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

precepts diligently.”
Twice a month, on new moon and full moon days, the bhikkhus gathered to recite the precepts. Each precept was read aloud and then
the community was asked if anyone had failed to keep that precept. If no one spoke, the next precept was read. If someone had violated
the precept, he stood and made a confession to the community. With the exception of the four parajika, confession was enough to make
amends.
On many days, Svasti was asked to join the Buddha’s group for begging, joined by Sariputta and Rahula. That retreat season they
dwelled in the hills near the town of Ekanala, south of Rajagaha. One afternoon as the bhikkhus passed by rice fields near Ekanala, they
were stopped by a wealthy farmer from a noble caste named Bharadvaja. He owned several thousand acres. It was the season for
plowing, and he was out directing the efforts of hundreds of laborers. When he saw the Buddha pass by, he stood directly in his way and
said with some contempt, “We are farmers. We plow, sow seeds, fertilize, tend, and harvest crops in order to eat. You do nothing. You
produce nothing, yet you still eat. You are useless. You don’t plow, sow, fertilize, tend, or harvest.”
The Buddha responded, “Oh, but we do. We plow, sow, fertilize, tend, and harvest.”
“Then where are your plows, your buffaloes, and your seeds? What crops do you tend? What crops do you harvest?”
The Buddha answered, “We sow the seeds of faith in the earth of a true heart. Our plow is mindfulness and our buffalo is diligent
practice. Our harvest is love and understanding. Sir, without faith, understanding, and love, life would be nothing but suffering.”
Bharadvaja found himself unexpectedly moved by the Buddha’s words. He asked an attendant to bring the Buddha fragrant rice
simmered in milk, but the Buddha refused by saying, “I have not shared these things with you in order to be given food. If you would like to
make an offering, please do so at another time.”
The landowner was so impressed by this that he prostrated himself before the Buddha and asked to be accepted as a lay disciple. Svasti
witnessed this take place firsthand. He understood how much he could learn by remaining close to the Buddha’s side. He knew that of the
several thousand bhikkhus in the Buddha’s sangha, few had the good fortune to be as close to the Buddha as he himself was.
After the retreat season, the Buddha traveled northwest to spread the Dharma. He returned to Savatthi at the end of autumn. One
morning when they were out begging, Rahula strayed from mindfulness. Although he continued to walk in file, his mind was elsewhere. He
gazed at the Buddha ahead of him and wondered what the Buddha would have become if he had not followed the spiritual path. If he had
become a mighty emperor, what would Rahula himself be now? Thinking such thoughts, Rahula forgot to observe his breathing and steps.
Even though the Buddha could not see Rahula, he knew his son had lost his mindfulness. The Buddha stopped and turned around. The
other bhikkhus came to a halt. The Buddha looked at Rahula and said, “Rahula, are you observing your breath and maintaining
mindfulness?”
Rahula lowered his head.
The Buddha said, “To dwell in mindfulness, you must continue to observe your breath. We practice meditation even as we beg. Continue
to meditate on the impermanent and non-self nature of the aggregates which comprise all beings. The five aggregates are the body, feelings,
perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. Observe your breath and thoughts, and your mind will not become dispersed.”
The Buddha turned back around and continued to walk. His words served as a reminder to all the bhikkhus to maintain their
mindfulness. But a few steps after that, Rahula abandoned the line of bhikkhus and entered the forest where he sat alone beneath a tree.
Svasti followed him, but Rahula looked up at him and said, “Please go begging with the others. I don’t have the heart to go begging right
now. The Buddha corrected me before the entire community. I feel so ashamed, I’d rather sit here alone and meditate.” Seeing he was
unable to help his friend, Svasti rejoined the other bhikkhus.
On the walk back to the monastery, Venerable Sariputta and Svasti stopped in the forest to invite Rahula to walk back with them. At the
monastery, Svasti shared half of his food with Rahula, and when they finished eating, Sariputta told Rahula that the Buddha wished to see
him. Svasti was permitted to accompany him.
The Buddha understood that Rahula was ripe to receive certain teachings. He said, “Rahula, learn from the earth. Whether people
spread pure and fragrant flowers, perfume, or fresh milk on it, or discard filthy and foul-smelling feces, urine, blood, mucus, and spit on it,
the earth receives it all equally without clinging or aversion. When pleasant or unpleasant thoughts arise, don’t let them entangle or enslave
you.
“Learn from the water, Rahula. When people wash dirty things in it, the water is not sad or disdainful. Learn from fire. Fire burns all
things without discrimination. It is not ashamed to burn impure substances. Learn from the air. The air carries all fragrances whether sweet
or foul.
“Rahula, practice loving kindness to overcome anger. Loving kindness has the capacity to bring happiness to others without demanding
anything in return. Practice compassion to overcome cruelty. Compassion has the capacity to remove the suffering of others without
expecting anything in return. Practice sympathetic joy to overcome hatred. Sympathetic joy arises when one rejoices over the happiness of