Chapter 15 Chapter Thirteen A Day in the Life of the Buddha

The World-Honored One is enlightened and expounds the Dharma of liberation; Diligent persuasion to leave is like a mother's heart. ——"Central" Among all the religious teachers in the world, Buddha can be regarded as the most energetic and active religious leader.In addition to taking care of his physical needs, he has been working hard for the cause of spreading the Dharma and benefiting people all day long.He handles his daily affairs well and organized, systematic and thoughtful.His inner world always lives in silence and enjoys the bliss of Nirvana.His external world has always been selflessly serving the improvement of social morality.After his own enlightenment, he continued to enlighten others and liberated them from the suffering of life.

His day is divided into five parts: morning, afternoon, first hour, middle hour, and last hour. in the morning Generally speaking, the Buddha looked at the world in his holy clothes in the morning to see if there was anyone he could save.If someone needs his spiritual help, he will go there without invitation, either on foot, or with magical powers, and with the right way to teach them.He usually goes to look for evil and unkind people, and pure and virtuous people will come to him by themselves.The Buddha himself went to enlighten Ajalimara, the robber-killer, and Aravi, the murderous demon.But the devout maiden Visha, the rich and good man to the lonely, wise and wise Shariputra,.Mu Jianlian and others all came to him, seeking spiritual guidance.

This is how the Buddha worked for the benefit of all beings, and the kings worshiped him willingly.If he has not received a special invitation, either alone or with his disciples, he will beg for food along the street with his alms bowl, stand silently at the door of the almsgiver, accept what people put in the alms bowl, and then return to his residence.Even at the age of 80 and in poor health, he still goes around the city begging for food. Before noon, the Buddha finished his meal.After the meal, he gave some brief lectures to the believers.Awarded three boards and five precepts.If someone has a foundation in practice, the Buddha pointed out to him a way to achieve the holy fruition.If anyone asked to become a monk, he ordained them and finally returned to his hut.

afternoon At this time, the Buddha sat down in one place in the temple, and monks gathered around him to listen to the Dhamma.Some monks came to him in order to obtain the meditation method suitable for them.After other monks came to pay homage to the Buddha, they went back to their rooms. After preaching to his disciples or giving some teachings, the Buddha returned to his incense room to rest, or lay down on the right side with mindfulness at will.After getting up, you will reach the state of great compassion and joy, and use your holy eyes to observe all living beings in the world, especially the monks and other disciples who live in seclusion and practice meditation, and give them necessary teachings and guidance.If someone was far away and needed his guidance, he would go there by supernatural power, enlighten them, and then return to his incense room.

At night, groups of lay believers come to listen to the Dharma.The Buddha understood their roots and characters with the Buddha's eyes (1), and explained the Dharma to them for more than an hour.Each listener, with his own disposition, felt that the Buddha was speaking for himself alone.This is the way the Buddha taught the Dhamma.Generally speaking, the Buddha used concise examples and fables to explain profound philosophical principles in order to educate all living beings.He does not use emotion, but uses reason to inspire all sentient beings. To ordinary people, the Buddha first taught the joys of generosity, precepts, and ascension to heaven.For those who have made progress in practice, he talks about the unkindness of materialistic enjoyment, and the method of eliminating evil and gaining benefits.For those who have already reached home, he will explain the Four Noble Truths.

The Buddha did not show supernatural powers easily, except when teaching Ajali Mara and Hema.He didn't want to use his supernatural powers to have any influence on those who heard the Dharma. The sublime teachings of the Buddha appealed equally to ordinary people and intellectuals.A Buddhist poet once sang: "Give joy to the wise, raise the wisdom of the masses. Dispel the darkness of the foolish. This dharma is shared by all."(2) The rich, the poor, the noble, and the lowly gave up their original beliefs and accepted the law of well-being.The Sangha started with five monks soon developed into millions of people, and the Buddha's teachings spread to every corner of Central India.

first night Every night from 6:00 to 10:00, the Buddha specially came to guide the monks.During this time, they can come to the Buddha at will, ask difficult questions, inquire about profound Dharma, receive suitable meditation methods or listen to the Buddha's teachings. midnight From ten o'clock at night to two o'clock in the morning, gods and humans invisible to ordinary people, Brahma and other gods come to the Buddha to listen to the Dharma.Such verses often appear in the scriptures: At that time, in the dead of night, a celestial being with a shining body came to the Buddha, respectfully worshiped, and stood aside.In the "Response Department", there are several classics that answer the questions of heaven and man.

late night From 2:00 am to 6:00 am, it is divided into four periods. In the first period, the Buddha walked back and forth around the neighborhood, which was a moderate amount of physical exercise.From 3:00 to 4:00, the Buddha lay down on his right side with mindfulness.From four o'clock to five o'clock, the Buddha went deep into the realm of Arhat and enjoyed the bliss of Nirvana.From five o'clock to six o'clock, the Buddha deeply felt the joy of great compassion, illuminating all living beings with his heart of great compassion, and nourishing their hearts.At this time, he looked at the world with the eyes of Dharma to see what he could do for sentient beings.Virtuous persons and beings who need his help, no matter how far away they live, are clearly before his eyes.Out of compassion for them, he will go to give the necessary spiritual help.

The Buddha was busy with the affairs of the Sangha all day long.Different from everyone.He only rests for an hour at night.For two full hours in the early morning, he permeated the world of Dagan with his boundless loving heart, bringing happiness to all beings.He is willing to live in poverty and simplicity, begging for food without causing trouble to anyone.In a year, there are eight months to educate the ten directions, preach the Dharma, and work tirelessly for the benefit of the public. According to "Faleng", the last moment can be divided into these four parts. But according to the commentary, the last period consists of three periods, and in the third period, the Buddha achieved the bliss of great compassion.

[Note] (1) Buddha eyes-Buddhacakkhu knows evil and inner tendencies (asayannasayanana), as well as the root nature of sharpness, such as faith, thought, concentration, persuasion, and wisdom (indriyaparopariyattanana). (2) "Satapancasataka", verse 78.