AN ANALYSIS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF BIMBISARA KING IN JANAVASABHA SUTTA

Abstract

The research investigated on 3 objectives; 1) study the history and merit accumulation of Bimbisara king in Janavasabhasutta, 2) study the enlightenment in Pali Canon, and 3) analysis of the enlightenment of Pimphisara king in Janavasabhasutta. This was documentary research conducted by document survey.

The results showed that analyzing the Sotapanna attainment of King Bimbisara found in Janavasabhasutta showed that having herd the Buddha’s arriving at Rajagariha capital, residing beneath the banyan tree, named Supatitthacetiya inside Laddhavana park, King Bimbisara was accompanied by the royal household and an assembly of 120,000 royal attendants visited the Buddha. After the Buddha delivered Anupubbikathā teaching and Four Noble Truth discourse, he and the royal attendants abandoned three lower fetters: Self wrong views, doubts and wrong deeds and practice, attaining the Sotāpattiphala. For the Sakadāgāmī attainment of Janavasabha Yakkha or giant, Sunangkumara Brhama repeated the Buddha’s teachings, concluded in 4 topics: 1) great effort cultivation, 2) 3 opportunities attainment, 3) 4 Foundations of Mindfulness, and 7 meditative supporters. In the end, he concluded that there were 2,300,000 individuals in the Magadha capital who held firm faith in the Triple Gem—the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha and passed away, including those who had achieved Sotāpanna, Sakadāgāmī, Anāgāmī.  Additionally, within this group, those who are S Sakadāgāmī include King Bimbisara or Janavasabha Yakkha in previous life.