How Buddha vanquished Alavaka

By Premasara EPASINGHE

All religious leaders in the world are concerned mainly about the spiritual and moral uplift of human beings. The peerless Gautama Buddha was a religious leader, a social being who always preferred to have a dialogue with men, women, children, rich and poor and also with evil spirits and Nagas. The Blessed One was a part of a microcosm of society. His discourse on Alavaka, titled Alavaka Sutta, centres round a dialogue between the Buddha and Alavaka, a chieftain of a tribe.

The uppish, arrogant Alavaka was very crude to the Buddha, when he met the Blessed One for the first time.

Once the Buddha was sojourning in a place called Alavi, the dwelling place of Alavaka. The demon chief was surprised to see the Blessed One, in his residence as an uninvited guest. Alavaka yelled. “Who are you, recluse, get out” The Buddha walked out.The Alavaka said, “Come in you recluse”. The Buddha came back. For the third time, Alavaka ordered the Blessed One to leave. The Buddha did so. Alavaka thought that the Buddha was frightened of him. And for the fourth time he ordered the Buddha to get out.

Dear friend, I shall not leave, You can do whatever you like, exclaimed the Buddha.

Alavaka was furious. He thought he was a wise man and challenged the Buddha for a debate.

The Buddha remained calm and said, “Alavaka, in this world, there is no one who can frighten me or touch me. I am Samma Sambuddha, the enlightened One. You can ask me any question and I can answer it.”

The Alavaka Sutta, extracted from Khuddhaka Nikaya contains the questions and answers posed by Alavaka and the Buddha.

Alavaka Sutta, consists of 10 stanzas. It is in a form of questions and answers.

Alavaka wanted to know what was the best wealth and what should be practised to bring happiness.

Then he asked what was the sweetest taste, and the best way to live in the world.

The Buddha replied that faith was the best wealth.

He said righteousness would bring happiness. Truth was the sweetest of all tastes. Living with wisdom was the best way to live.”

Tell me recluse how does one cross the current (Kathamasu Tarati Ogham? Kathamasu Tarati Annavam – Kathamasu Dukkham Acceti? Kathamsu Purisujjhati) cross the sea, get beyond suffering. How is one purified?

”With faith (Saddhaya) one was as the current with diligence (Appamadena) one crosses the sea. With effort (Viriyena) you get beyond suffering.” Though wisdom (Pannaya) one is purified (Parisujjati).

Then Alavaka was keen to know how one attains wisdom (Labhate Parinam?), wealth (Dhanem) fame (Pappoti), bind friends (Mittani Ganthani) How does you go from this world to the next world. Having reached there how does not grieve?

In reply to the question the Buddha said, Have faith in Arahats, who have attained Enlightenment and they are no longer subject to death and rebirth.Seek the blessings of the Triple Gem, and do what is proper.

If you are energetic you gain fame through truth, self control, courage and generosity.

Those who follow them do not grieve after death.

In the last three stanzas (8,9 and 10) Alavaka was so delighted listening to the answers of the Buddha that he said, “Oh, Blessed One now I know what the benefits of the next world.

In conclusion Alavaka said, Venerable Sir, I pay my humble homage to you. I realised the good qualities of your philosophy. I will take the message from village to village and from city to city (Gama Gamam, Pura Puram)Alavaka also said, “Venerable Sir, you showed the road (Mulhassa Va Maggem Acikkeyya) holding a lamp in the dark (Chakkumanto Rupani Dakkhintiti). Venerable Sir, I take refuge in the Triple Gem. Please consider me as a lay disciple till I die”.