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The Miraculous Life of Gotama Buddha a Study in the Psychology of Mythology of the Historical Bodhisattva

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The Miraculous Life of Gotama Buddha a Study in the Psychology of Mythology of the Historical Bodhisattva The Miraculous Life of Gotama Buddha A study in the psychology of mythology of the historical Bodhisattva being SD 52.1 of the Sutta Discovery series by Piya Tan 2018 THE MINDING CENTRE Singapore First published in 2018 THE MINDING CENTRE Singapore ©2018 TAN Beng Sin All rights reserved Piya Tan (TAN Beng Sin), 1949- The Miraculous Life of Gotama Buddha: A study in the psychology of mythology of the historical Bodhisattva Publisher: the author ISBN 978-981-11-7432-2 (E-book) National Library Board, Singapore Cataloguing in Publication Data Name(s): Tan, Piya, 1949- Other title(s): Tipiṭaka. Suttapiṭaka. English. Selections | Miraculous life of Gotama Buddha : a study in the psychology of mythology of the historical Bodhisattva : being SD 52.1 of the Sutta discovery series Title: Sutta discovery. 52.1, The miraculous life of Gotama Buddha : a study in the psychology of mythology of the historical Bodhisattva / by Piya Tan. Description: Singapore : The Minding Centre, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references. Identifier(s): OCN 1028012130 | ISBN 978-981-11-7432-2 (paperback) Subject(s): LCSH: Tipiṭaka. Suttapiṭaka--Criticism, interpretation, etc. | Theravāda Buddhism--Doctrines. | Gautama Buddha. | Wisdom--Religious aspects-- Buddhism. Classification: DDC 294.3823--dc23 THE MINDING CENTRE, based in Singapore, is part of Piya Tan’s Dharma ministry. It was founded in 2006 to provide non-religious Dharma-based services to those in need of counsel and solace. It also serves as a haven and hub for those seeking Dharma by way of critical thinking, creative feeling, meditation, sutta translation and study, spiritual experience, and sharing that light and joy. The Centre also supports and promotes Piya Tan in his full-time Buddhist and related work. Courses: http://themindingcentre.org THE SUTTA DISCOVERY SERIES is part of the Living Word of the Buddha project which aspires to present and encourage an exploration of early Buddhism, both in a Dharma-inspired and academic manner for personal development as well as outreach work on a local and global scale. The Minding Centre and the Living Word of the Buddha project are motivated and guided by a quest for the historical Buddha and a vision of mere Buddhism. Suttas: http://dharmafarer.org THE MERE BUDDHIST VISION. We aspire to learn, teach and practise mere Buddha Dharma, or “non- religious Buddhism,” that is, Buddhism as simple as possible, as the teaching of the historical Buddha, so that it is open to all who seek true stillness and liberating wisdom. We aspire to compassionately and joyfully proclaim the possibility, necessity and urgency of gaining spiritual liberation in this life itself—at least as streamwinners, with or without dhyana—in keeping with the spirit of the Okkanta Saṁyutta (S 25). Mere Buddhism is easy: live it and be free. SD 52.1 The miraculous life of Gotama Buddha PREFACE “The Miraculous Life of Gotama Buddha” was originally meant to be simply the first chapter of SD 52 which is themed “Parables 2” (“Parables 1” is the theme of SD 28). Before the writing of this chapter began, I had to decide the range of the topic. As I thought about this, I realized that there are much more miraculous aspects of the Buddha’s life before the great awakening than after it. [1.1] Hence, I decided the limit this essay to examining Gotama’s life from his sojourn in Tusita to the great awakening. As the writing progressed, it became apparent that this essay will become a volume in itself, that is, as SD 52.1. Considering the significance of the title, it deserves a special sustained study in its own right. This decision is also reinforced by the fact that there are very few scholarly studies regarding the signifi- cance of the miraculous aspects of the Buddha’s life [1.0]. The available studies tend to take either of two extreme approach: either a wholesome deferent analysis of the miraculous elements or a modernist skeptical, approach to downplay the miraculous. In short, the miraculous elements in the Buddha’s life remains to be more carefully and fully examined and explained. This is the main purpose of this volume. Basically, this study is mainly based on the Nidāna,kathā (Buddhaghosa’s introduction to his commentary of the Jātaka stories), that is, the chapter known as “the intermediate account” (avidūre,- nidāna). This chapter, in fact, conveniently covers the purview of this book, that is, an account of the Bodhisattva’s sojourn in Tusita to his great awakening as the Buddha. Alongside this commentarial work, I have also used relevant sections of Buddhadatta’s Buddha,vaṁsa Commentary. [1.0(5)] Wherever possible, I have analyzed the narrative or topic against related suttas and teachings. In this, I am inspired by the teaching of the Neyy’attha Nīt’attha Sutta (A 2.3.5+6) [1.4.2.3]. Whatever is not explicitly Dhamma (such as figures and stories), I treat as having a mythical significance [1]. Hence, there is an emphasis on mythology, especially a psychology of early Buddhist mythology [16.2.5.1]. Ultimately, of course, the who purpose of this study is to help us have a better understanding of the Buddha’s life. This, in turn, should inspire us in the study and practice of the Buddha Dhamma. As we better understand the miraculous life of the Buddha, we see that this is the language of spirituality that pervades our own lives. When we see this vital link, then we are drawn closer to being buddha-like, so that we move further and faster on the path of awakening. Acknowledgements We should all deeply indebted, as I am, to all those diligent proof-readers who have toiled to give a readable book. Whatever errors that may remain are mine entirely. The book-cover is the work of Veron LIEN of Lien Studio (www.facebook.com/lienstudiosg). As always, I thankfully rejoice in the dedication of my wife, Ratna LIM, to our full-time Dharma work, which has made many projects possible on account of her unstinting effort and skills. I also thank the various proof-readers who have diligently and expertly uplift the quality of this work. This publication—Miraculous Life of Gotama Buddha—is to celebrate Vesak, Buddha Day, 2018. Piya Tan Vesak, 29 May 2018 Piya Tan SD 52.1 The miraculous life of Gotama Buddha TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE 1.0 Preamble 1.0.1 Sources of the Buddha’s biography 1.0.2 A psychology of mythology I Seeing the Dharma 1 Myth and miracle 1.1 Scope of study 1.2 Definitions 1.2.1 A definition of “myth” 1.2.2 A definition of “legend” 1.2.3 The Buddha as legend 1.3 Appreciating myths 1.3.1 Taking myths as they are 1.3.2 Reading myths 1.3.3 The miracle of myths 1.4 Miracles 1.4.1 The significance of miracles in the Buddha’s life 1.4.2 Life of the Buddha as literature and as symbols 1.5 The Buddha and the Dharma 1.5.1 The Dharma is above even the Buddha 1.5.2 The historical Buddha 1.6 Truth and tradition 1.6.1 Truth 1.6.2 Tradition II Seeing the Buddha 2 Conception 2.1 The Bodhisattva in Tusita 2.1.1 Seta,ketu 2.1.2 Why Tusita? http://dharmafarer.org 1 SD 52.1 The miraculous life of Gotama Buddha 2.2 The 5 investigations 2.2.1 The ideal conditions 2.2.2 The App’āyuka Sutta (U 5.2). Queen Mahā Mayā’s short life 2.2.3 A “human” Buddha 2.3 The descent 2.3.1 The Mahā’padāna Sutta account 2.4 Māyā’s dream 2.4.1 Āsāḷha 2.5 Portents 2.5.1 The 32 portents 2.5.2 The portents in perspective 2.6 The soothsayers’ prediction 2.7 The gestating Bodhisattva 3 Birth 3.1 Lumbinī 3.1.2 Journey to Deva,daha 3.1.3 Māyā’s journey 3.2 The blessed birth 3.2.1 The nativity 3.2.2 The right side 3.2.3 The sun imagery 3.2.4 Caesarean birth? 3.3 The water lustration 3.4 The 7 steps and lion-roar 3.4.1 The 7 steps 3.4.2 The lion-roar 3.4.3 Lotused feet 3.4.4 First lion-roar 3.5 Mahôsadha and Vessantara 3.6 The connatals (saha,jāta) 3.7 The Sakyas 4 The naming 2 http://dharmafarer.org Piya Tan SD 52.1 The miraculous life of Gotama Buddha 4.1 Asita 4.2 Nālaka 4.3 The naming ceremony 4.4 Prediction: the 4 sights 4.5 Koṇḍañña 4.6 Māyā’s death 5 Boyhood 5.1 Great comfort 5.1.1 Life of comfort 5.1.2 The ploughing festival 5.2 The 1st dhyana 5.2.1 Sanskrit version 5.2.2 Significance of the Bodhisattva’s dhyana 5.3 Education 6 Youth 6.1 The 3 mansions 6.1.1 Mansions for all seasons 6.1.2 The lesson of luxury 6.2 Marriage 7 The 4 sights 7.1 Saṁvega and pasada 7.1.1 The 4 divine messengers 7.1.2 The sights in perspective 7.1.3 Emotional trauma and its cure 7.2 Significance of the 4 sights 7.2.1 Divine messengers 7.2.2 Evaluations 7.2.3 An epiphany 7.2.4 Looking and seeing 7.2.5 Fated to be Buddha? 7.2.6 Fatalism in the context of early Buddhism http://dharmafarer.org 3 SD 52.1 The miraculous life of Gotama Buddha 8 The departure 8.1 Prelude to the Great Departure 8.1.1 The devas dress the Bodhisattva 8.1.2 Rāhula’s birth 8.1.3 Kisā Gotamī 8.1.4 The dancing girls 8.2 The farewell 8.2.1 Readying the horse 8.2.2 Farewell to wife and child 8.2.3 Kaṇṭhaka, the Bodhisattva’s horse 8.2.4 Sutta accounts of the renunciation 8.3 Siddhattha’s spiritual maturation 8.3.1 Psychological antecedents to the great renunciation 8.3.2 Philosophical antecedents to the great renunciation 8.3.3 Siddhattha, women and the world 8.3.4 The 4 sights (Mahāvastu version) 8.3.5 Evaluation 9 The flight of the gods 9.1 Devas and māra 9.1.1 The devas 9.1.2 Māra’s 1st appearance 9.2 The river Anomā 9.2.1 Leaving Kapilavatthu 9.2.2 Across 3 realms 9.2.3 Crossing the Anomā 10 Renuncation 10.1 Channa’s request 10.2 The shrine of the crest-gem 10.3 The 8 requisites 10.4 Kaṇṭhaka dies 11 Rāja,gaha 4 http://dharmafarer.org Piya Tan SD 52.1 The miraculous life
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