The Great Chronicle of Buddhas
by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw | 1990 | 1,044,401 words
This page describes the Various Elements contained within the book called the Great Chronicle of Buddhas (maha-buddha-vamsa), a large compilation of stories revolving around the Buddhas and Buddhist disciples. This page is part of the series known as how the Āṭānāṭiya Paritta came to be Taught. This great chronicle of Buddhas was compiled by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw who had a thorough understanding of the thousands and thousands of Buddhist teachings (suttas).
Sakka’s Question (13): On the Various Elements
Thus having received the Buddha’s discourse with delight, Sakka, King of Devas, further asked his next question:
“Venerable Sir, do all samaṇas and brāhmanas have the same teaching, the same practice, the same view, and the same ultimate goal?”
To this, the Buddha’s reply:
“Sakka, King of Devas, not all of the samaṇas and brāhmanas have the same teaching, the same practice, the same view, and the same goal.”
(Herein, Sakka puts this question because he has known, prior to his becoming an ariya, that the so called samaṇas and brāhmanas have diverse teaching, practices, views and goals which he now understands them as vain. He wants to know the reasons why there are such a diversity of teachings, practices, views and goals among them.)
Sakka further asked:
“Venerable Sir, what is the reason for the diversity of teachings, practices, views, and goals among all samaṇas and brāhmanas?”
And the Buddha replied:
“Sakka, King of Devas, all beings in this sentient world are of various dispositions. Whatever attracts their fancy, these beings hold on to it, firmly believing it to be the only truth, and rejecting all other views as vain. That is why all of the samaṇas and brāhmanas have no common teaching, no common practice, no common view, and no common goal.”
(Individual dispositions differ among persons. When one wants to go, another wants to stand; when one wants to stand another wants to lie down. It is difficult to find two individuals of the same disposition. If dispositions differ among one another, regarding even postures, how could views, practices and teachings be the same among them? The Buddha points out this diversity as the reason for the differences in teachings, practices, views and goals among samaṇas and brāhmanas.)