The Great Mahakala And His Brother

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yawares
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Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 3:23 pm

The Great Mahakala And His Brother

Post by yawares »

Dear Members,

The Great Mahakala And His Brother
[Translated from the Pali by Daw Mya Tin,MA]


While residing in the neighbourhood of the town of Setabya, the Buddha uttered Verses (7) and (8) of this book, with reference to Mahakala and his brother Culakala. Mahakala and Culakala were two merchant brothers from the town of Setabya. While travelling about with their merchandise on one occasion, they had a chance to listen to a religious discourse given by the Buddha. After hearing the discourse Mahakala asked the Buddha for admission to the Order of the bhikkhus. Culakala also joined the Order but with the intention of coming out of the Order and to bring out his brother along with him.

Mahakala was serious in his ascetic practice at the cemetery (Sosanika dhutinga) and diligently meditated on decay and impermanence. He finally gained Insight and attained arahatship.

Later, the Buddha and his disciples, including the brothers, happened to be staying in the forest of Simsapa, near Setabya. While staying there, the former wives of Culakala invited the Buddha and his disciples to their house. Culakala himself went ahead to prepare seating arrangements for the Buddha and his disciples. Once there, the former wives of Culakala made him change into lay clothes.

The next day, the wives of Mahakala invited the Buddha and his disciples to their house hoping to do the same with Mahakala as the wives of Culakala had done to Culakala. After the meal they requested the Buddha to let Mahakala remain to "express appreciation" (anumodana). So the Buddha and the other disciples left.

Arriving at the village gate the bhikkhus expressed their dissatisfaction and apprehension. They were dissatisfied because Mahakala was permitted to stay behind and they were afraid that, like Culakala, his brother, Mahakala, too, would be made to leave the Order by his former wives. To this, the Buddha replied that the two brothers were not alike. Culakala indulged in sensual pleasures and was lazy and weak; he was just like a weak tree. Mahakala, on the other hand, was diligent, steadfast and strong in his faith of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Samgha; he was like a mountain of rock.
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 7: He who keeps his mind on pleasant objects, who is uncontrolled in his senses, immoderate in his food, and is lazy and lacking in energy, will certainly be overwhelmed by Mara, just as stormy winds uproot a weak tree.

Verse 8: He who keeps his mind on the impurities (of the body), who is well-controlled in his senses and is full of faith and energy, will certainly be not overwhelmed by Mara, just as stormy winds cannot shake a mountain of rock.

Meanwhile, the former wives of Mahakala surrounded him and tried to remove his yellow robes. The thera, sensing their attitude, stood up and rising up into the air by his supernormal powers passed through the roof of the house into the sky. He landed at the feet of the Buddha at the very moment the Master was coming to the end of his utterance of the above two stanzas. At the same time, all the bhikkhus assembled there were established in Sotapatti Fruition.

*******************
:heart: Love Buddha's dhamma,
yawares/sirikanya
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Hanzze
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Re: The Great Mahakala And His Brother

Post by Hanzze »

Uhh... many colors but they make the story much more "alive" and exemplary. So let us train to be not uncontrolled in our senses. :smile:
Just that! *smile*
...We Buddhists must find the courage to leave our temples and enter the temples of human experience, temples that are filled with suffering. If we listen to Buddha, Christ, or Gandhi, we can do nothing else. The refugee camps, the prisons, the ghettos, and the battlefields will become our temples. We have so much work to do. ... Peace is Possible! Step by Step. - Samtach Preah Maha Ghosananda "Step by Step" http://www.ghosananda.org/bio_book.html

BUT! it is important to become a real Buddhist first. Like Punna did: Punna Sutta Nate sante baram sokham _()_
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yawares
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Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 3:23 pm

Re: The Great Mahakala And His Brother

Post by yawares »

Hanzze wrote:Uhh... many colors but they make the story much more "alive" and exemplary. So let us train to be not uncontrolled in our senses. :smile:

Dear Hanzee,
when I was a student..I always used color pens to mark what I must study hard...colors made me alert/cheerful..then I could remember everything that I must study to make good grades!...I even listened to my favorite pop songs while I was studying... my family was so surprised that I got myself into the best high school/university in Thailand (students must take entrance examination/must pass with good grades!!)

Nice to see your reply again/miss you,
yawares is listening to Bon Jovi's BAD MEDICINE right now to start my day !
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Hanzze
Posts: 1906
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2010 12:47 pm
Location: Cambodia

Re: The Great Mahakala And His Brother

Post by Hanzze »

Well as long as we are not free from desire for sensual pleasure we use it in the best way, if we are smart. Maybe this Kasina - Color Meditation is something that is perfect for you.

Don't forget Culakala, there are some who are not so strong. Bad medicine for them, maybe.
Just that! *smile*
...We Buddhists must find the courage to leave our temples and enter the temples of human experience, temples that are filled with suffering. If we listen to Buddha, Christ, or Gandhi, we can do nothing else. The refugee camps, the prisons, the ghettos, and the battlefields will become our temples. We have so much work to do. ... Peace is Possible! Step by Step. - Samtach Preah Maha Ghosananda "Step by Step" http://www.ghosananda.org/bio_book.html

BUT! it is important to become a real Buddhist first. Like Punna did: Punna Sutta Nate sante baram sokham _()_
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yawares
Posts: 1531
Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 3:23 pm

Re: The Great Mahakala And His Brother

Post by yawares »

Hanzze wrote:Well as long as we are not free from desire for sensual pleasure we use it in the best way, if we are smart. Maybe this Kasina - Color Meditation is something that is perfect for you.

Don't forget Culakala, there are some who are not so strong. Bad medicine for them, maybe.

Dear Hanzze,
Thanks for your suggestion..I always use my colorful Buddha statue as my "KASINA"...because I love Buddha the most!
Appreciate your reply, :namaste:
yawares
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