texts.
The teachings of all Buddhas transcend barriers. They are just integrated into and enrich existing culture. The teachings do not change culture or make people jump band wagon but they make people even better than what they are in their existing prevailing culture and belief-systems.
People can stay what they are and though different in culture, they can be one at heart for the goodness of all beings and their liberation from woes of life. That goes without saying as one of the emphases of the future Buddha of the future in an ever more globalized future world.
May we be blessed by more Buddhas and saints.