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

The children appeared sorry for what they had done. Seeing that other villagers had gathered around to see what he and the children
were talking about, the Buddha used the occasion to offer a teaching about compassion.
He said, “Every living being deserves to enjoy a sense of security and well-being. We should protect life and bring happiness to others.
All living beings, whether large or small, whether two-legged or four-legged, whether swimmers or fliers, have a right to live. We should not
harm or kill other living beings. We should protect life.
“Children, just as a mother loves and protects her only child at the risk of her own life, we should open our hearts to protect all living
beings. Our love should encompass every living being on, below, within, outside, and around us. Day and night, whether standing or
walking, sitting or lying down, we should dwell in that love.”
The Buddha asked the children to release the crab they had caught. Then he told everyone, “Meditating on love in this way brings
happiness first to the one who practices it. You sleep better and wake up more at ease; you do not have nightmares; you are neither
sorrowful nor anxious; and you are protected by everyone and everything around you. Those people and beings you bring into your mind of
love and compassion bring you great joy, and, slowly, their suffering leaves them.”
Svasti knew that the Buddha was committed to sharing the teaching with children. To help with that, he and Rahula organized special
classes for children at Jetavana. With the assistance of young laypersons, especially Sudatta’s four children, the young people gathered for
special teaching once a month. Sudatta’s son, Kala, was not very enthusiastic at first about attending. He only did so because he was fond
of Svasti. But little by little his interest grew. Princess Vajiri, the king’s daughter, also lent her support to these classes.
One full moon day, she asked the children to bring flowers to offer to the Buddha. The children arrived with flowers picked from their
own gardens and from fields along the way to the monastery. Princess Vajiri brought an armful of lotus flowers she had gathered from the
palace’s lotus pool. When she and the children went to find the Buddha at his hut, they learned he was in the Dharma hall preparing to give
a discourse to both bhikkhus and laypersons. The princess led the children quietly into the hall. All the adults moved to make a pathway for
the children. They placed their flowers on the small table in front of the Buddha and then bowed. The Buddha smiled and bowed in return.
He invited the children to sit right in front of him.
The Buddha’s Dharma talk that day was most special. He waited for the children to be seated quietly, and then he slowly stood up. He
picked up one of the lotus flowers and held it up before the community. He did not say anything. Everyone sat perfectly still. The Buddha
continued to hold up the flower without saying anything for a long time. People were perplexed and wondered what he meant by doing that.
Then the Buddha looked out over the community and smiled.
He said, “I have the eyes of true Dharma, the treasure of wondrous insight, and I have just transmitted it to Mahakassapa.”
Everyone turned to look at Venerable Kassapa and saw that he was smiling. His eyes had not wavered from the Buddha and the lotus
he held. When the people looked back at the Buddha, they saw that he too was looking at the lotus and smiling.
Though Svasti felt perplexed, he knew that the most important thing was to maintain mindfulness. He began to observe his breath as he
looked at the Buddha. The white lotus in the Buddha’s hand had newly blossomed. The Buddha held it in a most gentle, noble gesture. His
thumb and forefinger held the stem of the flower which trailed the shape of his hand. His hand was as beautiful as the lotus itself, pure and
wondrous. Suddenly, Svasti truly saw the pure and noble beauty of the flower. There was nothing to think about. Quite naturally, a smile
arose on his face.
The Buddha’s Dharma talk that day was most special.