The Eight Miracles of Dhammavinaya and Ocean

Abstract

          The principles of Buddhism are very deep. Some are concerned with mundane world called Lokiya Dhamma and some are supermundane called Lokuttara Dhamma. Both kinds of Dhamma emphasize on faith and wisdom developments properly. These are a beauty and miracle of Dhammavinaya in Buddhism. The Buddha compares the Dhammavinaya with the ocean into eight miracles as follows:

          1) The ocean is low, sloping, and deep down in sequence, not immediately steeped.  Like a Dhammavinaya, it has the disciplines to study (Sikkhā), practical way (Dhūta), and principles (Bhodhipakkhiyadhamma) in sequence; 2) the ocean is normally stable and not overflowed. Like a Dhammavinaya, disciples do not violate the precepts that the Buddha has formulated; 3) the ocean does not coexist with corpses. Like a Dhammavinaya, people who are bad behavioral, monks do not coexist with these people; 4) all rivers flow into ocean and abandon the original name of them. Like the four castes of Brahma system, when all castes ordain as a monk, they will abandon their own castes; 5) when rivers flow into ocean, the ocean is never decreased or increased. Like many monks who get Nibbana, it is never empty or full of enlightened people; 6) the ocean is only tasteful of salty. Like a Dhammavinaya, it is only tasteful of liberation; 7) the ocean has many treasures. Like a Dhammavinaya, it has many valuable doctrines; and 8) the ocean is the habitat of many animals. Like a Dhammavinaya, it is the dwelling place of the four groups of the great enlightened one.