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

Chapter Sixty-Six
Four Mountains
Early one morning, Venerable Moggallana came to the Buddha, his eyes filled with tears. The Buddha asked him what was the matter, and
Moggallana answered, “Lord, last night during my meditation, my thoughts turned to my mother. I contemplated on my feelings for her. I
know when I was young I sometimes caused her sorrow, but that is not the source of my pain. My pain arises from the knowledge that I
was unable to help my mother while she was still alive, nor can I help her in death. Lord, my mother’s karma is heavy. She committed many
crimes during her life, and I am sure that her bad karma follows her and continues to make her suffer. During my meditation, I saw my
mother, thin as a ghoul, in a dark, foul place. There was a bowl of rice nearby, and I offered it to her. But when she placed the rice in her
mouth, it turned into live coals, and she had to spit it out in pain. Lord, this image will not leave me. I don’t know how I can lighten her bad
karma and help her to find release.”
The Buddha asked, “What crimes did she commit when she was alive?”
Moggallana answered, “Lord, she did not practice respect for life. Her work required her to kill many creatures. She did not practice
right speech. Her words were often sources of suffering to others. She was like someone who rips up living trees and plants dead ones in
their place. I dare not recount all her transgressions. It is enough to say that she violated all five of the wonderful precepts. Lord, I would
endure any suffering to reverse my mother’s karma. Please, Lord, in your compassion, tell me what I might do.”
The Buddha said, “Moggallana, I am deeply moved by your love for your mother. The debt of gratitude we owe our parents is as wide
as the sky and as deep as the sea. A child should never forget that debt of gratitude day and night. In times when there are no Buddhas or
holy persons, parents should serve as Buddhas and holy persons. Moggallana, you did your best to help your mother while she was still
living. Your concern continues now that she has died. This shows how deep your love is. I am happy to see that.
“Moggallana, the most important way to offer tribute to one’s parents is by living a life of happiness and virtue. That is the best way to
repay our debt of gratitude and to fulfill our parents’ aspirations for us. Your life, Moggallana, is such a life. Your life of peace and joy,
happiness and virtue, serves as a model to others. You have helped many people find the path. Offer your life and good merit on behalf of
your mother and her karma can be transformed.
“Moggallana, I have a suggestion to help your mother. On Pavarana Day, the last day of the retreat season, ask the entire community to
join you in a transformation ceremony for your mother to pray and transfer our merits to her. Many monks in our sangha possess deep
concentration and virtue. Their energy of transformation and their prayers joined with yours will be most powerful. Thanks to that, your
mother’s bad karma will dissolve, and she will have a chance to enter the path of true Dharma.
“I am sure there are others in our sangha with similar situations. We should organize this ceremony on behalf of everyone’s parents.
Arrange with Sariputta to hold a special transformation ceremony on Pavarana Day on behalf of all parents, those who have died and those
who are still living. This will also provide a good occasion to teach young people about the gratitude we owe our parents and ancestors.
“Moggallana, most people only appreciate their parents after they have already died. Having parents is a great happiness. Parents can be
a source of great joy for their children. Children should cherish their parents while they are still alive, truly seeing them and finding ways to
make them happy. Whether parents are alive or have passed away, loving actions can bring them happiness and share good merit with
them. Helping the poor and infirm, visiting the lonely, freeing prisoners, releasing animals destined for the butcher, planting trees, these are
all compassionate actions which can transform the present situation and bring happiness to our parents. On Pavarana Day, we will
encourage everyone to perform these kinds of acts.”
Deeply comforted, Moggallana bowed to the Buddha.
That afternoon after his walking meditation, the Buddha met King Pasenadi at the monastery gates. As they exchanged greetings, seven
ascetics from the Nigantha sect passed by. Ascetics in their sect wore no clothes, practiced austerities, did not shave their beards or cut
their hair, and did not cut their nails. The king excused himself from the Buddha and approached the ascetics. He bowed respectfully and
said, “Respected monks of high virtue, I am Pasenadi, King of Kosala.” He bowed to them two more times, repeating the same words,
before he returned to the Buddha’s side. After they were out of sight, he asked the Buddha, “Lord, according to you, have any of those
ascetics yet attained Arhatship? Are any of them close to attaining such fruits?”
The Buddha answered, “Your majesty, you live the life of a ruler and thus are more accustomed to men of government and politics. It is
only natural that you would find it difficult to ascertain which monks have attained certain levels of spiritual practice. But in fact, it is difficult
for anyone to know whether or not someone is enlightened after merely meeting them once or twice. It is necessary to live close to them,
observing them carefully to see how they respond to difficult circumstances, to see how they converse with others, and to understand the