Difference between revisions of "Vajra asana"
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| − | "[[Bodh Gaya]] is the place where [[Gautama Buddha]] attained unsurpassed, supreme [[Enlightenment]]. It is a place which should be visited or seen by a person of devotion and which would cause awareness and apprehension of the nature of impermanence". | + | "[[Bodh Gaya]] is the place where [[Gautama Buddha]] [[attained]] [[unsurpassed]], supreme [[Enlightenment]]. It is a place which should be visited or seen by a [[person]] of [[devotion]] and which would [[cause]] [[awareness]] and apprehension of the [[nature]] of [[impermanence]]". |
| − | [[Siddhartha Gautama]], the [[Buddha]]-to-be, had been dwelling on the banks of the [[Nairanjana River]] with five ascetic followers for six years practicing austerities. Realising that austerities could not lead to realisation he abandoned them. His five ascetic companions disgusted at his seeming failure, deserted him and left for Sarnath. | + | [[Siddhartha Gautama]], the [[Buddha]]-to-be, had been dwelling on the banks of the [[Nairanjana River]] with five [[ascetic]] followers for six years practicing austerities. Realising that austerities could not lead to realisation he abandoned them. His five [[ascetic]] companions disgusted at his seeming failure, deserted him and left for [[Sarnath]]. |
| − | He then moved towards the village of Senani where he was offered rice milk by a Brahmin girl, Sujata. Accepting from a grass-cutter a gift of [[kusa grass]] for a mat, the [[Bodhisattva]] took a seat under a pipal tree facing east. Here he resolved not to rise again until enlightenment was attained. | + | He then moved towards the village of Senani where he was [[offered]] {{Wiki|rice}} milk by a [[Brahmin]] girl, [[Sujata]]. Accepting from a grass-cutter a [[gift]] of [[kusa grass]] for a mat, the [[Bodhisattva]] took a seat under a [[pipal tree]] facing [[east]]. Here he resolved not to rise again until [[enlightenment]] was [[attained]]. |
<poem> | <poem> | ||
| − | Here on this seat my body may shrivel up, | + | Here on this seat my [[body]] may shrivel up, |
| − | my skin, my bones, my flesh may dissolve, | + | my {{Wiki|skin}}, my [[bones]], my flesh may dissolve, |
| − | but my body will not move from this seat | + | but my [[body]] will not move from this seat |
| − | until I have attained [[Enlightenment]], | + | until I have [[attained]] [[Enlightenment]], |
| − | so difficult to obtain in the course of many kalpas". | + | so difficult to obtain in the course of many [[kalpas]]". |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
| − | As [[Gautama]] sat in deep [[meditation]], [[Mara]], [[Lord of Illusion]], perceiving that his power was about to be broken, rushed to distract him from his purpose. The [[Bodhisattva]] touched the earth, calling it to bear witness the countless lifetimes of virtue that had led him to this place of [[enlightenment]]. When the earth shook, confirming the truth of [[Gautama's]] words, [[Mara]] unleashed his army of demons. In the epic battle that ensued, [[Gautama's]] [[wisdom]] broke through the illusions and the power of his [[compassion]] transformed the [[demons]]' weapons into flowers and [[Mara]] and all his forces fled in disarray. | + | As [[Gautama]] sat in deep [[meditation]], [[Mara]], [[Lord of Illusion]], perceiving that his power was about to be broken, rushed to distract him from his {{Wiki|purpose}}. The [[Bodhisattva]] touched the [[earth]], calling it to bear {{Wiki|witness}} the countless lifetimes of [[virtue]] that had led him to this place of [[enlightenment]]. When the [[earth]] shook, confirming the [[truth]] of [[Gautama's]] words, [[Mara]] unleashed his {{Wiki|army}} of {{Wiki|demons}}. In the {{Wiki|epic}} {{Wiki|battle}} that ensued, [[Gautama's]] [[wisdom]] broke through the [[illusions]] and the power of his [[compassion]] [[transformed]] the [[demons]]' [[weapons]] into [[flowers]] and [[Mara]] and all his forces fled in disarray. |
Latest revision as of 23:43, 10 February 2020
In Buddhism Vajrasana means ‘Diamond Throne’ and marks the spot where the Buddha gained Enlightenment.
"Bodh Gaya is the place where Gautama Buddha attained unsurpassed, supreme Enlightenment. It is a place which should be visited or seen by a person of devotion and which would cause awareness and apprehension of the nature of impermanence".
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha-to-be, had been dwelling on the banks of the Nairanjana River with five ascetic followers for six years practicing austerities. Realising that austerities could not lead to realisation he abandoned them. His five ascetic companions disgusted at his seeming failure, deserted him and left for Sarnath.
He then moved towards the village of Senani where he was offered rice milk by a Brahmin girl, Sujata. Accepting from a grass-cutter a gift of kusa grass for a mat, the Bodhisattva took a seat under a pipal tree facing east. Here he resolved not to rise again until enlightenment was attained.
Here on this seat my body may shrivel up,
my skin, my bones, my flesh may dissolve,
but my body will not move from this seat
until I have attained Enlightenment,
so difficult to obtain in the course of many kalpas".
As Gautama sat in deep meditation, Mara, Lord of Illusion, perceiving that his power was about to be broken, rushed to distract him from his purpose. The Bodhisattva touched the earth, calling it to bear witness the countless lifetimes of virtue that had led him to this place of enlightenment. When the earth shook, confirming the truth of Gautama's words, Mara unleashed his army of demons. In the epic battle that ensued, Gautama's wisdom broke through the illusions and the power of his compassion transformed the demons' weapons into flowers and Mara and all his forces fled in disarray.
Source
https://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/bodgaya.htm
