old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh
old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh
old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
When Tappasi delivered the news to Nataputta that Upali had become one of the Buddha’s disciples, Nataputta couldn’t believe it. He<br />
went with Tappasi to Upali’s house where Upali confirmed the truth.<br />
More and more people throughout the kingdoms of Magadha and Kosala accepted the Path of Awakening. Many bhikkhus announced<br />
this happy news to the Buddha when they visited him in Savatthi.<br />
The Buddha t<strong>old</strong> them, “Whether the increase in numbers of people accepting the Path as their own is good news or not depends on<br />
how diligent the bhikkhus are in their practice. We should not cling to concepts of success or failure. We should look at both fortune and<br />
misfortune with equanimity.”<br />
One morning as the Buddha and the bhikkhus prepared to leave the monastery to go begging, several police entered Jetavana with<br />
orders to search for the body of a woman. The bhikkhus were dismayed, not understanding why the police expected to find a woman’s<br />
corpse on the monastery grounds. Venerable Bhaddiya asked who the woman was and was t<strong>old</strong> she was a young woman named Sundari<br />
who belonged to a large religious sect in Savatthi. The bhikkhus recognized the name as belonging to an attractive young woman who in<br />
recent months had attended several Dharma talks at the monastery. The bhikkhus t<strong>old</strong> the police there was no chance her body would be<br />
found at Jetavana, but the police insisted on looking anyway. To everyone’s surprise, they found the body buried in a shallow grave not too<br />
distant from the Buddha’s hut. No one could understand how she had died and why she had been buried there. After the police departed<br />
with the body, the Buddha t<strong>old</strong> the bhikkhus to go out begging as usual.<br />
“Dwell in mindfulness,” he t<strong>old</strong> them.<br />
Later that same day, members Sundari’s sect carried her body throughout the city, wailing in loud voices. They stopped at intervals and<br />
cried out to the people, “This is the body of Sundari! Her broken body was discovered in a shallow grave at Jetavana Monastery. Those<br />
monks who claim to come from the noble line of Sakya, who claim to live chaste, pure lives—they raped Sundari, killed her, and then tried<br />
to hide her body! Their talk of loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity is nothing but a sham! See for yourselves!”<br />
The citizens of Savatthi were disturbed. Even some of the most solid disciples of the Buddha felt their faith waver. Others were<br />
convinced that the whole affair had been orchestrated to harm the Buddha’s reputation, and they suffered deeply. Other spiritual sects<br />
which felt threatened by the Buddha seized the opportunity to openly condemn and malign the sangha. The bhikkhus were interrogated and<br />
heckled wherever they went. They did their best to maintain their serenity and to dwell in mindfulness, but it was difficult, especially for<br />
bhikkhus still new to the practice. Many young bhikkhus felt shamed and no longer wanted to beg in the city.<br />
The Buddha gathered the bhikkhus together one afternoon and spoke to them. “Unjust accusations can occur anywhere at any time.<br />
There is no need for you to feel ashamed. The only cause for shame would be if you ceased your efforts to live your pure life of practice.<br />
This false accusation will spread and then it will pass away. Tomorrow when you go begging, if anyone asks you about this affair, simply<br />
answer, ‘Whoever is responsible will reap the fruits.’”<br />
The bhikkhus were much comforted by the Buddha’s words.<br />
Meanwhile, Lady Visakha, who was greatly disturbed over the affair, went to see Sudatta. Together they discussed the matter at some<br />
length. They agreed to secretly hire someone to make an investigation in order to uncover the real culprits. They shared their plan with<br />
Prince Jeta who agreed to help them.<br />
Within seven days, the secret investigator discovered who the actual killers were. The two men responsible became drunk and began to<br />
argue over their spoils. In their angry, drunken state, they let the truth slip out. Royal police were summoned and the men were arrested.<br />
They made a confession and t<strong>old</strong> the police how they were hired by the leaders of Sundari’s sect to kill her and bury her near the Buddha’s<br />
hut.<br />
King Pasenadi visited Jetavana at once to share the news that the killers had been found. He expressed his unwavering faith in the sangha<br />
and his joy that the truth would now be known to all the people. The Buddha asked the king to forgive those responsible for the crime. He<br />
also said that similar crimes could happen again unless people learned to overcome their hatred and jealousy.<br />
The people of Savatthi once again regarded the bhikkhus with great admiration and respect.