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Chapter Thirty-Seven<br />
A New Faith<br />
Two weeks later, King Suddhodana invited the Buddha to a private family meal at the palace. Sariputta was also invited. Queen Gotami,<br />
Yasodhara, Nanda, Sundari Nanda, and Rahula were all present. In the close-knit atmosphere of his family, the Buddha showed them how<br />
to follow their breath, how to look deeply into their feelings, and how to do walking and sitting meditation. He emphasized how they could<br />
transcend the worries, frustrations, and irritations of daily life by practicing mindfulness in daily life.<br />
Rahula sat next to Sariputta and placed his small hand in the elder monk’s hand. Rahula was very fond of Sariputta.<br />
When the time came for the Buddha and Sariputta to return to the monastery, everyone walked with them to the gate. Nanda held the<br />
Buddha’s bowl as the Buddha joined his palms and bowed farewell to each person. To Nanda’s surprise, the Buddha did not take his<br />
bowl back. Not knowing what to do, Nanda followed the Buddha back to the monastery waiting for the right moment to return the bowl.<br />
When they arrived at the monastery, the Buddha asked Nanda if he would like to spend a week at the monastery to enjoy a deeper taste of<br />
the life of a bhikkhu. Nanda loved and respected his elder brother, and so he agreed. It was also true that Nanda felt drawn to the calm<br />
and relaxed life of the bhikkhus he saw around him. When the Buddha asked him at the end of the week if he would like to be ordained<br />
and live a bhikkhu’s life for several months under the Buddha’s guidance, Nanda was most willing. The Buddha asked Sariputta to give<br />
Nanda basic instruction and to ordain him as a bhikkhu.<br />
The Buddha had first consulted with his father, the king, about allowing Nanda to live as a bhikkhu for a period of time. The king agreed<br />
with the Buddha that while Nanda was a well-meaning young man, he lacked the strength of character and determination required of a<br />
future king. The Buddha said he could provide Nanda with training that would help Nanda build clarity and resolve. The king was in<br />
agreement.<br />
Less than a month passed, however, when Nanda began to pine away for his fiancée, the beautiful Janapada Kalyani. He tried to<br />
conceal his longing, but the Buddha saw clearly into his feelings. One day the Buddha said to Nanda, “If you want to realize your goal, you<br />
must first overcome clinging to ordinary emotions. Devote your whole self to your practice and train your mind. Only then can you become<br />
an effective leader who can serve others well.”<br />
The Buddha also asked Sariputta to see that Nanda was no longer sent to do his begging in Kalyani’s neighborhood. When Nanda<br />
learned of this, he felt a mixture of both resentment and gratitude to the Buddha. He understood that the Buddha could see into his deepest<br />
thoughts and needs.<br />
Rahula envied his young uncle for being able to live at the monastery. He wanted to be allowed to do the same. But when he asked his<br />
mother, she patted his head and said that he must first grow much bigger before he could become a monk. Rahula asked how he could<br />
grow faster. She t<strong>old</strong> him to eat well and exercise each day.<br />
One day when she saw the bhikkhus begging close to the palace, Yasodhara turned to Rahula and said, “Why don’t you run down and<br />
greet the Buddha? Ask him again about your inheritance.”<br />
Rahula ran downstairs. He loved his mother dearly, but he also loved his father. He had spent all his days with his mother, but had never<br />
spent even one whole day with his father. He wished he could be like Nanda and live by the Buddha’s side. He ran quickly across the<br />
courtyard and out the south gate until he caught up with the Buddha. The Buddha smiled and extended his hand. Though the spring sun was<br />
already growing hot, Rahula felt protected by his father’s shadow and love. He looked up at his father and said, “It is very cool and<br />
refreshing by your side.”<br />
Yasodhara watched them from the palace balcony. She knew that the Buddha had given Rahula permission to return with him to the<br />
monastery for the day.<br />
Rahula asked the Buddha, “What is my inheritance?”<br />
The Buddha answered, “Come to the monastery, and I will transmit it to you.”<br />
When they returned to the monastery, Sariputta shared his food with Rahula. Rahula ate in silence as he sat between the Buddha and<br />
Sariputta. He was glad to see his young uncle, Nanda. The Buddha t<strong>old</strong> Rahula that he could sleep the night in Sariputta’s hut. All the<br />
bhikkhus were fond of Rahula and treated him so warmly, Rahula wished he could live at the monastery forever. But Sariputta explained to<br />
him that if he wanted to stay at the monastery, he would have to become a monk. Rahula clasped Sariputta’s hand and asked if he could<br />
ask the Buddha to ordain him. The Buddha nodded yes when Rahula asked him, and he instructed Sariputta to ordain the young boy.<br />
At first Sariputta thought the Buddha was jesting, but when he saw how serious the Buddha was, he asked, “But, Master, how can one