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precepts diligently.”<br />
Twice a month, on new moon and full moon days, the bhikkhus gathered to recite the precepts. Each precept was read aloud and then<br />
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<br />
the precept, he stood and made a confession to the community. With the exception of the four parajika, confession was enough to make<br />
amends.<br />
On many days, Svasti was asked to join the Buddha’s group for begging, joined by Sariputta and Rahula. That retreat season they<br />
dwelled in the hills near the town of Ekanala, south of Rajagaha. One afternoon as the bhikkhus passed by rice fields near Ekanala, they<br />
were stopped by a wealthy farmer from a noble caste named Bharadvaja. He owned several thousand acres. It was the season for<br />
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<br />
said with some contempt, “We are farmers. We plow, sow seeds, fertilize, tend, and harvest crops in order to eat. You do nothing. You<br />
produce nothing, yet you still eat. You are useless. You don’t plow, sow, fertilize, tend, or harvest.”<br />
The Buddha responded, “Oh, but we do. We plow, sow, fertilize, tend, and harvest.”<br />
“Then where are your plows, your buffaloes, and your seeds? What crops do you tend? What crops do you harvest?”<br />
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<br />
practice. Our harvest is love and understanding. Sir, without faith, understanding, and love, life would be nothing but suffering.”<br />
Bharadvaja found himself unexpectedly moved by the Buddha’s words. He asked an attendant to bring the Buddha fragrant rice<br />
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<br />
make an offering, please do so at another time.”<br />
The landowner was so impressed by this that he prostrated himself before the Buddha and asked to be accepted as a lay disciple. Svasti<br />
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<br />
several thousand bhikkhus in the Buddha’s sangha, few had the good fortune to be as close to the Buddha as he himself was.<br />
After the retreat season, the Buddha traveled northwest to spread the Dharma. He returned to Savatthi at the end of autumn. One<br />
morning when they were out begging, Rahula strayed from mindfulness. Although he continued to walk in file, his mind was elsewhere. He<br />
gazed at the Buddha ahead of him and wondered what the Buddha would have become if he had not followed the spiritual <strong>path</strong>. If he had<br />
become a mighty emperor, what would Rahula himself be now? Thinking such thoughts, Rahula forgot to observe his breathing and steps.<br />
Even though the Buddha could not see Rahula, he knew his son had lost his mindfulness. The Buddha stopped and turned around. The<br />
other bhikkhus came to a halt. The Buddha looked at Rahula and said, “Rahula, are you observing your breath and maintaining<br />
mindfulness?”<br />
Rahula lowered his head.<br />
The Buddha said, “To dwell in mindfulness, you must continue to observe your breath. We practice meditation even as we beg. Continue<br />
to meditate on the impermanent and non-self nature of the aggregates which comprise all beings. The five aggregates are the body, feelings,<br />
perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. Observe your breath and thoughts, and your mind will not become dispersed.”<br />
The Buddha turned back around and continued to walk. His words served as a reminder to all the bhikkhus to maintain their<br />
mindfulness. But a few steps after that, Rahula abandoned the line of bhikkhus and entered the forest where he sat alone beneath a tree.<br />
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<br />
now. The Buddha corrected me before the entire community. I feel so ashamed, I’d rather sit here alone and meditate.” Seeing he was<br />
unable to help his friend, Svasti rejoined the other bhikkhus.<br />
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<br />
monastery, Svasti shared half of his food with Rahula, and when they finished eating, Sariputta t<strong>old</strong> Rahula that the Buddha wished to see<br />
him. Svasti was permitted to accompany him.<br />
The Buddha understood that Rahula was ripe to receive certain teachings. He said, “Rahula, learn from the earth. Whether people<br />
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,<br />
the earth receives it all equally without clinging or aversion. When pleasant or unpleasant thoughts arise, don’t let them entangle or enslave<br />
you.<br />
“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<br />
things without discrimination. It is not ashamed to burn impure substances. Learn from the air. The air carries all fragrances whether sweet<br />
or foul.<br />
“Rahula, practice loving kindness to overcome anger. Loving kindness has the capacity to bring happiness to others without demanding<br />
anything in return. Practice compassion to overcome cruelty. Compassion has the capacity to remove the suffering of others without<br />
expecting anything in return. Practice sym<strong>path</strong>etic joy to overcome hatred. Sym<strong>path</strong>etic joy arises when one rejoices over the happiness of