Dhammika upasaka .
Once there lived in Savatthi a lay Buddhist by the name of Dhammika who was virtuous and very fond of charitable acts. He generously offered food and other requisites to the Sangha regularly and also on special occasions. He was, in fact, the leader of many virtuous lay Buddhists in Savatthi. Dhammika had many children and all of them, like their father, were also virtuous and devoted to charity. When Dhammika was very ill on his deathbed, he requested the Sangha to sit by his bedside to recite the Satipaññhàna Sutta. The bhikkhus started to recite, “Ekàyanoayaü bhikkhave maggo sattànaü visuddhiyà...” At that moment, six fully decorated chariots from the six devalokas [heavenly realms] arrived. The devas in the chariots were all clamouring,
“We will take you to our devaloka! We will take you to our devaloka! Be reborn in our devaloka and enjoy!”
Dhammika wanted to listen to the sutta and did not wish to be interrupted, so he told the devas, “Wait, wait.”
But the bhikkhus thought that he was addressing them, so they stopped their recitation. Dhammika’s children saw their father’s abnormal behaviour and started to cry. The bhikkhus, finding themselves in an embarrassing situation, left and returned to the monastery. After a short while, Dhammika, who seemed to have lost consciousness, regained his senses and asked his children why they were crying and where the monks had gone.
When he heard his children’s answer he said, “I wasn’t talking to the venerable sirs, but to the devas in the chariots.”
“What chariots? We don’t see any chariots,” the children said.
“Where is the garland I made? Now which devaloka is delightful?” Dhammika asked.
“Tusita Heaven, the abode of all bodhisattas [future Buddhas] and the Buddha’s parents, is delightful, father.” “Then throw this garland upward saying, ‘Let this hang onto the chariot from Tusita Heaven.’”
When the children did that, they saw the garland hanging in mid-air, for they could not perceive the chariot. Then Dhammika said,“You see, that garland is hanging onto the chariot from Tusita Heaven. I’m going there.
Don’t worry about me. Just wish that you want to join me up there and keep on doing good deeds as I did.” After saying that, he died and was reborn as a deva in that chariot. z This is an example of a dying person perceiving the sign of destiny, which is not perceptible to other ordinary persons.
“We will take you to our devaloka! We will take you to our devaloka! Be reborn in our devaloka and enjoy!”
Dhammika wanted to listen to the sutta and did not wish to be interrupted, so he told the devas, “Wait, wait.”
But the bhikkhus thought that he was addressing them, so they stopped their recitation. Dhammika’s children saw their father’s abnormal behaviour and started to cry. The bhikkhus, finding themselves in an embarrassing situation, left and returned to the monastery. After a short while, Dhammika, who seemed to have lost consciousness, regained his senses and asked his children why they were crying and where the monks had gone.
When he heard his children’s answer he said, “I wasn’t talking to the venerable sirs, but to the devas in the chariots.”
“What chariots? We don’t see any chariots,” the children said.
“Where is the garland I made? Now which devaloka is delightful?” Dhammika asked.
“Tusita Heaven, the abode of all bodhisattas [future Buddhas] and the Buddha’s parents, is delightful, father.” “Then throw this garland upward saying, ‘Let this hang onto the chariot from Tusita Heaven.’”
When the children did that, they saw the garland hanging in mid-air, for they could not perceive the chariot. Then Dhammika said,“You see, that garland is hanging onto the chariot from Tusita Heaven. I’m going there.
Don’t worry about me. Just wish that you want to join me up there and keep on doing good deeds as I did.” After saying that, he died and was reborn as a deva in that chariot. z This is an example of a dying person perceiving the sign of destiny, which is not perceptible to other ordinary persons.
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