Dhammagiri Vesak: Birth of the Bodhisatta

Queen Mahāmāyā gave birth to the Bodhisatta in beautiful Lumbini Grove, shaded by large Sālā trees, standing and holding on to the branch of a blossoming Asoka tree. The newborn Bodhisatta walked 7 steps to the North and declared solemnly that this is his last rebirth.Ajahn Dhammasiha explains that the most authentic report on the birth, in the Buddha's own words, can be found at Majjhima Nikāya #123 'Acchariya Abbhuta Sutta' (Middle Length Discourses Sutta #123).He points out how the Buddha himself adds one more marvellous quality to the long list of miracles reported by Ven Ānanda: the Tathāgata has perfect mindfulness and full awareness of all feelings, perception and thoughts arsing and passing away in his mind.Ajahn encourages us all to become 'Mothers of the Bodhisatta' in the sense that we all should nourish and develop the potential for awakening in our mind, to ultimately 'give birth' to the experience of the deathlass, Nibbāna.www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archivewww.vimeo.com/dhammatalks