Soon after the Enlightenment

A Paean of Joy - Udana Gatha

THRO' many a birth in Sansara wandered I,
Seeking but not finding, the builder of this house.
Sorrowful is repeated birth.
O house-builder ! Thou art seen.
Thou shalt build no house again,
All thy rafters are broken,
Thy ridge-pole is shattered.
The Mind attains the Unconditioned.
Achieved is the End of Craving.

Dhammapada w. 153, 154

On the auspicious day preceding the Enlightenment, the Bodhisatta ate some milk-porridge offered by a generous lady named Sujata. After the Enlightenment for seven weeks the Buddha fasted, and spent His time under the Bodhi tree and in its neighbourhood. The whole of the first week the Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree in one posture, experiencing the Bliss of Emancipation - Vimuti Sukha.

At the end of the seven days the Buddha emerged from that state of concentration, and in the first watch of the night thoroughly reflected on Dependent Arising - Paticca Samuppada, in direct order thus : When this ( cause ) exists, this ( effect ) is; with the arising of this ( cause ), this ( effect ) arises.

In the middle watch of the night the Buddha thoroughly reflected on "Dependent Arising" in reverse order thus :- "When this ( cause ) does not exist, this ( effect ) is not; with the cessation of this ( cause ), this ( effect ) ceases." In the third watch of the night the Buddha reflected on "Dependent Arising" in direct and reverse order thus :- "When this ( cause ) exists, this ( effect ) is, with the arising of this ( cause ) this ( effect ) arises; when this ( cause ) does not exist this ( effect ) is not; with the cessation of this ( cause ), this ( effect ) ceases."

Throughout the second week, as a mark of gratitude to the Bodhi tree that sheltered Him during His struggle for Enlightenment, the Buddha stood gazing it with motionless eyes. During the third week the Buddha paced up and down on a jewelled promenade - Ratana Cankamana near the Bodhi trree. The fourth week He spent in a jewelled chamber - Ratanaghara meditating on the Abhidhamma. During the fifth week He dwelt under the Ajapala Banyan tree in the vicinity of the Bodhi tree. Here the Buddha sat in one posture for seven days enjoying the Bliss of Emancipation. When He emerged from that state of concentration, a certain conceited Brahmin approached the Buddha and questioned Him thus :-

"In what respect, O Venerable Gotama, does one become a Brahmin, and what are the conditions that make a Brahmin ?" Then the Blessed One uttered this paean of joy :-

"That Brahmin who has discarded evil, without conceit - huhunka, free from defilements, self-controlled, versed in knowledge, who has led the Holy Life - rightly would call himself a Brahmin. For him there is no elation anywhere in this world." According to the Jataka Commentary it was during His stay at the foot of this tree that the three daughters of Mara - Tanha, Arati, and Raga - came to tempt the Buddha. From the Ajapala Banyan tree, the Buddha proceeded to the Mucalinda tree where he spent the sixth week. Here, too, the Buddha sat for seven days enjoying the Bliss of Emancipation. At that time there arose an unexpected great shower. Rain and gloomy weather with cold winds prevailed for seven days.

Thereupon Mucalinda, the serpent-king, came out of his abode, coiling around the body of the Blessed One seven times, remained keeping his large hood over the head of the Blessed One so that the Blessed One may not be touched by cold, heat, gadflies, gnats, wind, sun or reptiles. At the close of seven days, Mucalinda seeing the clear, cloudless sky, uncoiled himself from around the body of the Blessed One, and leaving his own form, took the guise of a young man, and stood in front of the Blessed One with joined hands. Thereupon the Buddha uttered this paean of joy :-

"Happy is seclusion to him who is contented, to him who has heard the Truth, and to him who sees. Happy is goodwill in this world, and so is restraint towards all beings. Happy in this world, is non-attachment, the passing beyond sense-desires. The suppression of the 'I am' conceit is indeed the highest happiness." The seventh week the Buddha spent at the Rajayatana tree. Here too the Buddha sat in one posture for seven days enjoying the Bliss of Emancipation.

At that time two merchants, Tapassu and Bhalluka, from Ukkala ( Orissa ) were travelling to their native town. Then a Devata who was a blood-relative of these two merchants, spoke to them as follows :- "The Blessed One, good sirs, is dwelling at the foot of the Rajayatana tree, soon after His Enlightenment. Go and serve the Blessed One with flour and honeycomb. It will conduce to your well-being and happiness for a long time." Thereupon the two merchants, Tapassu and Bhalluka, took with them flour and honeycomb, and approaching the Buddha said :-

"O Lord, may the Blessed One accept this flour and honeycomb so that it may long tend to our well-being and happiness !" Then it occurred to the Blessed One :- "The Tathagatas do not accept food with their hands. How shall I accept this flour and honeycomb ?" Forthwith the four Great Kings understood the thoughts of the Blessed One and from the four directions offered Him four stone bowls, saying :- "O Lord, may the Blessed One accept these new bowls, received the flour and honeycomb in them, and ate thereof.

When the Buddha finished His meal the two merchants prostrated themselves before His feet and said :- "We, O Lord, seek refuge in the Buddha and the Dhamma. May the Blessed one treat us as lay disciples who have sought refuge from today till death !" They were the first disciples who took the twofold formula.