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Chapter Thirty-Three<br />
Beauty That Does Not Fade<br />
Two weeks before the rainy retreat ended, a woman of uncommon beauty paid a visit to the Buddha. She arrived in a <strong>white</strong> carriage pulled<br />
by two <strong>white</strong> horses, and was accompanied by a youth who appeared to be about sixteen years <strong>old</strong>. Her manner of dress and her bearing<br />
were refined and elegant. She asked a young bhikkhu to show her the way to the Buddha’s hut, but when they arrived there, the Buddha<br />
had not yet returned from his walking meditation. The bhikkhu invited the woman and the boy to sit on bamboo chairs in front of the hut.<br />
Shortly afterwards the Buddha returned, accompanied by Kaludayi, Sariputta, and Nagasamala. The woman and youth stood and<br />
bowed respectfully. The Buddha invited them to sit again as he sat down on a third bamboo chair. He understood that this woman was<br />
Ambapali and that the youth was King Bimbisara’s son, Jivaka.<br />
Kaludayi had never seen a woman more beautiful in all his life. He had only taken vows as a bhikkhu a month earlier, and he was<br />
confused as to whether or not it was proper for a bhikkhu to look at a beautiful woman. Unsure of what to do, he lowered his eyes to the<br />
ground. Nagasamala reacted in the same way. Only the Buddha and Sariputta looked directly into the woman’s eyes.<br />
Sariputta looked at Ambapali and then at the Buddha. He saw how natural and relaxed the Buddha’s gaze was. His face was as serene<br />
as a beautiful full moon. The Buddha’s eyes were kind and clear. Sariputta felt as though the Buddha’s contentment, ease, and joy<br />
penetrated Sariputta’s own heart in that instant.<br />
Ambapali looked directly into the Buddha’s eyes as well. No one had ever looked at her in the way the Buddha was looking at her now.<br />
As long as she could remember, men had gazed at her with either embarrassment or desire in their eyes. But the Buddha looked at her as<br />
he might look at a cloud, a river, or a flower. She had the impression that he could see deeply into her heart’s thoughts. She joined her<br />
palms and introduced herself and her son. “I am Ambapali, and this is my son, Jivaka, who is studying to become a doctor. We have heard<br />
much about you, and we have both looked forward to this moment.”<br />
The Buddha asked Jivaka about his studies and daily life. Jivaka answered politely. The Buddha could see that he was a kind-hearted<br />
and intelligent boy. Though he shared the same father as Prince Ajatasattu, it was evident he possessed a character of greater depth than<br />
the young prince. Jivaka’s heart filled with respect and affection for the Buddha. He t<strong>old</strong> himself that when he finished his medical studies,<br />
he would settle near the Buddha at Bamboo Forest.<br />
Before she met him, Ambapali had assumed the Buddha would be like so many other famous teachers she had met. But she had never<br />
before met anyone like the Buddha. His gaze was unspeakably tender and kind. She felt as though he could understand all the sufferings<br />
locked inside her heart. Much of her pain was soothed just by the way he looked at her. Tears glistened on her eyelashes as she said,<br />
“Teacher, my life has been filled with suffering. Though I have never lacked for money or possessions, I have not felt anything to aspire to<br />
until now. Today is the happiest day of my life.”<br />
Ambapali was an accomplished singer and dancer, but she would not perform for just anyone. If someone’s manner or behavior<br />
displeased her, she refused to perform no matter how much g<strong>old</strong> they might offer. When she was sixteen years <strong>old</strong>, she became involved in<br />
a love affair that ended in heart-break. Soon afterwards she met the young Prince Bimbisara, and they fell in love. She gave birth to their<br />
son, Jivaka. But no one in the palace wanted to accept Ambapali and her son. Some members of the palace househ<strong>old</strong> even spread rumors<br />
that Jivaka was no more than an abandoned orphan that the prince had rescued from a barrel by the side of the road. Ambapali was hurt<br />
by these accusations. She endured humiliation caused by the jealousy and hatred of others in the palace. Soon she saw that her freedom<br />
was the only thing worth guarding. She refused to live in the palace and vowed that she would never relinquish her personal freedom to<br />
anyone.<br />
Ambapali had the impression that the Buddha could see deeply into her heart’s thoughts.