The day Buddha's sublime mission commenced

Commemorating the month of Il

"Arhats, I am free from all the bonds. So are you now. Go and wander for the welfare and happiness of many out of compassion for the world and happiness of gods and men.

Two should not go in the same direction. Proclaim my doctrine that is excellent in the beginning, excellent in the middle and excellent in the end." (Charitha Bikkawe Charikan, Bahu Jana Hithaya, Bahu Jana Sukhaya)" the Buddha advised his first sixty disciples thousands of years ago.

The Five Ascetics (Kondangna, Vappa, Baddiya, Assaji, Mahanama) to whom he delivered his first sermon - Dhamma Chakka Pawathna Sutta (which contained the essentials of his teaching- the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold path), Yasa of Varanasi and his fifty four friends formed his first set of disciples. Thus in the month of Il the sublime mission of the Buddha commenced when these sixty arhats were dispatched to disseminate his teachings.

Though the Buddha passed away nearly 2551 years ago after rendering a great service to man kind for forty five years, his doctrine still exists in its pristine purity. He has left behind thousands of followers and his teachings give them immense relief, beckoning them to the path of Nibbana.

After advising the first sixty disciples the Buddha headed towards Uruvel Janapada to meet the Jatila brothers-Uruvel Kassapa, Nadee Kassapa and Gaya Kassapa. In fact the intention of his visit was to make them shed their petty prejudices and direct them towards the path of Dhamma.

These three brothers who were known as Thun Ba Jatila lived in their three hermitages on the bank of the River Neranjana with their thousand disciples. Well aware of his prejudice, the Buddha first arrived at the hermitage of Uruvel Kassapa and asked him whether he can spend the night in one of the rooms in his hermitage. Uruvel Kassapa gave the Buddha permission in a cold manner, warning him of a snake that dwelt in the room permanently.

The Buddha knowing the intention of the Jatila brother stayed there taking no notice of his warning. Buddhist literature finely describes how furious the snake was to see the Buddha in the room.

Through his psychic powers he could subdue its temper and the following morning Uruvel Kassapa was astonished to see the Buddha with the snake well tamed! In fact he had not wanted to see the Buddha alive the following morning. "Here's your snake" The Buddha told Uruvel Kassapa. "His power was subdued by the power of mine."

No sooner Uruvel Kassapa became a disciple of the Buddha and his two brothers and their disciples soon followed him. On the invitation of Uruvel Kassapa the Buddha stayed for some time in a near by forest performing Yamaka Prathihara (Dual Psychic Power) and made them understand that their prejudices were built on unjustified reasons.

This incident which took place in the month of Il added over thousand disciples to the Buddha Sasana.

They all became Arhats after listening to Aditta Pariyaya Sutta. Il Full Moon Poya day also bears significance in the Buddhist calendar as it was on such a day that the Buddha has given permission and approval (Niyatha Vivarana) to Maithree Bodisatta to become the next Buddha.

The Buddha arrived in Sankassapura after preaching Aditta Pariyaya Sutta to his mother in Thavuthisa heaven. Maithree Bodisatta (who was born as the son of the wealthy land owner Siriwaddana in Sankassapura) entered the Order during the Buddha's visit to Sankassapura. This was how the Buddha foresaw the future.

"In Baranasi there will be a kingdom called Kethumathi and a king called Sankha. His advisor Subrahima, a Brahmin will be the father of Maithree Buddha. Brahmawathi will be his mother. He will attain enlightenment under a Banyan tree."

Thus the Buddha gave Maithree Bodisatta the permission to become the next Buddha. The demise of the Buddha's great disciple Sariyuth Thero too took place in the month of IL.

The thero knowing that his life time is limited only to one more week decided to visit his home town mainly to preach Dhamma to his mother. She was reluctant to accept the teachings of the Buddha though Sariyuth thero wanted to see his mother as a follower of the Buddha.

In the end he could fulfil his duty as his mother entered the first path of Nibbana after listening to his sermon. The following day Sariyuth Thero passed away with great satisfaction as he could perform the greatest duty that a son can ever do to his mother. 'Self is the lord of self' (Attahi atta No Natho) the Buddha told his followers. Buddha was neither a god nor an incarnation of god.

He was a man - yet extra-ordinary. (Accariya Manusso). Many thousand years ago he practically proved the world that supreme enlightenment is within one's reach if he/she genuinely tries to achieve it. A Buddha can show his followers only the way out of suffering and achieving it solely depends on individual commitment.

Thus it is with great reverence that Buddhists world wide commemorate the Il Full Moon Poya day as it mainly marks the commencement of the sublime mission of the Buddha - dissemination of the Dhamma.

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