The Sekha pathway

Ven. Buluwala Rathanasiri

In this month of Poson it is better to think of the way showed by the Buddha towards Nibbana. When Poson arrives we feel and see its light all over Sri Lanka.

Adults organise dansala to practice the giving of alms as Bodhisathva when he performed his Dana Paramitha.

The Buddha wished his followers not only to honour him by offering flowers and erecting pandals but also to practice his pathway to Nibbana. In addition to that the Buddha wanted his pupils to be educated in his doctrine. The Buddha advised and guided his followers to practice science (vijja) and earana (behaviour). In the Sekha Sutta in Majjhima Nikaya the Buddha has described it as a developing science and behaviour towards Nibbana.

When the Buddha lived in Nigrodharamaya He preached this Sutta to Ven. Ananda because the Buddha had not been well since that time.

The Buddha’s Sakya relatives including King Mahanama built a hall named Sathtaghara Sala for the welfare activities in their city called Kapilawasthu. King Mahanama and his companions went to Nigrodaramaya to invite the Buddha for alms and to declare open the hall for the public. The Buddha accepted their invitation and went to Sathtagara Sala with his disciples. They had prepared seats when te Buddha and the Mahasangha arrived at the Sathtagara Sala.

After having alms the Buddha wanted to preach them the Sekha Pathway in the sermon. But the Buddha felt uneasy and wanted to relax, for a while. So, the Buddha asked Ven. Ananda to explain them Sekha Pathway towards Nibbana. Then Ven. Ananda addressed King Mahanama and preached them the Sekha Pathway.

The first step of the Sekha Pathway is to develop normalcy (Sila). Sekha means pupil. He is the pupil for attaining Nibbana. Then the pupil goes to the second step, the controlling of the senses. When the pupil gets objects through his faculties he has to think of its features and soon to understand whether they lead the person into unwholesome way towards hell.

The third step is known as Bhojanamhi Mathtannuthata which means having the balanced diet and understanding the purpose of having food. The pupil must understand that he takes food not to enjoy or to annoy others but to survive life to practise the way towards Nibbana. The fourth step is called Jagariyanuyoga”.

The pupil breaks rest until midnight to cease unwholesome feelings. Specially five hindrances moving gently on foot, having meditation and so on. Then in the next step he develops in his mind with sevenfold wholesome feelings the pupils develops faith in the Buddha understanding his seven characteristics. The pupil has to develop shame and fear to commit unwholesome deeds and to develop his knowledge by hearing and reading. Then the pupil attempts to form his mindfulness. Then he develops his upekkha (equanimity). After developing the seven wholesome mental factors he can develop his four Jhanas, the contemplation of mind. In this Sekha Pathway from sila to Four Jhanas comes under Carana (behaviour) because these steps develop the pupil’s behaviour which suits to be an Arahant. After developing Carana the pupil will understand Vijja (Science). He develops his epitomes and knows about his former births, rebirth and the knowledge of abolishing all the blemishes and to attain Nibbana being an arahant, the well balanced person in the world.