Difference between revisions of "Vimāna Vatthu"
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| − | '''[[Vimāna]] | + | '''[[Vimāna Vatthu]]''' |
| − | [[ | + | the sixth [[book]] of the [[Khuddaka Nikāya]]. It describes the [[splendour]] of various [[celestial]] [[abodes]] belonging to different [[Devas]], obtained by them as reward for some [[meritorious]] act performed in a previous [[Life]]. The stories were learnt from the [[Devas]] themselves, by [[Moggallāna]], Vangīsa and others, during their sojourn in the [[Deva]]-[[worlds]], and reported by them to The [[Buddha]]. |
| − | A Commentary on the work exists by Dhammapāla, forming part of the Paramatthadīpanī, and sometimes called Vimalatthavilāsinī (q.v.). | + | A Commentary on the work [[exists]] by [[Dhammapāla]], forming part of the [[Paramatthadīpanī]], and sometimes called [[Vimalatthavilāsinī]] (q.v.). |
| − | Vimāna means mansion. Here it refers to celestial mansions gained by beings who have done acts of merit. In this text are eighty-five verses grouped in seven vaggas. In the first four vaggas, celestial females give an account of the acts of merit they have performed in previous existences as human beings and of their rebirth in deva realms where magnificent mansions await their appearance. In the last three vaggas the celestial males tell their stories. | + | [[Vimāna]] means mansion. Here it refers to [[celestial mansions]] gained by [[beings]] who have done acts of [[merit]]. In this text are eighty-five verses grouped in seven [[vaggas]]. In the first four [[vaggas]], [[celestial]] females give an account of the acts of [[merit]] they have performed in previous [[existences]] as [[human beings]] and of their [[rebirth]] in [[deva]] [[realms]] where magnificent mansions await their [[appearance]]. In the last three [[vaggas]] the [[celestial]] {{Wiki|males}} tell their stories. |
| − | The Venerable Mahā Mogallāna, who could visit the deva realm, brought back stories as told to him by the devas concerned and recounted them to the Buddha who confirmed the stories by supplying more background details to them. These discourses were given with a view to bring out the fact that the human world offers plenty of opportunities for performing meritorious acts. The objective for such discourses was is to refute the wrong views of those who believe that nothing exists after this life (the annihilationists) and those who maintain that there is no resultant effect to any action. | + | The [[Venerable]] [[Mahā Mogallāna]], who could visit the [[deva realm]], brought back stories as told to him by the [[devas]] concerned and recounted them to the [[Buddha]] who confirmed the stories by supplying more background details to them. These [[discourses]] were given with a [[view]] to bring out the fact that the [[human world]] offers plenty of opportunities for performing [[meritorious]] acts. The [[objective]] for such [[discourses]] was is to refute the [[wrong views]] of those who believe that [[nothing]] [[exists]] after this [[life]] (the [[Wikipedia:Annihilationism|annihilationists]]) and those who maintain that there is no resultant effect to any [[action]]. |
| − | Of the eighty-five stories described, five stories concern those who have been reborn in the deva world having developed themselves to the stage of the sotāpanna in their previous existences; two stories on those who have paid homage to the Buddha with clasped hands; one on those who had expressed words of jubilation at the ceremony of building a monastery for the Sangha; two stories on those who have observed the moral precepts; two stories on those who have observed the precepts and given alms; and the rest deal with those who have been reborn in the deva world as the wholesome result of giving alms only. | + | Of the eighty-five stories described, five stories [[concern]] those who have been [[reborn]] in the [[deva world]] having developed themselves to the stage of the [[sotāpanna]] in their previous [[existences]]; two stories on those who have paid homage to the [[Buddha]] with clasped hands; one on those who had expressed words of jubilation at the {{Wiki|ceremony}} of building a [[monastery]] for the [[Sangha]]; two stories on those who have observed the [[moral]] [[precepts]]; two stories on those who have observed the [[precepts]] and given [[alms]]; and the rest deal with those who have been [[reborn]] in the [[deva world]] as the [[wholesome]] result of [[giving alms]] only. |
| − | The vivid accounts of the lives of the devas in various deva abodes serve to show clearly that the higher beings are not immortals, nor creators, but are also evolved conditioned by the result of their previous meritorious deeds. They too are subject to the laws of anicca, dukkha and anattā and have to strive themselves to achieve the deathless state of nibbāna. | + | The vivid accounts of the [[lives]] of the [[devas]] in various [[deva]] [[abodes]] serve to show clearly that the higher [[beings]] are not [[immortals]], nor creators, but are also evolved [[conditioned]] by the result of their previous [[meritorious]] [[deeds]]. They too are [[subject]] to the laws of [[anicca]], [[dukkha]] and [[anattā]] and have to strive themselves to achieve the {{Wiki|deathless}} [[state]] of [[nibbāna]]. |
| − | Stories from the [[Vimāna]] Vatthu were related by Mahinda in Ceylon in his first sermon to Anulā and her five hundred companions. Mhv.xiv.58. | + | Stories from the [[Vimāna]] [[Vatthu]] were related by [[Mahinda]] in [[Ceylon]] in his first {{Wiki|sermon}} to [[Anulā]] and her five hundred companions. Mhv.xiv.58. |
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/vy/vimana_vatthu.htm www.palikanon.com] | [http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/vy/vimana_vatthu.htm www.palikanon.com] | ||
[[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | [[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | ||
[[Category:Vimāna]] | [[Category:Vimāna]] | ||
| − | + | ||
[[Category:Khuddaka Nikaya]] | [[Category:Khuddaka Nikaya]] | ||
Latest revision as of 06:50, 9 March 2015
Vimāna Vatthu the sixth book of the Khuddaka Nikāya. It describes the splendour of various celestial abodes belonging to different Devas, obtained by them as reward for some meritorious act performed in a previous Life. The stories were learnt from the Devas themselves, by Moggallāna, Vangīsa and others, during their sojourn in the Deva-worlds, and reported by them to The Buddha.
A Commentary on the work exists by Dhammapāla, forming part of the Paramatthadīpanī, and sometimes called Vimalatthavilāsinī (q.v.).
Vimāna means mansion. Here it refers to celestial mansions gained by beings who have done acts of merit. In this text are eighty-five verses grouped in seven vaggas. In the first four vaggas, celestial females give an account of the acts of merit they have performed in previous existences as human beings and of their rebirth in deva realms where magnificent mansions await their appearance. In the last three vaggas the celestial males tell their stories.
The Venerable Mahā Mogallāna, who could visit the deva realm, brought back stories as told to him by the devas concerned and recounted them to the Buddha who confirmed the stories by supplying more background details to them. These discourses were given with a view to bring out the fact that the human world offers plenty of opportunities for performing meritorious acts. The objective for such discourses was is to refute the wrong views of those who believe that nothing exists after this life (the annihilationists) and those who maintain that there is no resultant effect to any action.
Of the eighty-five stories described, five stories concern those who have been reborn in the deva world having developed themselves to the stage of the sotāpanna in their previous existences; two stories on those who have paid homage to the Buddha with clasped hands; one on those who had expressed words of jubilation at the ceremony of building a monastery for the Sangha; two stories on those who have observed the moral precepts; two stories on those who have observed the precepts and given alms; and the rest deal with those who have been reborn in the deva world as the wholesome result of giving alms only.
The vivid accounts of the lives of the devas in various deva abodes serve to show clearly that the higher beings are not immortals, nor creators, but are also evolved conditioned by the result of their previous meritorious deeds. They too are subject to the laws of anicca, dukkha and anattā and have to strive themselves to achieve the deathless state of nibbāna. Stories from the Vimāna Vatthu were related by Mahinda in Ceylon in his first sermon to Anulā and her five hundred companions. Mhv.xiv.58.
