old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

Chapter Thirty-Seven
A New Faith
Two weeks later, King Suddhodana invited the Buddha to a private family meal at the palace. Sariputta was also invited. Queen Gotami,
Yasodhara, Nanda, Sundari Nanda, and Rahula were all present. In the close-knit atmosphere of his family, the Buddha showed them how
to follow their breath, how to look deeply into their feelings, and how to do walking and sitting meditation. He emphasized how they could
transcend the worries, frustrations, and irritations of daily life by practicing mindfulness in daily life.
Rahula sat next to Sariputta and placed his small hand in the elder monk’s hand. Rahula was very fond of Sariputta.
When the time came for the Buddha and Sariputta to return to the monastery, everyone walked with them to the gate. Nanda held the
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
bowl back. Not knowing what to do, Nanda followed the Buddha back to the monastery waiting for the right moment to return the bowl.
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
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
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
and live a bhikkhu’s life for several months under the Buddha’s guidance, Nanda was most willing. The Buddha asked Sariputta to give
Nanda basic instruction and to ordain him as a bhikkhu.
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
with the Buddha that while Nanda was a well-meaning young man, he lacked the strength of character and determination required of a
future king. The Buddha said he could provide Nanda with training that would help Nanda build clarity and resolve. The king was in
agreement.
Less than a month passed, however, when Nanda began to pine away for his fiancée, the beautiful Janapada Kalyani. He tried to
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
must first overcome clinging to ordinary emotions. Devote your whole self to your practice and train your mind. Only then can you become
an effective leader who can serve others well.”
The Buddha also asked Sariputta to see that Nanda was no longer sent to do his begging in Kalyani’s neighborhood. When Nanda
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
thoughts and needs.
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
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
grow faster. She told him to eat well and exercise each day.
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
greet the Buddha? Ask him again about your inheritance.”
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
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
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
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
refreshing by your side.”
Yasodhara watched them from the palace balcony. She knew that the Buddha had given Rahula permission to return with him to the
monastery for the day.
Rahula asked the Buddha, “What is my inheritance?”
The Buddha answered, “Come to the monastery, and I will transmit it to you.”
When they returned to the monastery, Sariputta shared his food with Rahula. Rahula ate in silence as he sat between the Buddha and
Sariputta. He was glad to see his young uncle, Nanda. The Buddha told Rahula that he could sleep the night in Sariputta’s hut. All the
bhikkhus were fond of Rahula and treated him so warmly, Rahula wished he could live at the monastery forever. But Sariputta explained to
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
ask the Buddha to ordain him. The Buddha nodded yes when Rahula asked him, and he instructed Sariputta to ordain the young boy.
At first Sariputta thought the Buddha was jesting, but when he saw how serious the Buddha was, he asked, “But, Master, how can one