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

It was the tenth retreat season since the Buddha’s Enlightenment, but only the second one he had spent alone. He stayed in that cool
forest the entire retreat season, leaving only briefly in the mornings to beg. When the rainy season came to an end, the Buddha departed
from his elephant friends and headed northeast. After two weeks of walking, he reached Jetavana Monastery in Savatthi. Sariputta was
most happy to see him, as was Rahula. Several senior disciples were also there including Mahamoggallana, Mahakassapa, Mahakaccara,
Upali, Mahakotthiya, Mahakappina, Mahakunda, Revata, and Devadatta. Anuruddha, Kimbila, and Nandiya had also traveled to Jetavana
from their bamboo grove in Karagama. Even Bhikkhuni Gotami was in Savatthi. Everyone rejoiced to see the Buddha.
When he entered his hut at Jetavana, the Buddha found Ananda tidying up and sweeping the floor. A year and four months had passed
since the Buddha had last been there. Ananda put down his broom and bowed. The Buddha asked him about the situation in Kosambi, and
Ananda replied, “After your departure, a number of brothers came to me and said, ‘Brother, the Master has left. He is all alone. Why don’t
you follow him and act as his assistant? If you won’t go, we will go ourselves.’ But I told them, ‘If the Buddha has departed without telling
anyone, it is because he wants to be alone. We should not bother him.’ Six months later, the same brothers came to me and said, ‘Brother,
it has been a long time since we received any direct teaching from the Buddha. We want to search for him.’ This time I agreed, and we set
out looking for you, but without success. No one knew where you were. At last we made our way to Savatthi, but you were not here,
either. We decided to wait here, knowing that eventually you would come. We were confident you would not abandon your disciples.”
“When you left Kosambi, what was the situation like? Were the bhikkhus still divided?”
“Lord, the conflict became even worse. Neither side would have anything to do with the other. The atmosphere was tense and
uncomfortable. Lay disciples expressed their dismay to the rest of us when we went begging in the city. We explained that many of us
refused to take sides. Little by little, the lay disciples decided to take matters more into their own hands. They came to the monastery and
spoke to the bhikkhus involved in the conflict. They said things like, ‘You made the Buddha so sad he left. You bear a grave responsibility.
You have caused many lay disciples to lose trust in the sangha. Please reconsider your actions.’ At first the bhikkhus involved in the conflict
did not pay attention to the lay disciples. But then the lay disciples decided not to offer food to any bhikkhu involved in the conflict. They
said, ‘You are not worthy of the Buddha because you are unable to live in harmony. If you listened to the Buddha’s teaching, you would
reconcile with one another and then go find the Buddha and make a confession. Only by doing so can you regain our trust.’ Lord, the lay
disciples stood their ground. The day I left Kosambi, the two sides had agreed to meet together. I am sure that before long they will come
here to make a formal confession.”
The Buddha picked up the broom which Ananda had set down. “Let me do that. Please find Sariputta and tell him I would like to speak
with him.”
The Buddha leisurely swept the hut and then sat on one of his bamboo chairs outside. Jetavana was truly beautiful. The trees were
covered with new leaves. Birds sang throughout the forest. Sariputta appeared and sat silently beside the Buddha for a long, peaceful
moment.
The Buddha told Sariputta what was on his mind. “We should do everything we can to prevent useless conflicts from arising in this
beautiful monastery.”
They spoke on this matter for a long time.
One afternoon soon after, Venerable Sariputta received news that the bhikkhus from Kosambi were on their way to the monastery,
having already arrived in Savatthi. Sariputta went to the Buddha and asked him, “The brothers from Kosambi will soon arrive. How should
we handle the situation?”
The Buddha replied, “Handle it according to the Dharma.”
“Can you explain what you mean more clearly?”
“You, Sariputta, can still ask such a question?”
Sariputta fell silent. Just then Moggallana, Kassapa, Kaccana, Kotthiya, Kappina, and Anuruddha appeared. They, too, asked, “How
should we handle the arrival of the brothers from Kosambi?”
They all looked at Sariputta but he only smiled. The Buddha looked at his senior disciples and said, “Listen carefully to both sides
without prejudice. Carefully consider everything you hear to determine which things are in accord with the teaching and which things are
not. Things in accord with the teaching lead to peace, joy, and liberation. They are the things I myself practice. Things I have cautioned
against and which I do not practice are not in accord with the teaching. When you understand what things are in accord with the teaching
and what things are not, you will know how to help both sides find reconciliation.”
At that moment, a number of lay patrons led by Anathapindika arrived at the Buddha’s hut. They said, “Lord, the bhikkhus from
Kosambi have arrived. How should we receive them? Should we give both sides food offerings?”
The Buddha smiled. “Offer food to both sides. Express your support of the sangha. Offer your praise when any of them say things in
accord with the Dharma.”