Week 118 (Recorded on June 29th, 2024).
• PDF link to a free digital copy of the Sutta can be obtained from the website: www.mindreleased.com/pali-suttas
Devadatta Vipatti Sutta, “Devadatta's Failure”, From the Anguttara Nikāya or The Numerical Discourses (AN 8.7).
In today's sutta exploration session, Bhante discussed the Devadatta Vipatti Sutta (“Devadatta’s Failure”), a powerful sutta where Lord Buddha directly addresses Devadatta’s evil conduct and the seven things that dominated and consumed Devadatta’s mind, taking him straight to hell, for a very very long time. These seven things Lord Buddha explains include gain; loss and the fear of missing out; fame; disgrace; honor; dishonor; evil thoughts and desires; and finally evil companionships and friendships, all of which corrupt and consume the mind if one does not get rid of them immediately, with wise attention.
While discussing each of these seven, Bhante Candana pointed out that every time we choose the unwholesome, we are essentially choosing the path of Devadatta. Bhante also gave us the background story and contextual factors involved in Devadatta's notorious position in the history of the Dhamma, the immeasurable arrogance and conceit by which he was driven, where having not even attained the first stage of Awakening, his ego terribly misused the rare and unique position he had as a human being born at the time of Lord Buddha, by which he subjected himself to terrible suffering for an incredibly long time. Thus, Bhante advised practitioners of the Dhamma to never lose sight of sati, regularly examining and assessing their own conduct and practice, checking in with our motives constantly, as we maintain a steady course on the Path.
NOTE: If you like to support Bhante, you may consider donating via:
gofund.me/9d161e0e
Bhikkhu Candana lives and continues his Dhamma work without the support of a Buddhist community or a monastery, but survives thanks to the occasional donations he receives to obtain his food, shelter, transportation, and medicine.
28 июн 2024
