Abstract
This research paper had two objectives; to study the biography and perfections-accumulating of Sonakutikannathera and to study the Enlightenment of Sonakutikannathera. Data are clarified analyzed and taken from the Theravada Buddhist Scriptures and other related documents then composed, explained and verified by Buddhist scholars.
The research findings were that the enlightenment in Buddhism is realization of Four Noble Truth; suffering, origin of suffering, the extinction of suffering and the path leading to extinction of suffering by the means of wisdom developing according to the principles of practicing the Insight meditation in order to realize and enter various states of insight knowledge until the practitioner’s mind has entered into the stream of Nibbana, the end of all sufferings. Having attained realization, one will be called as Ariya-Puggala starting from Sotāpannā, Sakadāgāmī, Anāgāmī up to Arahanta which is the final goal of Buddhism.
The perfection accumulating of Sonakutikannathera revealed that Sonakutikannathera was named as Sona when he was a layman, born in wealthy family in Parangala city. In past lives, he had made the wishes and received his predictions in the time of Padumuttara Buddha and finally accomplished his wishes in the time of Gotama Buddha. He had gained Arahantship and been praised by the Buddha an excellent blessed with charming speech, from distinctive and clearly explaining the discourses and melodious utterance in front of Buddha. Moreover, he was asked for permission of ordination by a sangha with only 5 members Bhikkhus very helpful to the later Bhikkus nowadays.
The enlightenment of Sonakutikannathera found that Sonakutikanna strictly followed the teaching of Buddha in order to seek the suffering end with great attention. He had only one meal per day, sleeping alone, not associated with others, observing eight precepts since he was a lay disciple. After having ordained as Bhikkhu under Mahakaccayanathera as his preceptor, he preferred living alone which is one of the seclusion practice. He had started cultivating insight meditation until attained the enlightenment by considering Saṅkhāra or five aggregates into the Three Marks of Existence which includes in mindfulness foundation of mental objects contemplation and finally he attain Arahantship along with 6 super-knowledge (Abhiññā) while finishing his explaining the discourse with sweet speech in front of Buddha in the first rainy retreat.
Download
|
