Looking at the state of many countries today,
I see how countries rise and fall,
Due to the ignorance/foolishness of the rulers and its people.
I recall the incident in The Ratana Sutta ( http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2006/09/ratana-sutta-buddha.html),
Where the country Vesali, before they met with The Buddha,
Was faced with 3 major diasters -
Famine/Drought, Evil spirits and an outbreak of Epidemic -
All because the ruler and the people do not know The Buddha's Teachings on the factors of non-decline.
As such, I feel it's good to put these factors down in my blog so that we can all be more aware.
Happy Reading!
The Aparihaniya-Dhamma / The Factors of Non-Decline
Thus have I heard -
Once The Blessed One dwelt at Rajagaha, on the hill called Vultures' Peak.
At that time the king of Magadha, Ajatasattu, son of the Videhi queen,
Desired to wage war against the Vajjis.
He spoke in this fashion:
"These Vajjis, powerful and glorious as they are, I shall annihilate them, I shall make them perish, I shall utterly destroy them."
And Ajatasattu, the king of Magadha, addressed his chief minister, the brahmin Vassakara, saying:
"Come, brahmin, go to The Blessed One, pay homage in my name at His feet, wish Him good health, strength, ease, vigour, and comfort, and speak thus:
'O Lord, Ajatasattu, the king of Magadha, desires to wage war against the Vajjis.
He has spoken in this fashion:
"These Vajjis, powerful and glorious as they are, I shall annihilate them, I shall make them perish, I shall utterly destroy them."'
And whatever The Blessed One should answer you, keep it well in mind and inform me;
For Tathagatas do not speak falsely."
"Very well, sire," said the brahmin Vassakara in assent to Ajatasattu, king of Magadha.
And he ordered a large number of magnificent carriages to be made ready, mounted one himself, and accompanied by the rest, drove out to Rajagaha towards Vultures' Peak.
He went by carriage as far as the carriage could go, then dismounting, he approached The Blessed One on foot.
After exchanging courteous greetings with The Blessed One, together with many pleasant words, he sat down at one side and addressed The Blessed One thus:
"Venerable Gotama, Ajatasattu, the king of Magadha, pays homage at the feet of the Venerable Gotama and wishes Him good health, strength, ease, vigour, and comfort.
He desires to wage war against the Vajjis, and he has spoken in this fashion:
'These Vajjis, powerful and glorious as they are, I shall annihilate them, I shall make them perish, I shall utterly destroy them.'"
(Conditions of a Nation's Welfare)
At that time the Venerable
Ananda was standing behind The Blessed One, fanning him, and The Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ananda thus:"What have you heard, Ananda:
Do the Vajjis have frequent gatherings, and are their meetings well attended?"
"I have heard, Lord, that this is so."
"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.
"What have you heard, Ananda:
Do the Vajjis assemble and disperse peacefully and attend to their affairs in concord?"
"I have heard, Lord, that they do."
"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.
"What have you heard, Ananda:
Do the Vajjis neither enact new decrees nor abolish existing ones, but proceed in accordance with their ancient constitutions?"
"I have heard, Lord, that they do."
"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.
"What have you heard, Ananda:
Do the Vajjis show respect, honour, esteem, and veneration towards their elders and think it worthwhile to listen to them?"
"I have heard, Lord, that they do."
"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.
"What have you heard, Ananda:
Do the Vajjis refrain from abducting women and maidens of good families and from detaining them?"
"I have heard, Lord, that they refrain from doing so."
"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.
"What have you heard, Ananda:
Do the Vajjis show respect, honour, esteem, and veneration towards their shrines, both those within the city and those outside it, and do not deprive them of the due offerings as given and made to them formerly?"
"I have heard, Lord, that they do venerate their shrines, and that they do not deprive them of their offerings."
"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline.
"What have you heard, Ananda:
Do the Vajjis duly protect and guard the arahants, so that those who have not come to the realm yet might do so, and those who have already come might live there in peace?"
"I have heard, Lord, that they do."
"So long, Ananda, as this is the case, the growth of the Vajjis is to be expected, not their decline."
And The Blessed One addressed the brahmin Vassakara in these words:
"
Once, brahmin, I dwelt at Vesali, at the Sarandada shrine,And there it was that I taught the Vajjis these seven conditions leading to (a nation's) welfare.
So long, brahmin, as these endure among the Vajjis, and the Vajjis are known for it, their growth is to be expected, not their decline."
Thereupon the brahmin Vassakara spoke thus to The Blessed One:
"If the Vajjis, Venerable Gotama, were endowed with only one or another of these conditions leading to welfare, their growth would have to be expected, not their decline.
What then of all the seven?
No harm, indeed, can be done to the Vajjis in battle by Magadha's king, Ajatasattu, except through treachery or discord.
Well, then, Venerable Gotama, we will take our leave, for we have much to perform, much work to do."
"Do as now seems fit to you, brahmin."
- http://www.mahindarama.com/e-tipitaka/Digha-Nikaya/dn-16.htm- The Buddha, The MahaPariNibbana Sutta, Digha Nikaya 16
"The society whose material development has outstripped its mental (spiritual) development
Is sure to experience turmoil, crimes of violence, corruption, cheating etc.
Progress in the knowledge
Or the increase of gadgets for bodily comfort
Are but the increase of the fires that serve only to burn those who feed them."
- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
"If there's prosperity in our hearts,
Then the world can live in happiness and peace.
But if there's only material prosperity,
It (material prosperity) can't give the world any happiness (and peace),
But make the world more hot and troubled than before."
- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
"The world comes to ruin only if people's spiritual values comes to ruin first.
When spiritual values deteriorate,
Then everything people do becomes just another means of destroying the world
And subverting Dhamma (Truth)."
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
"Money (greed) does NOT make the world go round.
Money (greed) makes the world go DOWN.
"Ground the people and children in Wisdom, Morals and Virtues,
Success and Happiness will follow.
Ground the people and children in Greed, Hatred and Delusion,
Sadness, Sorrow, Pain and Suffering will ensue."
"Contrary to popular conventional and humanistic beliefs,
Prosperity is NOT about
And does NOT mean
External wealth or worldly possessions;
Prosperity is, and mean Inner Virtues and Morality."
* * * Read
1) 'Purpose/ All We Need to Do ........' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/11/purpose-all-we-need-to-do-is.html
2) 'The Four Noble Truth' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/09/four-noble-truths.html
