Date: 12/02/2023 12/03/2023
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Lucy Zhou
Dharma talk:
Unattached all the time
On one occasion, the venerable Ananda followed the Blessed One to Shravasti, the capital of the Kosala kingdom, and stayed in Jeta’s grove, a garden on the southern outskirts.
One night, venerable Ananda was in the attendance hall, instructing, advising, and making the hearts light of the bhikkhus with the short and detailed exposition of the Bhaddekaratta Gatha.
Knowing that, the Blessed One wanted to know how Ananda did it, so the Buddha addressed venerable Ananda: “Ananda, how did you instruct, advise and make the hearts light of the bhikkhus in the attendance hall, with the short and detailed exposition of the Bhaddekaratta Gatha?”
Then the venerable Ananda, in the presence of the Buddha, said the text of Bhaddekaratta Gatha:
Do not recollect the past, nor desire the future,
The past is over, the future has not come.
These things of the present, see them with insight as they arise.
Not faltering and not moved, think about them.
Today itself the dispelling should be done,
Tomorrow death might come.
We will not have any associations with Death and his great army,
You should abide dispelling thus, day and night zealously,
This is the single auspicious attachment, the appeased sage tells.
The Buddha addressed: “Ananda, how do you recollect the past?”
“My Lord, I was of such matter in the past. I was of such feelings in the past. I was of such perceptions in the past. I was of such determination in the past. I was of such consciousness in the past. Thus I recollect the past.”
“Ananda, how do you not recollect the past?”
“My Lord, I was not of such matter in the past. I was not of such feelings in the past. I was not of such perceptions in the past. I was not of such determinations in the past. I was not of such consciousness in the past. Thus, I do not recollect the past.”
“Ananda, how do you desire the future?”
“My Lord, I should be of such matter in the future; I should be of such feelings in the future; I should be of such perceptions in the future; I should be of such determinations in the future; I should be of such consciousness in the future. Thus, I desire the future.”
“Ananda, how do you not desire the future?”
“My Lord, I should not be of such matter in the future. I should not be of such feelings in the future. I should not be of such perceptions in the future. I should not be of such determinations in the future. I should not be of such consciousness in the future. Thus, I do not desire the future.”
“Ananda, how do you falter with things of the present?”
“My Lord, the not learned ordinary man, who has not seen noble ones and Great Beings, not clever in their Teaching, and not trained in their Teaching reflects, matter in self, or a material self, or in self matter, or in matter self. Reflects feelings in self, or a feeling self, or in self feelings, or in feelings self. Reflects perceptions in self, or a perceiving self, or in self-perceptions, or in perceptions self. Reflects determinations in self, or a determining self, or in self-determinations or in determinations self. Reflects consciousness in self, or a conscious self, or in self-consciousness, or in consciousness self. Thus, I falter with things of the present.”
“Ananda, how do you not falter with things of the present?”
“My Lord, the learned noble disciple, who has seen noble ones and Great Beings, clever in their Teaching, and trained in their Teaching does not reflect, matter in self, or a material self, or in self matter, or in matter self. Does not reflect feelings in self, or a feeling self, or in self feelings, or in feelings self. Does not reflect perceptions in self, or a perceiving self, or in self perceptions, or in perceptions self. Does not reflect determinations in self, or a determining self, or in self-determinations or in determinations self. Does not reflect consciousness in self, or a conscious self, or in self-consciousness, or in consciousness self. Bhikkhus, thus you do not falter with things of the present.”
“My Lord, this is how I instructed, advised and made the hearts light of the bhikkhus in the attendance hall.”
“Very well! Very well! I have such a disciple with a wise eye who can preach for the benefits of others: the so-called disciples can fully interpret the teachings of the Law in the presence of his teacher. What Ananda has just said should be well remembered and well practiced, why? Because this is the way to observe and contemplate the Bhaddekaratta Gatha.”
