Notes MN81 Ghatikara Sutta

MN 81 GHATIKARA SUTTA 1.0 SETTING 1.1 Gotama Buddha wandering in Kosala with a sangha group 1.2 Market town Vebnalinga, Kosala – where BuddhaKassapa lived, also was Ghatikara and Jotipala’s town 1.3 Isipatana deer park, Benares, discourse of Buddha Kassapawith King Kiki of Kasi 2.0 CHARACTERS 2.1 Buddha Gotama with Ven. Ananda 2.2 Buddha Kassapa 2.3 Ghatikara, the potter 2.4 Jotipala, a student Brahmin, close friend of Ghatikara 2.5 King Kiki of Kasi, whose offer of a residence was rejected by Buddha Kassapa 3.0 CONFLICT/ THEME 3.1 Dana or giving 3.2 Characteristics of a perfect donor 3.3 King Kiki of Kasi offered Kassapa Buddha a residence for a rains retreat but the Buddha refused to accept the offer. 4.0 SUMMARY 4.1 Gotama Buddha related to Ananda a past existence when he was Jotipala, a Brahmin student who was a close friend of Ghatikara, a potter during the time of Kassapa Buddha. 4.2 Ghatikara, a strong supporter of Kassapa Buddha, tried to persuade his friend Jotipala, to visit Kassapa Buddha to listen to the dhamma, however, his persuasions fell on deaf ears. 4.3 Ghatikara then invited his friend to take a bath in the river and while bathing, he pulled Jotipala by the belt to take him to see Kassapa Buddha but Jotipala undid his belt and refused to go. 4.4 After Jotipala had washed his hair, Ghatika pulled his hair to drag him to seeKassapa Buddha. Jotipala, despite being offended because he was a Brahmin and Ghatika was just a potter, agreed to go as he realized that Ghatikara’s earnest attempts to get him to see Kassapa Buddha indicated that it was good to see Kassapa Buddha. 4.5 Kassapa Buddha gave them a Dhamma talk, after which Jotipala decided to go forth from the home life into homelessness.Ghatikara did not become a monk as he had to take care of his old parents. 4.6 Kassapa Buddha then journeyed to Benares and stayed at the deer park at Isipatane. Upon receiving this news King Kiki visited Kassapa Buddha and offered a residence for Buddha Kassapa to stay for the rains retreat but Kassapa Buddha refused the offer. 4.7 Disappointed, King Kiki asked Kassapa Buddha whether there was a donor more worthy than the king who has donated such a residence. 4.8 Kassapa Buddha replied that it was Ghatikara and went on to extoll Ghatikara’s virtues: a. Ghatikara would not feel disappointed like the King when Kassapa Buddha refused to accept his offer b. Ghatikara had taken refuge in the triple gem c. He held firmly to the five precepts d. He has perfect confidence in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha e. He had fully understood the four noble truths f. He did not eat after noon, observe celibacy and was of good character g. He had given up accumulating wealth such as silver and gold h. He practices right livelihood to perfection –does not dig soil, got clay from soil dug up by rats. i. He did not touch money, he exchanged his pots for other goods. j. Ghatikara rejoiced when he was able to provide food (be it rice or porridge ) and shelter (the grass from the roof of his house was taken to repair Kassapa Buddha’s leaking hut).he was an anagami, a non-returner, k. He supported his blind and aged parents l. He was a non-returner –“Having destroyed the five lower fetters, he is one who will reappear spontaneously in the Pure Abbodes and then attainNibbana without ever returning from that world.” 4.9 After hearing Kassapa Buddha’s praises, he sent 500 carts of food to Ghatiraka but Ghatiraka refused to accept them. 4.10 Gotama Buddha then told Ananda that he was Jotipala at the time of Kassapa Buddha. 5.0 DISCUSSION `5.1 Even if his donation is smaller but if the donor is virtuous, has faith in the triple gem and delights in giving, his donation is more highly regarded/valued. 5.2 Even the King could not force the Buddha to accept his offer. 5.3 Ghatikara is an ideal practitioner and a model to look up to. 5.4 Despite his reluctance to see Kassapa Buddha, he decided to go forth from the home life into homelessness after listening to Kassapa’sDhamma talk.(His system was all ready to fire, it only needed someone to push the button.)