Across the long cycle of samsara, people have sought a path to the end of suffering. The light of Dhamma offers hope and wisdom, but where did this path begin, and who first opened the way to enlightenment? This article looks beyond the Buddha familiar to many readers and explores the figure called “Somdet Ong Pathom,” presented as a beginning of the Buddha lineage. The story sits where faith and history overlap, beyond the textbooks many people have studied.
The beginning of the path to the end of suffering
The search begins with recognizing suffering and wishing to be free from it. Exploring Buddhism’s beginnings can help readers understand the foundations of its teachings and practices.
What the title “Buddha” means
“Buddha” is not a personal name in this account; it is a title for someone who discovers the Dhamma through their own awakening. The discovery is described as the path that brings suffering to an end.
Across the long history of the world and the cosmos, Buddhist accounts describe many Buddhas attaining this state. Understanding the beginning of the Buddha lineage is presented as a way to consider the origins of its teachings and practices.
Kalpas and the Bhadrakalpa
In Buddhism, a kalpa is a unit of time so long that ordinary years cannot readily express it. It is difficult to grasp and beyond ordinary imagination. Traditional comparisons include a rocky mountain gradually worn away by a heavenly cloth, or a wall filled with mustard seeds.
Among these vast cycles is the Bhadrakalpa, described as a fortunate or auspicious aeon in which five Buddhas appear:
- Kakusandha Buddha
- Konagamana Buddha
- Kassapa Buddha
- Gautama Buddha, the present Buddha
- Metteyya Buddha
Looking for the first Buddha in Buddhist texts
The search for the first Buddha is framed as a search for the beginnings of the Buddha lineage. The Tipitaka is introduced as a central source for studying the Buddha’s teachings and is made up of the Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka. The Sutta Pitaka collects teachings, while the Buddhavamsa recounts accounts of past Buddhas and their cultivation of perfections. The article also refers to the Buddha’s words as teachings from the Buddha himself.
The tradition of Somdet Ong Pathom
The story of Somdet Ong Pathom is described as being outside the Tipitaka and as having been revealed by Luang Pho Ruesi Ling Dam through meditative absorption. In this account, Somdet Ong Pathom cultivated the perfections for 40 asankheyya kalpas—a period described as immeasurably long and as demonstrating great commitment.
The article compares this account with stories about other types of Buddhas, as a way of considering differences among Buddhist narratives.
Questions about the account
Why does the story of Somdet Ong Pathom not appear in the Tipitaka?
The account suggests that the story may have been preserved in another form or revealed later.
Is Somdet Ong Pathom the same as Sikhi Buddha?
The article raises the possibility that Somdet Ong Pathom may be Sikhi Buddha.
How do canonical texts and spiritual experiences differ?
The article compares the Tipitaka with personal spiritual experience as two different ways of presenting a story. It notes that names and order, time and dimensions, and the scope of the narrative may differ. It also refers to evidence and traces from other sources as supporting the account.
The ten perfections and the path to Nibbana
The ten perfections are presented as important principles for spiritual practice. Cultivating them is described as leading toward the end of suffering and Nibbana. Reflecting on karma can help people understand the effects of actions, while letting go of judgment about other people’s conduct is presented as a way to find peace.
Teachings attributed to Somdet Ong Pathom
The article presents a set of principles for practice using these terms:
- Pathamula: the beginning of spiritual practice
- Pariyatti: studying the Dhamma and its teachings
- Patipatti: putting the teachings into practice
- Pativedha: the result or realization of practice
The Mae Ka Fua legend and the five eggs
The legend of Mae Ka Fua is presented as a bridge among Buddhist beliefs and as a story connected with the five Buddhas. Mae Ka Fua is described as a symbol of compassion, and the five eggs represent the five Buddhas of the Bhadrakalpa.
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