THE CHRONICLE OF BUDDHA GOTAMA AUTHOR: MINGUN SAYADAW

Volume Two, Part One, 1994; Translated by U Ko Lay and U Tin Lwin

Chapter Eight The Budhisatta's Stay at the Seven Places

(2) The week of the Gaze (Animisa sattaha)

(The seven days during which the Buddha was gazing steadfastly at the Mahabodhi and the Aparajita Throne without closing his eyes are known as Animisa sattaha.)

After attainment of Buddhahood and enjoyment of the bliss of Arahantship (without changing his cross-legged position throughout the whole sitting) the Buddha remained on the Aparajita Throne for seven days. In the mental continuum of some ordinary Devas and Brahmas (other than those Ariya Devas and Brahmas who knew the attributes of the Buddha partially because they had the experience of attaining the Path and Fruition in the time of former Buddhas) there arose doubts as they wondered: "The Buddha has not yet got up from the Throne even up till now. Apart from the attributes he has already had, are there still other attributes that would enable him to attain Buddhahood?"

Then on the eighth day (the eighth waning moon) the Buddha got up from his enjoyment of the Arahantship; knowing about the doubts of the Devas and Brahmas, the Buddha rose up to the sky and performed the Twin Miracle of water and fire in order to eradicate their doubts. (The Twin Miracle displayed here at the Mahabodhi, that displayed at the congregation of his relatives in the city of Kapilavatthu, that displayed at the gathering formed because of the heretic Pathikaputta in the city of Vesali - these Twin Miracles were the same as that performed near the mango tree of Kandamba. The detailed description of the last will come up later.)

Having removed the doubts entertained by the Devas and Brahmas by performing the Twin Miracle of water and fire, the Buddha descended from the sky and stood erect like a golden-post on the spot to the easterly north (north-east) of the Aparajita Throne; pondering, "I have indeed attained Omniscience on this Throne of Aparajita", he spent seven days without closing his eyes but gazing at the Throne and the Mahabodhi where he had attained 'Arahattamagga nana and Sabbanuta nana' as a result of the Perfections fulfilled by him throughout the period of four asankhyeyyas and a hundred thousand aeons. That spot is known as Animisacetiya.

(3) The Week on the Walk (Cankama-sattaha)

When the third week came, the Buddha spent seven days, walking up and down on the jewel walk created by Devas and Brahmas and running from east to west between the Aparajita Throne and the Cetiya of the Gaze; at the same time he was reflecting on the Dhamma and getting absorbed in Phala samapatti meditating on the Fruition Attainment. That place is called Ratanacankama- Cetiya

(To be continued)