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

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