old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh
old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh
old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Chapter Forty-One<br />
Has Anyone Seen My Mother?<br />
The road to Savatthi was now familiar to Sariputta. Because he and Anathapindika had nourished people’s interest in the Buddha and the<br />
sangha, they were greeted warmly wherever they went. At nights the bhikkhus rested in the cool forests along the banks of the Aciravati<br />
River. They traveled in three groups. The Buddha and Sariputta led the first group. The second group was headed by Assaji. The third<br />
group was under the guidance of Moggallana. The bhikkhus maintained peaceful serenity as they walked. Sometimes local people gathered<br />
in the forests or along the riverbanks to listen to the Buddha’s teaching.<br />
The day they arrived in Savatthi, they were greeted by Sudatta and Prince Jeta who took them to the new monastery. Seeing how well<br />
planned Jetavana was, the Buddha praised Sudatta. Sudatta responded by saying it was all thanks to the ideas and labor of Venerable<br />
Sariputta and Prince Jeta.<br />
Novice Rahula was now twelve years <strong>old</strong>. Though he had been assigned to study under Sariputta’s guidance, Sariputta had been gone<br />
for six months, and so Moggallana had taken his place. At Jetavana, Rahula could resume his studies with Sariputta.<br />
Prince Jeta and Sudatta arranged a reception immediately after the Buddha’s arrival. Prince Jeta had come to deeply admire the Buddha<br />
through his contacts with Venerable Sariputta. They invited all the local people to come to hear the Buddha speak on the Dharma. Many<br />
came, including Price Jeta’s mother, Queen Mallika, and his sixteen-year-<strong>old</strong> sister, Princess Vajiri. After hearing about the Buddha for<br />
months, everyone was most anxious to see him in person. The Buddha spoke about the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightf<strong>old</strong> Path.<br />
After hearing the Dharma talk, the queen and princess felt their hearts open. They both wanted to become lay disciples, but did not dare<br />
to ask. The queen wanted to first seek the approval of her husband, King Pasenadi. She was sure that in the near future the king would<br />
meet the Buddha and share her feelings. Pasenadi’s own sister, who was King Bimbisara’s wife, had already taken the three refuges with<br />
the Buddha three years before.<br />
Many important religious leaders in Savatthi also attended the Buddha’s discourse that day. Most came out of curiosity rather than a<br />
desire to learn anything. But several of them felt their hearts suddenly illuminated when they heard the Buddha speak. Others saw in him a<br />
worthy opponent who challenged their own beliefs. Everyone agreed that his presence in Savatthi was a significant event in the spiritual life<br />
of Kosala.<br />
When the reception and Dharma talk were over, Sudatta respectfully knelt before the Buddha and said, “My family and I, together with<br />
all our friends and relations, offer Jetavana monastery to you and your sangha.”<br />
The Buddha said, “Sudatta, your merit is great. Thanks to you, the sangha will be protected from sun and rain, wild animals, snakes, and<br />
mosquitoes. This monastery will draw bhikkhus from all four directions, now and in the future. You have supported the Dharma with all<br />
your heart. I hope you will continue to devote yourself to practicing the Way.”<br />
The next morning the Buddha and the bhikkhus went into the city to beg. Sariputta divided the bhikkhus into twelve groups, each<br />
numbering fifteen. The presence of the saffron-robed monks further aroused the people’s interest in the new Jetavana Monastery. The<br />
people admired the calm and quiet manner of the bhikkhus.<br />
Once a week the Buddha gave a Dharma talk at Jetavana. Great numbers of people attended. Thus, it was not long before King<br />
Pasenadi was well aware of the impact of the Buddha’s presence. He was too busy with political affairs to visit the Buddha himself, but he<br />
listened to many members of his court speak about the new monastery and the bhikkhus from Magadha. During a family meal, the king<br />
brought up the subject of the Buddha. Queen Mallika informed him of Prince Jeta’s contributions to the monastery. The king asked the<br />
prince to tell him about the Buddha and the prince recounted all he had seen and heard. The prince said that if the king granted permission,<br />
he wished to become a lay disciple of the Buddha.<br />
King Pasenadi had a hard time believing that a monk as young as the Buddha could have achieved true enlightenment. According to the<br />
prince, the Buddha was thirty-nine years <strong>old</strong>, the same age as the king. The king speculated that there was no way the Buddha could have<br />
attained a higher state than such elderly spiritual teachers as Puruna Kassapa, Makkhali Gosala, Nigantha Nathaputta, and Sanjana<br />
Belatthiputta. Although the king would have liked to believe his son, he had his doubts. He decided that when an occasion arose he would<br />
go and meet the Buddha himself.<br />
The rainy season was approaching and the Buddha decided to spend it at Jetavana. Thanks to the experience gained during previous<br />
rainy seasons at Bamboo Forest, the Buddha’s senior disciples organized the retreat with ease. Sixty new bhikkhus joined the community in<br />
Savatthi. Sudatta also introduced many friends who became lay disciples and enthusiastically supported the activities of the monastery.