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17. Arhtaya and
Udaka
Bodihisattava left the state of Razajo. He went to the hermit
Arhtaya and became his student. Arhtaya was a religious teacher
with many students. After a few days of learning from Arhtaya,
Bodihisattava knew as much as Arhtaya. But he was not satisfied.
He thought "I would not be able to overcome sufferings of getting
old, getting sick and dying with this teaching." So he left
Arhtaya. He then went to hermit Udaka and became his student.
Again he was not satisfied. He said, "This is still not the
truth." and he left him.
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18. Five
Pyinsawagi Monks
When Bodihisattava
reached the forest of Uyuwala, he practiced the suffering
practice. Shortly, five Pyinsawagi monks arrived there. They
were Shin Kawnatanya, ShinWapa, Shin Bundiya, Shin Mahanama and
Shin Ahthazi. Shin Kawnatanya was the youngest of the Brahmins
whom were asked to examine Siddartha when he has born and he said
that Siddartha would surely become the Buddha, not either the
Buddha or Universal King. The other four monks were the sons of
the other Brahmins who examined Siddartha. They heard that
Siddartha had renounced all wordy things and gone to the forest
and they decided to follow Siddartha. They helped Siddartha with
his day to day needs because Siddartha was undertaking to become
the Buddha. |
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19. The Practice
of Suffering
Bodihisattava gradually reduced amount of food he ate, and he
practiced his practice of suffering severely. His once golden and
beautiful complexion became black and dry. He became skeleton
like. One day he lost his strength and he fainted. When he
regained his consciousness, he considered what was happening. He
thought, "I have practiced the practice of suffering for six
years, but I am no closer to the truth."
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20. The Middle
Way
Bodihisattava
decided to start eating food in moderation so that he would be
more able in his quest to find the truth. When Pyinsawagi monks
saw Bodihisattava eating food again, they said that Siddartha was
becoming less resolute, and they lost interest in him.
Consequently, they moved on to Migadawone forest. When
Bodihisattava regained his strength, he practiced the practice of
middle way, neither complete denial nor enjoying worldly
pleasures. He was both mindful and diligent in his practice.
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