(3) Mahacunda Thera Bojjhanga

This bojjhanga sutta is the consolidated discourse on three similar events experienced by revered Mahakassapa, Rev. Mahamoggallana and Lord Buddha himself. These three were afflicted with diseases, and were seriously ill. And by the magical power of recitation of this sutta, each of them recovered from afflication and illness.

On one occasion, the Lord Buddha was staying at Rajagaha, in the Bamboo grove, the feeding-ground of black squirrels. At the time Rev. Mahakassapa was dwelling in the pipphali cave, afflicted with a disease, and was seriously ill. The Lord visited him and expounded the doctrine of seven Factors of Enlightenment. At the end of the preaching as a miracle, the Elder Kassapa recovered from affliction and his illness disappeared. This is the first instance.

On an another occasion, the Lord was staying in the same place at Rajagaha, in the Bamboo grove where the black squirrels were fed. Thereupon Rev. Maha Moggallana residing on the Gijjhakuta Hill, the vultures’ peak, was afflicted with a disease and was gravely sick. So the Lord visited him and preached the same doctrine of seven Factors of Enlightenment to him. The Elder listened with due respect to him and recovered from that affliction. This is the second instance.

On the third occasion, while Lord Buddha was residing at the same town in the same Bamboo grove, he himself was afflicted with a disease and suffered seriously. Then the Elder Maha Cunda approached the Lord, saluted him and attended him. The Lord requested the Elder Cunda to recite the seven Factors of Enlightenment as usually expounded by the Lord Buddha and subsequently the Elder Cunda obeyed and recited.

These seven factors of Enlightenment are lucidly expounded, are cultivated and which are fully developed by the Blessed one. They are Mindfulnmess, Investigation of the Dhamma, Persevering effort, Rapture, Tranquillity, Concentration and Equanimity. These seven factors of Enlightenment conduce to perfect understanding, to full realization and to Nibbana.

At the end, Lord Buddha approved the recitation. Then the Lord recovered from his affliction, and thus his illness disappeared.

These three cases are put forth to indicate and to recommend the magical healing power of the recitation of the parittas and the oath of truth. Hence the Burmese medicine-men practised and used to recite this Bojjhanga sutta which helped the patients recover quickly from their illness and to initiate successful medical treatments. As a matter of fact, the original suttas are found expounded in prose form by the Lord Buddha, in Mahavagga Samyutta pali.

Now here a big question arises that what are the seven factors of enlightenment, which eradicate all the suffering of the creatures who are transmigrating in the universal flux, and which suppress the army of Death.

Having realised these seven dhammas the creatures had attained the Immortality, the Fearlessness, birthless, decayless and sickness stage; they became transcendental and liberated from three existences. So all should recite these seven doctrines or factors of Enlightenment. In other words, these factors are endowed with such and other qualifications altogether with innumerable qualities, thereby making it a medicinal spell.

It was meant to be cultivated and amplified repeatedly by the sages-in order to discern profoundly, to realize the wisdom, and to attain Nibbana.

By the assertion of this, all might be happy for ever and also this assertion of Truth all might be happy for ever.

Conclusion:

Reciting the discourse on 7 factors of enlightenment, all should be aware of universal spiritual magical power which can remove the evils of sufferings cost by disease. It is very miraculous to recite the 7 factors of enlightenment viz. mindfulness, investigation of the dhamma, and also effort, rapture, tranquility, concentration and eqanimity. These 7 factors are not only spiritual doctrine but also applied and approved by 3 sages like Maha kassapa tthera, Mahamoggallana tthera and Maha cundatthera. Even Lord Buddha being afflicted by sickness was also cured by hearing the recitation of the 7 factors of enlightenment.

So, it may be concluded that the discourse of 7 factors of enlightenment of Bojjhanga sutta acts as medical-remedy by way of spiritual treatment of diseases and sickness, because the inclusion of natural kammanic reason, ill hazards and miserable troubles into existence, such imminent and critical problems are solved in various ways in Burmanese medical treatments are treated accordingly.