To Reappear in the Company of Dogs To Reappear in the Company of Oxen

‘Venerable Sir, this Seniya is a naked dog-duty Ascetic who does what is hard to do: he eats his food when it is thrown to the ground. He has long taken up and practiced that dog-duty. What will be his destination? What will be his future course?’

Enough, Punna, let that be. Do not ask me that.

A second time and a third time Punna, the ox-duty Ascetic asked The Perfectly Enlightened One same question.

Here, Punna, someone develops the dog‑duty fully and uninterruptedly; he develops the dog‑habit fully and uninterruptedly; he develops the dog‑mind fully and uninterruptedly; he develops dog‑behavior fully and uninterruptedly.

Having done so, on the dissolution of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of dogs. But if he has such a view as this: ‘By this virtue or observance or Asceticism or holy life, I shall become a [great] god or some [lesser] god’, that is wrong view in his case. Now there are two destinations for one with wrong view, I say: hell or the animal realm.

So, Punna, if his dog‑duty succeeds, it will lead him to the company of dogs; if it fails, it will lead him to hell.

When this was said, Seniya the naked dog-duty Ascetic cried out and burst into tears.

‘Venerable Sir, this Punna, son of the Koliyans, is an ox-duty Ascetic. He has long taken up and practiced that ox-duty. What will be his destination? What will be his future course?’

Enough, Seniya, let that be. Do not ask me that.

A second time and a third time Seniya the naked dog-duty Ascetic asked The Perfectly Enlightened One same question.

Here, Seniya, someone develops the ox‑duty fully and uninterruptedly; he develops the ox‑habit fully and uninterruptedly; he develops the ox‑mind fully and uninterruptedly; he develops ox‑behavior fully and uninterruptedly.

Having done so, on the dissolution of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of oxen. But if he has such a view as this: ‘By this virtue or observance or Asceticism or holy life, I shall become a [great] god or some [lesser] god’, that is wrong view in his case. Now there are two destinations for one with wrong view, I say: hell or the animal realm.

So, Seniya, if his ox‑duty succeeds, it will lead him to the company of oxen; if it fails, it will lead him to hell.

When this was said, Punna, son of the Koliyans, the ox-duty Ascetic cried out and burst into tears.

Then The Perfectly Enlightened One told Seniya the naked dog-duty Ascetic:

Seniya, I could not persuade you when I said:

Enough, Seniya, let that be. Do not ask me that.

[Then Punna the ox-duty Ascetic said:]

Venerable Sir, I am not crying because The Perfectly Enlightened One has said this about me, but because I have long taken up and practiced this ox-duty.

Venerable Sir, I have confidence in The Perfectly Enlightened One thus: ‘The Perfectly Enlightened One is capable of teaching me The Teachings in such a way that I can abandon this ox-duty and that this Seniya the naked dog-duty Ascetic can abandon that dog-duty.

(Reference: MN 57)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how if an individual functions like an animal in this human life, they will be reborn in the animal realm upon their next rebirth.

The unEnlightened mind functions much like an animal. Many people consider human beings to be animals. However, human beings are not animals it is just that the unEnlightened mind functions much like an animal mind. The vast majority of the world is unEnlightened at this time, thus, what many people observe with regards to human beings is animalistic behaviors and conduct leading them to think of human beings as animals.

It is important to understand animals and humans are not the same beings. Animals and humans are in two completely different realms of existence with different qualities of mind. Humans and animals both experience all three feelings of discontentedness such as pleasant feelings, painful feelings, and feelings that are neither painful-nor-pleasant. But, animals are unable to attain Enlightenment from their animal birth, and will need to find their way into a new birth in the human or heavenly realms to attain Enlightenment.

The bodily, verbal, and mental conduct is much like animals from the animal realm. But, human beings who learn and practice these Teachings will function more and more like a human being through a well developed practice of these Teachings.

Aside from creating a better and more peaceful life in this existence, a human being who chooses to improve their life practice will be reborn in a more favorable condition in their next life or completely escape The Cycle of Rebirth to eliminate existence in a future life within The Cycle of Rebirth.

As depicted in this Teaching, Students of The Buddha burst out in tears after hearing his Teaching. While The Buddha was aware that what he had to say had the potential of the Student reacting in this way, the Students pressed on with their desire to know the answer to the questions they asked.

While the Students burst out in tears, it was not The Buddha or The Teachings that caused the Student to cry. Instead, it was their own reaction to what they heard. The Student’s mind caused its own discontentedness due to craving/desire/attachment.

For a Teacher to be effective in sharing these Teachings with Students, they need to be unattached to their Students. Students will sometimes cry or have other emotions while in the presence of their Teacher. If a Teacher is attached to their Students, observing emotions from their Students has the potential to create strong feelings in the mind of the Teacher as well as hindering them from being able to deliver beneficial Teachings that the Student needs to understand as part of The Path to Enlightenment.

If a Teacher is attached to their Students, their ability to help a Student would be significantly hindered. Therefore, a Teacher should ensure they are Enlightened prior to accepting Students as a Teacher while sharing these Teachings. If one chooses to share these Teachings while being unEnlightened, if you observe the mind is attached to a Student, the Teacher needs to actively work to eliminate the attachment otherwise, your ability to serve as a beneficial Teacher will be significantly impacted likely causing harm to your own mind and the mind of the Student.

A Teacher needs to “let go” and practice non-clinging to any and all Students. This allows the Teacher to share Teachings that they know in certain situations are going to produce emotions for their Students but ensures that they do indeed share those Teachings for the benefit of the Student regardless of the potential of emotional reactions from a Student.

If a Teacher were to hold back Teachings that are needed for a Student’s progress on The Path to Enlightenment just because they are uncomfortable with seeing the emotions of their Students, then the Teacher would not be providing the needed Teachings to help the Student advance and this would be harmful to the Student.

Instead, if a Teacher is liberated from any cravings/desires/attachments, especially to their Students, then they can share Teachings unimpeded by any defilements. A Teacher who is Enlightened will be best prepared to share these Teachings because their mind is no longer afflicted with craving, anger, or ignorance (unknowing of true reality).

If a Teacher shares Teachings and the Student is displeased, angry, or uncomfortable with The Teachings, the Teacher’s mind should be unaffected.

If a Teacher shares Teachings and the Student is pleased, laughs, or happily accepts The Teachings, the Teacher’s mind should be unaffected.

A Teacher who is Enlightened will be unaffected by any positive, negative, or neutral reactions or responses from their Students. An effective Teacher is not delivering Teachings to please the ears of their Students but instead, they are sharing Teachings that lead to Enlightenment. Whether The Teachings are learned, reflected upon, practiced, or accepted by a Student should not be part of the Teacher’s decision making process of whether to share a specific Teaching or not. If the Student will or will not react or respond positively or negatively to The Teachings, should not be part of a Teachers decision making process. Instead, a Teacher needs to be unhindered and share The Path to Enlightenment speaking the truth whether the Student is going to have a positive, negative, or neutral reaction or response.

A Teacher who is sharing the true Path to Enlightenment, is not going to adjust The Teachings to please the ears of a Student, but instead, share the truth that is needed to move the mind to Enlightenment in a polite, kind, friendly, and respectful manner regardless of how a Student’s mind may or may not react or respond.

With that said, a wise Teacher can actively look for ways to more readily help a Student understand The Teachings in a way that is beneficial for the Student. But, The Path to Enlightenment is The Path to Enlightenment. There is no ability to change these Teachings and still have them be effective at improving the condition of the mind that leads Students to experiencing Enlightenment.

The Natural Laws of Existence (i.e. The Teachings of a Buddha) are permanent and do not change based on the emotions of a Teacher or Student or any other condition.

While it may be enticing or appealing for a Teacher to attempt to change what a Buddha has taught, doing so would only cause harm to the Teacher and the Student. An individual who changes The Teachings of a Buddha would be doing so based on their own arrogance and out of their own ignorance (unknowing of true reality).

A Buddha is the discoverer, declarer, and originator of The Path to Enlightenment. A Buddha declares The Teachings that are needed to attain Enlightenment. A person who is not a Buddha would be unable to modify a Buddha’s Teachings in a way that would be beneficial.

It is only a Buddha who truly knows with 100% clarity how to attain Enlightenment. A Buddha is Fully and Perfectly Enlightened while all others who attain Enlightenment, while Enlightened, their mind does not have the deep clarity and deep wisdom of that of a Buddha. Therefore, all others will need to learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings of a Buddha to attain Enlightenment.

Attempting to modify or adjust a Buddha’s Teachings will cause great harm to that individual and countless individuals who choose to learn with someone who has modified The Teachings of a Buddha.

There should be no circumstances where an individual who is not a Buddha changes The Teachings of a Buddha as this would only cause great harm at the detriment of all those who choose to learn or practice Teachings that have been modified.

Modified teachings will not lead to Enlightenment and would only mislead Students causing great harm to all those involved.

What is a Buddha?

A “Buddha” is not a Stage of Enlightenment but instead, is a unique type of Enlightened being. A Buddha is an Arahant who has attained Enlightenment without any assistance of Teachers but only through their own efforts of using the world as their Teacher and perhaps Teachings of a previously awakened Buddha.

There are three primary criteria of what makes a Buddha a Buddha.

1.) A Buddha awakens to Enlightenment through their own independent journey without the assistance of any Teachers, independently discovering The Teachings that lead to Enlightenment.

A Buddha has fully eliminated The Ten Fetters to attain Enlightenment as an Arahant but they have done so through their own independent journey without the assistance of any Teachers, developing deep wisdom of what is needed to attain Enlightenment.

2.) A Buddha guides countless others to Enlightenment during their lifetime through sharing their independently discovered Teachings that led to their own Enlightenment during their independent journey.

A Buddha has the ability to guide countless beings to the attainment of Enlightenment during their lifetime and after their death. A Buddha will dedicate the remaining time of their life towards sharing their Teachings and guiding countless beings to Enlightenment.

3.) Upon a Buddha’s death, they will leave their Teachings in a condition that can be continually shared assisting countless more beings to Enlightenment after their death.

A Buddha’s Teachings and Students will continue to guide countless people to Enlightenment after a Buddha’s death. A Buddha has already done the hard work of figuring out how to attain Enlightenment. You just need to learn and practice his Teachings to improve the condition of the mind and your life.

A Buddha is referred to as a Fully Perfectly Enlightened Buddha, a Perfectly Enlightened One, or a Tathāgata. They are a human being, a Teacher, one with deep compassion for all beings and the world. They have deep wisdom to help the world through individuals choosing to learn and practice their Teachings to attain Enlightenment.

They are considered Perfectly Enlightened because there are no outside influences that have led to their awakening, so they have “Perfect Enlightenment” where their mind is unaffected by any teachings outside of their own independently discovered Teachings that led to their awakening.

A Buddha will have an excellent memory being able to recall countless past events and situations with stunning accuracy. Unlike other humans, their memory does not fade and is not overwritten.

A Buddha will need to weave their way through a previous Buddha’s Teachings as all things are affected by impermanence, thus, a previous Buddha’s Teachings will not be in a pure condition.

A Buddha will be able to easily determine the condition of the mind of another person, then be able to help them with Teachings to eliminate the unwholesome qualities of the mind and cultivate wholesome qualities of the mind. A Buddha will be able to observe the condition of another being’s mind but only does so with an interest to help the other being eliminate the unwholesome qualities from the mind and cultivate wholesome qualities in the mind to guide one towards Enlightenment.

A Buddha will have a deep practice of their own Teachings, leading by example as a living, breathing, walking example of their Teachings.

A Buddha will be able to make predictions of the future and understand the future progress of the world as a whole while explaining past events and the current condition of the world through their Teachings.

A Buddha will know this is their last life without being reborn into any realm of existence. They will have insight into their previous lives and knowledge of their existence in those previous lives. Their only goal will be to lead as many people to Enlightenment as possible and to create a strong Community of humans with Enlightenment who will assist others to attain Enlightenment and leave strong Teachings that will assist unEnlightened beings to become Enlightened after a Buddha’s death.

When a Buddha arises in the world, this is your best opportunity to attain Enlightenment. A Buddha will have independently realized their Enlightenment and will be experiencing “Perfect Enlightenment”. A Buddha will have deep knowledge, deep understanding, and deep wisdom of how to attain Enlightenment through their independent realization of Enlightenment.

A Buddha will be able to teach and guide all humans, who are interested to learn, towards Enlightenment.

A Buddha arising in the world is extremely rare. The last Buddha currently known to the world was Gotama Buddha who died over 2,500 years ago.

Why Does a Buddha Appear in the World?

A Buddha appears in the world when a Buddha is needed.

When humanity has reached a point of major confusion, conflict, and there is grave suffering throughout the world, a Buddha will appear.

A Buddha has the ability to help all of humanity to realize a better existence through their independently realized Teachings.

A Buddha will have struggled for countless lives to reach Enlightenment. Their journey on The Path would have been long and difficult over untold numbers of countless rebirths but they would never give up in their pursuit to Full and Perfect Enlightenment. They also would never give up on sharing their Teachings with all of humanity teaching until death.

A Buddha would have deep compassion for every single being in existence - past, present, and future.

A Buddha would know that they have attained Full and Perfect Enlightenment and are able to help all of humanity now and well into the future. But, all of humanity is never ready and willing to learn, grow, and progress on The Path during a Buddha’s existence. All unEnlightened beings are already experiencing significant internal struggles so they will also struggle to closely understand and practice The Teachings that will lead to their full liberation. Most will not even know there is a solution to their struggles of the mind because they do not necessarily realize there is a problem.

Complacency is the norm and is the most detrimental quality of the mind.

Humanity may or may not even see the struggles and issues that are apparent and so clear to a Buddha. The vast majority of humanity will not even know that a Buddha has appeared because they are unable to determine who is or is not Enlightened and, thus, would not be able to determine who is or is not a Buddha. Humanity is mostly “unknowing” of true reality and “unknowing” of the countless problems faced by all beings. The large masses do not understand the challenges they are facing with the unEnlightened mind so they are unfamiliar with the solutions to the unEnlightened mind.

A Buddha sees all the problems, and has all the solutions of how to guide a being on The Path to Enlightenment so that a more Enlightened humanity can work together to solve its challenges.

A Buddha’s responsibility is not to himself as they have transcended any selfish pursuit or interest in fame or fortune. A Buddha chooses to spread the word of their appearance and Teachings through guiding people to attain Enlightenment without the need for others to know they are a Buddha. A Buddha can be more productive through others not knowing he is a Buddha because he can more accurately assess a Practitioner’s mind. If there is a worldwide announcement of the arrival of a Buddha, there would be those who agree and come to that Buddha for guidance, and others who would reject the idea of a Buddha being in existence.

Those who reject the idea of a Buddha’s existence would not seek guidance on The Path to Enlightenment, and those who do seek guidance might try to be on their “best behavior” masking the mind’s true nature. This would hinder a Buddha’s ability to observe the condition of a Student’s mind and, thus, be more limiting to how a Buddha could assist their Students in the progress of Enlightenment.

A Buddha would not be interested in a worldwide announcement of their awakening as it would be counterproductive and would instead, choose to humbly and peacefully share their Teachings with those who choose to be taught. A Buddha will encourage people to learn and progress on The Path guiding anyone who is interested to attain Enlightenment.

A Buddha’s goal is to help eliminate the massive amount of suffering that is pervasive and the original cause for the Buddha’s appearance in the world.

A Buddha appearing in today’s society would need to be creative in understanding exactly how to present The Teachings to an “unaware” and otherwise absorbed audience. An audience that is complacent either unknowingly unaware or purposefully ignoring their own suffering.

Either way, upon a Buddha’s appearance, the Buddha will have to put much more thought and effort into convincing people that there is a problem rather than the thought and effort that they would put into the actual sharing of The Teachings themselves.

Complacency is not easily eradicated, and the vast majority of the world is complacent unknowing of the true struggles faced and the solutions to these struggles.

Once a person decides they need guidance and accepts responsibility to learn and practice, the Buddha is well prepared to deliver every Teaching that permeates their entire mind.

There is no one or nothing that could eliminate the wisdom acquired by a Buddha through their independently realized Enlightenment.

There are no specific physical features that would identify a Buddha as being a Buddha. You will know who is a Buddha through observing their work to develop a dedicated Community of Practitioners and Teachers while assisting countless Practitioners to attain Enlightenment. You will be able to observe through a Buddha’s work towards sharing The Teachings into the world in such a way that helps countless beings attain Enlightenment during his lifetime and after his death leaving The Teachings and a Community to share those Teachings. And, if you know that individual does not have any Teachers but was able to benefit countless beings to attain Enlightenment during their lifetime and after their death, with their Teachings continuing to help countless beings attain Enlightenment, then this person could be considered a Buddha.