Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Quick Buddhist Lectures for Learning,
Where we take a short look at a figure,
An idea,
A concept,
Or a piece of literature throughout Buddhist history and introduce ourselves to it so you can be more familiar with it in your studies.
Today,
We gather to understand and appreciate the life and teachings of one of the Buddha's most revered disciples,
Maha Moggallana,
Also known as Moggallana.
His life serves as an example of steadfast commitment,
Profound wisdom,
And immense spiritual prowess.
So let's delve into his life's story and teachings.
Moggallana was one of the two chief disciples of Gautama Buddha,
The other being Sariputra,
Who we will talk about in another lesson.
Moggallana was born in a Brahmin family in a village called Kolita.
He was originally named Kolita after his village.
His close friend Upatissa would later become Sariputra,
Who was also born on the same day.
Moggallana and Sariputra initially followed the spiritual teacher Sanjaya Balathaputta,
And upon hearing a verse of the Dhamma from one of the Buddha's disciples,
They left their former teacher,
Each seeking the Buddha separately.
Upon finding the Buddha,
They received ordination and joined the Sangha,
Which is the monastic community of Buddhists.
Moggallana,
Motivated by his unwavering determination and spiritual vigor,
Attained the state of arhant or arhat,
Which is a supreme state of awakening only underneath Buddhas.
It is said that he did so in just seven days after his ordination,
Which is supposedly a testament to his spiritual acuity and determination.
Historically,
Moggallana's role was pivotal in the Sangha.
He was known for his exceptional psychic powers,
Which he used with great responsibility to help others on their spiritual path,
And he is often depicted in many tales and sutras by using these powers to teach Dhamma in a unique and powerful way.
If this is your first lesson,
Just know with many of these teachers,
These powers are called siddhis,
And they are brought up a lot in the early Buddhist suttas.
One of his foremost notable feats was visiting other realms within the Buddhist cosmology,
Such as the heavenly and hellish realms,
To understand the effects of kama or karma.
He would then return and share these insights with others.
His teachings emphasized that our actions,
Speech,
And thoughts in this life have profound effects on our future existence,
An essential element of the doctrine of karma.
The life of Moggallana was not without suffering,
However.
Despite his awakened state,
He was brutally murdered as a result of past negative karma.
Yet he accepted this with equanimity and patience,
Showing that even awakened beings must face the consequences of their past actions.
Moggallana's life teaches us many valuable lessons.
His spiritual journey shows us the importance of unwavering determination and discipline,
And he stands as a symbol of the siddhis and using them wisely and ethically,
Reminding us of the potential of the human mind when cultivated through meditation and ethical conduct.
His exploration of different realms underscores the law of karma and the importance of mindful actions,
Acting as helpful stories in our journey towards awakening.
His teachings,
Of course,
Echo the words of the Buddha on the four noble truths,
The eightfold path,
And the principles of karma and rebirth.
He teaches us that greed,
Hatred,
And delusion are the root causes of suffering,
Again,
Same as the Buddha,
And that we must strive to eradicate these defilements from our minds.
Let us remember Moggallana for his wisdom,
His bravery,
His teachings,
And his unwavering commitment to the Dharma,
And as a good disciple and friend of the Buddha.
His life serves as an exemplar of the Buddhist principles in action and a beacon guiding us on our own spiritual journey.
May we all find inspiration in the life and teachings of Moggallana,
Reminding ourselves that the path to awakening is within our reach in this very lifetime.
Thank you so much for joining me in this quick Buddhist lecture and observation of one of the Buddha's close disciples and friends,
Maha Moggallana.
I'm Silas Day,
And I hope you are enjoying these.
