Anathapindika was a rich banker who generously supported the Buddha. When he became grievously ill, rather than bother the Buddha, he sent a messenger to Sariputta (Shariputra) asking him to help him essenitially to die. This is what the Anathapindikovada Sutta (M. iii. 258) is all about, Sariputta leading Anathapindika through the dying process. Of interest for both the beginner and even the seasoned veteran of Buddhism, from this Sutta we get a clearer picture of where Buddhism is coming from.
From the Sutta it is quite apparent that Anathapindika is in a great deal of pain which was increasing. Nor was he getting well; nor was he comfortable according to the Sutta. So what does Sariputta ask this dying man to do? He asks him not to cling to the senses and their objects becoming dependent upon them. This includes even mind objects as well.
Householder, you should train thus: ‘I will not cling to forms...I will not cling to sounds...I will not cling to odours...I will not cling to flavours...I will not cling to tangibles...I will not cling to mind-objects, and my consciousness will not be dependent on mind-objects.’ Thus should you train.
This non-clinging strategy continues throughout the rest of the Sutta. Summing up this Sutta, Anathapindika is basically asked not to cling to the psychophysical body including its sensory world because, fundamentally, he transcends psychophysicality being the greater which is undying. Incidentally, according to this Sutta, Anathapindika was given a teaching not for lay people which was intended for those who had at least 'gone forth' (S., pravrajyâ).
From the Sutta we learn that after Anathapindika dies he becomes a god in the Tusita heaven who then illuminates the entire Jeta Grove where the Buddha was staying and spoke to him which is recorded in verse.
The god Anathapindika certainly does not fit neatly within the mold of Western Buddhism; nor in the mold of the Western idea of death which pooh-poohs the whole idea of postmortem survival. Today’s stock of Buddhists who were formerly Christians seem to want nothing to do with gods or their heavens although the Buddhist canon says the Buddha was a teacher of gods and humans (sattha devamanussanam).
huh? what are you talking about?
how become a God?
there is ONLY GOD. that is Jesus Christ.
Posted by: online jobs | February 02, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Some thoughts I had on reincarnation: If there is but one Self, one Mind, and all else is illusion then who reincarnates? It is obvious that all living (and non-living) beings have been and will be impermanent manifestations of the same one unchanging essence. Then how is the form known in the human world as Anathapindika especially connected to a God-form born in a heaven? How is this kind of causality (which is beyond the material causality of our physical laws) explained in the sutras? Again, I hope this makes sense :P
Posted by: WanderingDude | July 13, 2011 at 08:06 AM