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

explained, ‘Several days ago, one of the palace ladies saw the children being sold at a market in the capital. She recognized them as your
children, and she quickly returned to the palace to inform her husband, a royal advisor. He ran to the market and told the merchant to take
the children to the palace where he could be assured of receiving a handsome price for them. The king recognized his grandchildren even
with their tattered clothes and soiled faces. He realized how deeply he missed you and your family.’
“The king asked, ‘Where did you find these children? How much are you selling them for?’
“Before the merchant could respond, the royal advisor spoke, ‘Your majesty, the girl is being sold for one thousand pounds of gold and
one thousand cattle. The price for the boy is one hundred pounds of gold and one hundred cattle.’
“Everyone, including the merchant and children, were surprised to hear these words. The king asked, ‘Why is the girl so much more than
the boy?’
“The royal advisor replied, ‘You clearly value girls more than boys. You never scold or punish the princesses for any indulgences. Even
the palace servant girls are treated with kindness and respect by you. You have only one son and yet you exiled him to a remote mountain
region where tigers and leopards roam and where there is nothing but wild fruit to eat. Surely, you value girls more than boys.’
“The king was moved to tears. ‘Please say no more. I understand your meaning.’
“The king learned from the merchant that he had bought the children from another man in the mountains. The king paid the merchant and
then ordered him to lead the imperial police to the kidnapper. The king embraced his two grandchildren and asked them about their life in
the mountains. He issued orders for his son and daughter-in-law to be allowed to return to the capital. From then on, the king cherished his
son and generously assisted in the son’s efforts to relieve the suffering of the poor.”
The children liked the Buddha’s story very much. The Buddha smiled at them and said, “Prince Visvantara was happy to share all he
owned with others. Today, you shared a handful of precious earth from your city’s storehouse with me. You have made me very happy.
You can make others happy by offering them some small gift each day. It doesn’t have to be something you buy. When you pick a flower
by the rice fields and offer it to your parents, you make them happy. A word of thanks or love can also be a precious gift. A kind look or a
small gesture of caring brings happiness to others. Offer such gifts every day to your family and friends. The bhikkhus and I must go now,
but we will always remember the fine offering you made today.”
The children promised they would invite more friends and go visit the Buddha and bhikkhus at Jetavana. They wanted to hear more
stories.
The next summer the Buddha returned to Rajagaha to teach. Afterwards he went to Vulture Peak. Jivaka paid him a visit and invited him
to spend a few days at the mango grove. The Buddha accepted the invitation, and Ananda joined him. The physician’s mango grove was
cool and refreshing. The trees were in their eighth year of bearing fruit. Jivaka readied a small hut for the Buddha and prepared vegetarian
dishes for him every day. He suggested that the Buddha rest from begging for a few days in order to rebuild his strength. He also prepared
an herbal tonic for the Buddha, made from roots, leaves, and fruits.
One day as they sat together, Jivaka said, “Lord, some people say you let the bhikkhus eat meat. They claim that Gautama tolerates the
killing of animals to feed himself and his students. Some even make wild accusations that Gautama requires people to offer meat to the
sangha. I know these things are not true, but I would appreciate your thoughts on these matters.”
The Buddha replied, “Jivaka, people do not speak the truth when they say I allow animals to be killed to provide food for myself and the
bhikkhus. I have, in fact, spoken on this matter a number of times. If a bhikkhu sees someone killing an animal for the purpose of offering it
as food to the bhikkhu, the bhikkhu must refuse it. Even if he doesn’t actually see the animal being killed, but is told it was killed on his
behalf, he must refuse it. Furthermore, if he merely suspects it may have been killed on his behalf, he must refuse it. Jivaka, according to the
practice of begging, a bhikkhu accepts whatever is offered unless an animal has been killed on the bhikkhu’s behalf. People who
understand the bhikkhus’ vows of compassion offer only vegetarian food to the monks. But sometimes a person only has food that has
been prepared with meat. Also, persons who have not had previous contact with the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha do not know
that the bhikkhus prefer vegetarian food. In such situations, the bhikkhu accepts whatever is offered to avoid offending the giver and to
create an opportunity for contact so that the person may learn about the Path of Liberation.
“Jivaka, some day all the people will understand that bhikkhus do not want animals to be killed. At that time, no one will offer meat to
the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus will be able to eat only vegetarian food.”
Jivaka said, “I believe that a vegetarian diet promotes better health. One feels lighter and is less prone to illness. I have been a vegetarian
for ten years now. It is good for the health and for nurturing a heart of compassion. I am happy, Lord, for receiving your clear teaching
about this.”
Jivaka also commended the sangha’s practice of being careful not to eat food left over from the previous day. Food kept overnight could
spoil and cause illness. The Buddha thanked Jivaka and invited him to come to the monastery to speak to the monks again about basic
sanitary practices.